Sara's 40th Birthday Gift

This gift all started with this - http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/zamsoe/product/posh-tea-lovers-necklace

I really fell in love with the necklace and that got me going on the theme frenzy! I also found 

Earl Grey lip balm from the same website. I thought these items would make the ideal basis for a gift.

Initially my plan was to go very vintage which would have suited Sara as she is a very cool, crafty, vintage

person. My first snag came in sourcing a suitable vintage cup and saucer. They are easy to find on eBay BUT 

it really depends on budget and how many you want. I found beautiful cups and saucers in America and Canada 

but postage was hugely expensive. I also found great sets but didn't want a whole dining set for one cup and 

saucer. I also hit charity shops and department stores but had no luck in finding that great design that I had in my head.

So, I changed tack. I went searching for a plain cup & saucer that I could decorate. My artistic abilities stretch to 

doodles and the odd flash of artistic sketching so I decided to to keep it simple. I ended up on just decorating the saucer with text.

It was around this time that I decided on what packaging to use. I have three boxes and storage bags full of gift

packaging plus I am a storage hoarder and keep a huge range of unusual boxes, tubs and anything else I think I 

may get some use out of. My plan was to use a plan black gift box I had stored and use some lettered beads as 

an alternative to a gift tag. My colour theme was set as black, white and pink.

Once I had bought my black and pink china pens, a plain white cup and saucer purchased and my box readied, 

I was all set to finish off my gift by making a tea bag for the necklace to sit in.

My initial plan had been to pop the necklace in a yeah bag and have this sit in the cup with the lip balm acting as 

a biscuit on the saucer. However, the tea bags were not big enough for the necklace so I decided to make my 

own. I found a gauze-like paper in Paperchase and made a tea bag. I used a small, thin ribbon to act as the 

string and then made a bag to sit the tea bag in. I stamped a simple message on the tea bag to finish off the look.

Finally I set everything in the gift box, using coordinating tissue paper to act as the protective packaging for the cup and saucer.

I had great fun putting this gift together and, although you can see it is homemade and not 100% professional, I 

think the personalisation and fun shows through