This card is for the Teapot Tickle challenge and also for the Sketch challenge.
I have lost my mojo this week and couldn't think what to do for the Tickle challenge other than I knew I wanted to use up some of my beautiful Japanese papers. I also wanted to include a teacup, so that is where I started. Before I knew it I had laid out my card similar to this week's sketch without even knowing so I used that as my design improvising as I went.
After choosing 2 papers, one with mountains on, I stamped and embossed my teacup in gold. Then I remembered the Kintsugi challenge for a previous Tickle challenge and started to piece together bits of the papers inside my cup. I embossed the �eoebroken�e pieces with gold and added wink of stella.
Whenever I think of China or Asia I always think of gold and why I chose to pop my paper onto Gold CS. I die cut the hanging lanterns and blossoms and added bling. The doily was cut 3 times in paper and also gold and layered. I chose to place my teacup on the edge as the paper is way too pretty to cover up.
Finally I thought I would add a �eoeteabag�e hug. We have visited both China, South Korea and Japan and attended a few tea ceremonies. There would definitely not be a teabag in sight LOL, but rather powered tea and a whisk, and the tea would be drunk out of a bowl and not a cup at a traditional tea house. There would be a dish with a sweet on the side that would be eaten prior to drinking the tea. The tea ceremonies in China and South Korea were slightly different to those in Japan.
In Japan the visit begins from the moment you walk through a traditional Japanese garden stepping carefully on stones placed amongst the moss/garden. This path and walk is meant to calm your spirits. When you arrive at the tea house set in the middle of the garden, there is a small opening. It is so low that when you enter it is as if you are bending over and is supposed to symbolise humility. The room was small and accommodated only 6 people plus our host who was preparing the tea. After watching our host prepare the tea, we were asked to place the bowl from our right hand to the left and turn it 90 degrees so that the front would be at the back. There would be a lot of bowing. It was an amazing experience. We also went to tea ceremonies where we simply removed our shoes and walked through the door, but the experience in Kyoto is one I will always remember.
If you wish to learn more about the ceremony in Japan, here is some interesting info.
Back to my card LOL. After embossing the sentiment on the tag I decided to use some of my beautiful SU thread. Some more stash I forget I have, and twined it underneath my cup and then from the tag to the teacup.
The envelope in the photo will go inside my card with my written message inside. The writing and image is on beautiful textured paper and there's small images also on the back.
TFL. Happy day
Date: Friday, July 3, 2020 GMT Views: 501
Favorited:3
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Proud Fan Club Member Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: April 18, 2011 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 51844
Fri, Jul 03, 2020 @ 8:43 PM
Jayne your card is jawdropping gorgeous, not a hint of missing your mojo...she probably restored herself in this tea journey. Imagine being the lucky Teapotter to receive this gem!! I loved your write-up and learning about the different tea ceremonies. Stay warm and safe my west coast mate.
------------------------------ Susie
Please don't take your organs to heaven - heaven knows we need them here.
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: June 3, 2016 Location: France Posts: 60597
Fri, Jul 03, 2020 @ 10:37 PM
Wow, looking at your card I thought I was there!! reading all about the card and your experiences made me really travel!! beautiful design I love it and the white card with the pretty image and sentiment is so pretty too, Stunning!!
Registered: January 8, 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 40469
Sat, Jul 04, 2020 @ 5:44 AM
Beautiful card using the pretty Japanese paper, Jayne, I love the tea cup using the kintsugi technique and lovely doily! Must have been a wonderful experience going to the tea rooms - I enjoyed watching a British program on tv last night visiting the gardens and tea rooms in Japan~
------------------------------ Sue
Fan Club Member QFTD143 FS420
Registered: February 23, 2016 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 23036
Sat, Jul 04, 2020 @ 7:55 AM
What a smarty you are to incorporate the Kintsugi technique along with those beautiful papers. Love the cherry blossoms with the windchimes. My last one lost it's clapper about a year ago but it did ring with Joy for more than 50 years. The twist of spun gold thread behind the teacup is a lovely finishing touch.
------------------------------ Linda aka Bubbles
I'm not a Hoarder . . . I'm the Curator of an extensive collection of embellishments!!
Proud Fan Club Member Guest Designer Color Challenge July 2017 Favorites Notification Team
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni SCS Gallery Moderator Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 132040
Sun, Jul 05, 2020 @ 3:20 AM
What a treasure! It looks as if many of us "sacrificed" some special papers this week . Well done on incorporating the kintsugi, that was a great idea. Thanks for sharing the descriptions of your own real life experiences - the closest I have come is a tiny little Vietnamese restaurant in Paris with just 3 tables. My BIL even bought himself the same teapot and cups after "Monsieur Vietnam" told him where he could get them. Love the little girl on the textured paper - and I think twining and adding a golden hug is a brilliant technique.