Baby is Brewing Tea Party

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Today we are talking tea! A few other bloggers and I were selected to help Cost Plus World Market launch their new Downton Abbey collection and their huge giveaway. My sweet friend, Jen of Oh For Cake’s Sake, had just told me she was having a little girl so I decided to celebrate #DotheDownton with a Jen and a couple girlfriends. I hosted a Baby is Brewing Tea Party so we could welcome her to the Mommy Club in style.

No tea party is really complete without some beautiful flowers. Brooke Heflin of Burlap and Bordeaux is magical. She truly is. I contacted Brooke asking if she would create a simple bouquet for our table and this is what I got…

These were GORGEOUS. When I opened the box (yes, she shipped them) I was stunned. I’m not a sweets artist and I’m not a floral artist…thank goodness I have talented friends. If you need flowers just contact Brooke…trust me on this…your guests will be seriously wow’d.

Such happy tea partiers! Jen, the mommy to be, on the left, and Maureen of Party a la Mo on the right.

I just had to share another picture of the flowers…

I didn’t send invitations but I did want to create a keepsake for Jen. I used my Silhouette and pretty paper from Michaels that coordinated with the Downton Abbey set from World Market perfectly!

Inside of the card was a “tea bag” that had the party info. It wasn’t until I was editing photos that I realized the date is wrong. It was Sunday, December 7th! I will have to get that fixed for Jen!

I couldn’t decide between the English Rose and Butler’s Pantry teas so I had to offer both. I have always loved lemon curd so that went in my basket and the Christmas Preserves…well, that just looked yummy! I used my Sizzix Big Shot to create a little box to hold tea bags.

My aunt gave me her gold set of utensils years ago and was so happy to have an occasion to use it. Maureen brought us each a little party gift in a sweet gold chevron bag. She couldn’t have planned that more perfectly…happy coincidence! Inside were two of her custom glitter heart magnets. They would be great teacher gifts, girlfriend gifts, stocking stuffers, bridal shower or baby shower favors 🙂

My friend and photographer, Maria Healey, and I love everything about the Abbey Rose Tea House in La Mesa including the napkins made to look like roses. This is a little nod to them.

I added a spot of cream to my English Rose Tea and it turned this beautiful shade of pink which just happened to match the flowers exactly. I had to snap a photo of it of course.

I served scones, Benedictine Cucumber sandwiches, Croque Monsieur sandwiches, Coronation Chicken sandwiches, and sliced baguette with Downton Abbey Christmas Preserves with Goat Brie.

Benedictine Cucumber sandwich recipe can be found here.

The Croque Monsieur recipe, one of my all time favorite sandwiches, can be found here.

Coronation Chicken sandwich recipe here.

Very easy to do: slice fresh baguette, spread a bit of preserves, a slice of cheese, and you’re done! You could broil for about 3 minutes if you wanted them warm and gooey.

I found a Pumpkin Cranberry scone mix at Trader Joe’s…very easy and flavorful.

Aren’t those plates pretty?! Such a sweet and feminine pattern.

Fresh berries are a must at a tea party. My little one loves strawberries and insisted Jen loved them too.

Of course we had to have sweets! Downton Abbey Lemon Curd was used to fill pastry cups I found at Walmart and my favorite Belgian Chocolate Pudding from Trader Joe’s was used to fill pastry shells. This is the kind of pudding I can’t buy very often because I will eat the whole thing. The.whole.thing. It’s that good. You can find that pretty little 2 tiered server on the World Market website too.

These adorable little donuts are the creation of Green Mountain Mini Baked bakery and they were amazing. I dream about these little things. Debbie Mast uses only the best and freshest ingredients and it really shows. I was immediately drawn to the gold one…naturally! The colors were a perfect match to the plates which have a bit of green and blue. Oh mini donuts…I am so sad you are all gone…

I found this beautiful paper at Michaels and had planned on using it for Thanksgiving but that project didn’t happen. When I got the Downton Abbey tissue wrapper I realized that it coordinated superbly. I made these using my Sizzix Big Shot and the following dies: Cookie Box, 3D Make It Box and Sugar Bowl & Creamer Set, and Recipe Card & Box. The creamer box had a little scone for the guests to take home and Jen took the recipe box home with Wishes for Baby.

One of my favorite things after a party is to enjoy leftovers. I had a bubble bath with a lovely cup of English Rose tea, a couple of donuts, and relaxed to the smell of gingerbread with my Thymes candle. Perfect end to a perfect afternoon with girlfriends.

Now, I know you are asking yourself, “Where can I find those beautiful pieces of Downton Abbey china?” Well, you can go to World Market of course but you can also enter to WIN a CPWM Downton Abbey Prize Package! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You could win a Dream Trip to London Fit for Royalty! The Grand Prize package includes a trip for (2) two to London, England (hotel & accommodations), Private Tour of Highclere Castle, a visit to the set of Downton Abbey, and a $1000 World Market gift card. Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize (3) three First Prize winners will receive $500 World Market gift cards! For more details, visit our link here.