10 Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway and Cupid’s Sweetheart Café Tea Party in a Box Tutorial
Hello, Friends! This week I’m celebrating a major milestone with a 10 Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway! On January 13, 2013, I took the plunge into blog land with my very first blog post. I knew absolutely nothing about blogging (except that I enjoyed reading blog posts from my favorite crafters). My tech skills were pretty much non-existent. But I had a strong desire to educate and inspire other crafters about the joys of working with paper. So I plunged in and have never looked back.
Ten years of blogging represents countless hours sitting in front of a screen tapping out posts, thousands of hours of behind the scenes editing photos, self-education, experimenting, picking up spilled buttons (and sequins and glitter, sadly!) and tens of thousands of hours of pure pleasure spent playing with paper. A few of you have been on this journey with me from the very beginning; some of you have only recently discovered Kathy by Design. To all of you, a great big thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking this wild ride with me. You are the best blog buddies out there, and I am thankful for the many meaningful online relationships forged because of this blog.
So, a giveaway seems to be in order. Actually…more than one giveaway…but all will be revealed as the week goes on! Let’s get down to business with today’s Make & Take Tuesday Tutorial, shall we?
Cupid’s Sweetheart Café Slimline Tea Party in a Box with Reneabouquets
Valentine’s Day is coming up hard and fast, and PhotoPlay paper has released a gorgeous collection to help us celebrate. The thing I love the most about Cupid’s Sweetheart Café (apart from the name) is the fact that this is so much more than just a Valentine’s Day collection. So today I’m going to show you how to create a non-Valentine project with these pretty papers!
Of course, you could use this 4″ x 8 1/2″ Tea Party in a Box Shaker card as a Valentine if you wanted to. But it also makes a lovely birthday, get well, or friendship card. I’ve dressed up the paper collection with some beautiful roses, ribbons and Reneabouquets paper pretties.
I think you’ll enjoy the simple construction of the card cover. I let the patterned papers, roses, chippies and shaker element do all the heavy lifting. The tutorial shows you how to create the cut-away slimline card base. I did not have time to do a tutorial for the inside of the card. But, you can learn how to create all kinds of pockets, including box pockets, in THIS Papercrafting 101 tutorial.
A Peek Inside
The inside of the card is so much fun with all the beautiful patterned papers. And how do you feel about pink with red? It’s not a color combo I use all the time, but it works here, I think.
This tea party in a box consists of a wrapped tea sachet, cookie treat, honey stick and a little sleeve of Dove chocolates. It’s the perfect way to send a little love!
10 Year Blog Anniversary Giveaway and Tutorial on my YouTube Channel
You can find out what I’m giving away today and learn how to make this sweet Tea Party in a Box card over on my YouTube channel. To enter the giveaway you need to:
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
- Leave a comment on the YouTube channel, not here on the blog.
- Live in the Continental US (sorry that International shipping is so expensive.
- Watch and comment before 12 NOON EST on Friday, January 13th.
- Winner will be announced on my YouTube channel on Saturday, January 14th.
I hope you enjoy the video tutorial:
I will have another giveaway on my BLOG tomorrow, and a final giveaway that I will announce on Saturday on my YouTube channel! So lots of fun and celebration at Kathy by Design this week. Thanks for helping me party!
You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.
Cheerio,
kathy
SUPPLY LIST
- Photoplay Cupid’s Sweetheart Cafe
- Reneabouquets
- Little Birdie Rosalind Sangria Flowers
- Really Reasonable Ribbon
- Ranger “Letter It” clear foam tape
- Stampendous Aged Black Embossing Enamel (Frantage)
- Bits and Bobs from my stash

Love your gorgeous album!! Gosh, I just love your layers of beautiful ribbons, pattern papers, and flowers!! Congratulations on 10 years!!!! I have so enjoyed your great inspiration!! Makes me trust myself to play with more layering and fun products!!
Love how you decorated this.
I have so enjoyed following your wonderful BLOG for more than a few years. I have always found inspiration and instruction in pleasing abundance. I love it when I see something on PINTEREST and when I follow it back, it’s from your early Blog years! Creative joy for me!! Thank you for sharing your projects with the rest of us…much appreciated!!
Well done Kathy, what an achievement! Your inspiration is second to none. As for the folio, love the colours (match perfectly to our boat) the folio is a visual and delectable feast!
10 years! How wonderful
it’s been to follow you and
see your creations! Message
left on YouTube and I’m in.
Carla from Arizona
You have made another stunning project. I think I can say this from all of your peeps….happy anniversary and congratulation on hitting this 10-year milestone! You are terrifically talented, exceptionally gifted, abundantly appreciated and magnificent beyond words. So glad God arranged for us to meet.
I’m in for the prize! Happy Anniversary! Your videos are such an inspiration to me, and I’m a faithful subscriber to your card kits. Keep up the great work!
Not here for the giveaway, just to tell you Happy Blogiversary!!!! I’m so proud of you and all your accomplishments, and more proud to call you friend. So happy to be on this journey with you. AND, this Valentine is probably the best every made…WOW, what a gift in itself with all the bling and goodies inside too. You are so so amazing! LOVE you!
Wow! I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already! It’s true; time really does fly when your having fun! I love getting your Blogs in my email! I always can’t wait to see what you done for this week! I wanted to say thank you for All of Your wonderful video’s and Blogs. I have learn so much and made some beautiful crafts, and great ideas from watching you! So happy Anniversary, and to another 10 years +. I can’t wait to see what you create next! Big Crafty Hugs!
Happy 10th blog anniversary Kathy! Your posts are so lovely and so inspiring! Thank you for all your creativeness! Congratulations! And such a beautiful card! ❤
Happy Anniversary Kathy! Thank you for blessing us with your beautiful creations. I always look forward to seeing them.
Have a blessed and beautiful day!
Wendy
Kathy, you forgot the countless hours of joy over the ten years that you have provided your followers! You literally have changed my life…so appreciate the inspiration you provide on a daily basis and the friendship that has evolved. Congratulations to one special and talented lady!
This is a delightful project, the paper collection is beautiful. January 13 is a special day for us, too…my husband turns 90 (he can’t believe it!) and two of our sons are coming in to celebrate…one from Minnesota and one from Utah, where he’s skiing. A phone call from the one in Thailand will be very special. So glad I found you a few years ago…you are my go to designer to help me with my projects. Congrats on your 10th celebration of your blog!
This is such a beautiful project! Thanks for all your videos and techniques.
Congratulations!! I love your shabby style and have used it for inspiration many times during my paper crafting journey!! You are such an inspiration!! Loved your family childhood Christmas story, Brought tears to my eyes.
Absolutely love every creation, you conjure up. You are an amazing designer. Can’t wait until you post your creativity.
Cograt’s on your 10th anniversary. You have had a wonderful journey.
Happy 10th Blogaversary, Kathy! Wow, time goes by so quickly. Coming up on 6 years since we met IRL. Your Tea Party card is just amazing as always. So many beautiful details. Everything you created is inspiring. Love the shaker window and the Renea Bouquet embellishments. I have this collection and currently working with it for Valentines Day. TFS the video too.
Hi Kathy the links in your email for this are not working. I got here by going to a past email. this is beautiful as always.
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary, Kathy! I “discovered” you I guess about 5 years ago and am so happy I did! I have so enjoyed your fantastic creations and wonderful techniques that you have so graciously shared with us over the years. This tea party in a box is simply stunning and I absolutely love pink with red together. These papers are so pretty and perfect for Valentines. The shaker frame is gorgeous with those lovely roses and that pretty lady is such a darling embellishment. Love the treats you added inside! Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
Happy Anniversary! I always look forward to reading your blog. Such a lovely card in todays tutorial. Thank you for sharing your creativity.