Teacups – China, Pastels & Patterns - The Printable Collection by Morning Dewdrops
There’s something timeless and tender about a teacup. Whether it’s delicate china tucked in a china cabinet at your grandmothers, who said, "It's for company." Or perhaps, a pastel teacup brimming with soft charm, or a teacup with bold patterns that makes you smile—each one holds a whisper of a story.
This blog, Teacups – China, Pastels & Patterns, brings together three different styles of hand-painted cups created in my studio using DIY Paint, Painterly, DIY Paint Golden Liquid Patina, Chalk Pastels and Oil Pastels. Every cup carries the beauty of perfectly imperfect brushstrokes, soft smudges, and expressive lines that give handmade art its living, breathing heart.
Each series is shown individually and then I'll include art journal spreads for inspiration —layered, clipped, tucked, collaged, and paired with lace, watercolor blooms, vintage photos and more.
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Fine China Teacups
Think Vintage. These cups were inspired by a vintage European china pattern—faded, ornate, and full of old-world romance. I painted them with touches of Golden Ticket (DIY Paint Liquid Gold Patina), DIY Paint and Painterly to give them that aged porcelain feel. The scrollwork and classical shapes make them perfect for pages that lean into vintage, shabby chic, or soft cottage style.
They work beautifully as: pockets for tiny treasures, embellishments around florals, focal motifs in romantic collages and containers for quotes or small keepsakes.
They remind me of quiet afternoons for English Country Tea or resting in the French countryside in Provence, while peering out lace curtains, reading handwritten letters for a second or third time or re-reading a beloved book.
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Teacups In Pastels
The pastel teacups are painted with DIY Paint and Painterly, Chalk Pastels and Oil Pastels were added. These pastel teacups feel dreamy—soft, washed & faded, with gently obscured shapes.
This series leans into the idea that art doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful. Uneven lines, shifting hues, and painterly textures are all part of the uniqueness. These are whimsical, a little wonky, lovable teacups for whimsical pages, fairy-tale layouts, Spring-themed spreads, and mixed-media pieces. Wouldn't these be super printed on fabric for a tea-time table runner or lap quilt for tea time.
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Teacups with Patterns
The Teacups With Patterns have bold colors and patterns. Painted with DIY Paint, they offer a fun, modern aesthetic. These cups combine simple geometric patterns with contemporary colors.
• The black cup with pink dots is playful and dramatic.
• The blue cup with pink brick blocks has a bold geometric rhythm.
• The mint cup with pink clovers is soft and cute, perfect for spring.
If the pastel teacups whisper softly and the china teacups tell tales of yesteryear; then these teacups bring on the bold in color and pattern.
They’re wonderful in collages or art journals with bright backgrounds, modern layouts or areas where you want a punch of contrast.
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Inspiration in How to Use These Teacups in Art Journaling
One of my favorite things about creating teacups is using them as little vessels for whatever story I want to tell. I added lace curtains between the two pages of this spread. The lace curtains act as a divider of sorts because this art journal spread is rather busy and I wanted you to appreciate each page individually.
I also added lace to cover these two lovely ladies, so you will stop and take a closer look. I have so much to tell you about my tea adventures in England when I visited this summer, but for now -- The background room of the journal spread is of a photo taken at The Wallace Collection in London. It is a museum and restaurant. My daughter and I had afternoon tea here. Tea is served in a covered courtyard of sorts. I put a bookmark I got from the The Wallace Collection in the center of the page with more lace.
This is the notation on the back of the photo. Isn't that forever sweet; hence, the extra attention of the ladies in their 80s. The blue pastel teacup is featured with watercolor blooms (another digital collection). The blooms can be changed to your liking as they can be removed.
Try using your Printable Teacups to:
• tuck in dried flowers or paper blooms
• create tiny pockets for notes or quotes
• frame small photos or portraits
• anchor a collage cluster
• layer over washi tape, fabric scraps, or lace
• build a vignette around a character or figure
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Okay, I'm a maximalist, so here goes!
This is the left side of the art journal spread and the handmade journal is only 5x7 inches. Where do I start. First I collaged a French settee in The Wallace Collection courtyard. Then I collaged a lady sitting down, but leaning forward. I added a hat with netting and added a watercolor bloom. (She wasn't wearing a hat; she needed a BIG fancy hat for tea.) Secondly, she's carrying a teabag because she is a Tea Darling. She's part of my theme, "Tea Darlings Are Snobs. They bring their own teabags!" (More on the Tea Darlings in another blog.)
Our Tea Darling is wearing an embroidered chiffon, floor-length empire dress smartly tied with a bow. She's so comfy, surrounded by cushions on the settee and floor. I made the cushions from fabric scraps. SO, what's she leaning into? What is she thinking; does she have a handwritten, love letter among the folders of her chiffon and contemplating those words of love as she admires the Fine China Teacup and the smell of Rose Tea? We'll take out the rose before she sips her tea, but did her lover give her that rose and then dash off into the city streets of London?
The magic happens when the story begins and the china teacup although larger than life here feels like it belongs inside the scene—a big meaningful part of her story.
What's great is all the teacup digital collections offer multi-size images in a PDF file (2x2, 3x3, 4x4) and an 8.5x11 PNG file for resizing.
A Final Sip of Inspiration
Whether you love the ornate beauty of vintage china, the soft sweetness of pastels, or the bold charm of modern patterns, each teacup invites you to slow down and play.
Print them, trim them, tuck them into pockets, layer them with lace or watercolor, or let them be the focal point in your next mixed-media spread.
Every cup in these collections celebrate the joy of making—of letting your brush wander, embracing happy accidents, and allowing imperfections to tell their own story.
Thank you for sharing this creative journey with me.
Now go pour yourself a cup of inspiration and let your art wander.
Check out these blog posts for more inspiration.
https://morningdewdrops.com/blogs/news/daisy-ivy-the-printable-collection-by-morning-dewdrops
- Terri