Happy Birthday, Brenda!

I would like to wish my very dear friend, Brenda, a very happy birthday!  She is the author of the I Remember When poem I posted on February 25th for all of you snowbirds wishing for warmer weather.

Congratulations, friend, and many, many more to come in good health and prosperity!

Love,

Marianne

HAPPY ♣ ST. ♣ PATRICK’S ♣ DAY !

♣ May the Wind be at Your Back ♣

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

The blessing was very long, but so wonderful that, here on Leisure Lane, I will be posting another verse with each future post.  I hope you glean some wonderful benefits from it.

Have a Happy Day with a Pot O’ Gold on Top!

Marianne

Note:  Image of  Genevieve, the Knittington Fairies’ March fairy, by Marianne Coyne

Dash of Inspiration~Handful of Imagination

Happy Tuesday, friends,

Welcome to Leisure Lane.  Sit a while, and have some tea ~ I have something special to show you today.  Two weeks ago I posted a tea cup card tutorial.  Well, my dear blogger friend, Miss Tea, didn’t waste any time in trying one out for herself.  Here is the adorable result.  Amazing what a dash of inspiration and a handful of imagination can accomplish!

Wouldn’t you love to receive this card in the mail?  It would brighten any day!  Her paper choices are very pretty.  I like the ‘table’ she added under the cup, and the layered look for the message on the opposite side ~ truly inspiring.

And here is the most recent tea cup card she whipped up ~ a cheery ‘balancing act’.  Too cute!  Thank you, Miss Tea, for sharing the fun!  Stop by her blog,Tea Diary, for more sweetness and daily musings.

Have a happy Tea cup Tuesday, and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

Note:  Photographs by Miss Tea ~ Courtesy of Tea Diary.

Sweet Spring!

Sweet Spring

What hidden mystery sleeps beneath your bough,
For us, only a peek you will allow?

 

What hidden song awaits its perfect mate,
Within winged lovers, who with restlessness can’t wait?

 

What hidden blossom braves the last remaining snow,
And with God’s grace endeavors forth to grow?

‘Tis spring!  The season of rebirth,
That captivates each heart with boundless mirth!

 

copyright©2011 Marianne Coyne

Special thanks to the following:
Warbler photograph by US Fish & Wildlife; courtesy of
http://www.weforanimals.com

Crocus in the Snow photograph by Bella; courtesy of
http://bellasrosecottage.blogspot.com

Just a note:  Today is the last day for the Spring sale in The Knittington Fairies Shop & Gallery

 

 

Oregano Tea

Hello dear friends,

I’m leisurely enjoying a pleasant cup of oregano tea.  Just before winter, I purchased an Italian Oregano plant on sale for $1.00.  I couldn’t resist having a fresh plant to enjoy in salads, cooking, and to dry.

Oregano belongs to the mint family, which I never really thought about until I tasted it fresh, and in a tea.  It not only has a wonderful aroma and taste, but has some very healthy benefits.  Oregano contains vitamins and minerals such as  K, A, and C, as well as iron, and more.  It also contains Omega-3 fatty acids.  It has anti-fungal properties, and it fights many forms of bacteria.

On occasion, I enjoy a cup of  the herb tea by brewing about a teaspoon of fresh leaves for about 8 minutes.

The fresh leaves add a wonderful flavor to scrambled eggs, and salads, as well as many other dishes.  And they can be easily dried and put in a glass jar for use in your favorite recipes.  Don’t pass up this plant in your nursery.  It’s sure to please.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Note: If you are pregnant, or have other health issues, do not use Oregano, or any herb as a tea before consulting with your doctor.

Spring Sale ~ 20% Off Knittington Fairy Cards!

Hello, friends,

This week on Leisure Lane we are kicking off Spring with a sale on the Knittington Fairy cards!  The sale is from March 4th thru March 11th.  So stop by The Knittington Fairies Shop & Gallery.  Prices will reflect the 20% off in Paypal.

(Note:  Sale excludes New Year and Christmas cards)

As always, thank you for stopping by, and until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

New Addition in My Little Bloomin’ Shop

Welcome to Leisure Lane, friends,

I’ve added something  new to My Little Bloomin’ Shop.  The transition from Winter to Spring can still be chilly.  This beautiful, one-of-a-kind blanket makes a perfect baby gift, or lap cozy.  Soft, lovely colored ribbon is crocheted into the rows.  An heirloom for many years to come.  Stroll by the shop and check it out.

I made many beautiful items a while back with the hopes of showcasing them in my very own place, and now I have that opportunity.  Items which  I’ve already completed, and new items I’ll be working on will be trickling in.  Some will be ‘series’-type, and others eclectic.  So drop by any time.

Thank you for stopping by…I hope you found something you like.  Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne☼

Teacup Card Tutorial

Hello friends,

Welcome to Leisure Lane.  I’m going to show you how to make a delightful teacup note card.  They are fun and easy to make, and quite a surprise to the recipient.  Don’t forget to click on images for a closer view.  Okay, let’s get started.

First you will need:

scissors
glue (tacky glue or glue stick)
teacup stencil
blank note card
scrapbook paper
pencil

 

To start, you’ll need a teacup stencil.  I made mine out of some card stock.  With a pencil, draw a teacup with its rim at the edge of the paper, as shown in the photo.  You will see why the edge is important as we progress.  It doesn’t have to be perfect, so don’t be afraid of your drawing skills. Make sure the measurement of the cup is proportionate to your note card, and deep enough to hold a tea bag.

If it helps to fold the paper in half, that will work, too.  Just remember that the cup will have to fit inside the card, and you will want to have a little room for the teacup handle.

Next, choose the note card you like, and a scrapbook paper pattern and/or colors that best suit the design on the card.  I chose one of my Knittington Fairy note cards and a pretty paisley-design paper.  The invitation to “join me for tea” is warm and friendly.  And I’m in the mood for a little whimsy today.

Place the teacup stencil onto the scrapbook paper where it will give you the design you want on the cup.  With your pencil, trace around the stencil.

Then cut along the traced lines.

 

Now turn the cup over.  With your pencil, draw a curved line from one tip of the cup rim to the other.  This will give the cup rim a more realistic roundness, as well as giving us a saucer for the cup (waste not ~ want not).

Cut along the pencil line.

Ta ~ Daaa!

The design on my paper had curves which lent themselves well to a teacup handle.  So I cut a handle from one of those curves.  However, if you have a design which doesn’t have a ‘pre-existing’ handle already in the design, you can draw a handle shape with your pencil and cut it out.

At this point, if you wish, using a gold pen or some gold acrylic craft paint, you can add accents around the rim of the cup and saucer, and/or here and there within the design.

Now we’re ready to glue the teacup into our card.

With your glue stick or tacky glue (both work equally well), add glue around the edges of the sides and bottom of the cup.  Make sure you get the edges well, and go at least 1/8″ in, but not too far in because you are going to need room for the tea bag.  Do NOT glue the top rim of the cup.

Place the cup on the inside right page of the card.  As you’re placing the cup be sure to place it slightly to the left so that there is room to put on the handle. 

Also buckle the cup a bit to ’round’ it to form a little pouch for the tea bag.  I usually place the tea bag on the card to guide this step, then pull it out before securing the edges to the page.  Rub your clean finger all along the glued edges of the cup to secure.

Glue the saucer and handle to the cup.

My ‘Join Me For Tea’ card says it all,

but at this point, if you’d like, you can add your own sentiment, or a little poem like the one I have here.  I’ve written the poem on separate paper and cut it out with decorative scissors, and pasted it to the inside left of the card.

Add your tea bag….and…VOILA!!!

Your card will require extra postage for mailing, but it’s well worth it.  The recipient will be absolutely delighted to receive her cup of tea in the mail.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please let me know if you did, and if you make one of your own I’d love to see it!  Leave me a comment with a link to your project photo.

The card I made for the demonstration will be added to my new shop, “My Little Bloomin’ Shop” for anyone who would like to send it to someone very special. SOLD

Happy crafting, and until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne