Send Something Good: Big Reveal Link Up!

A couple months ago, I signed up for a blogging gift exchange called Send Something Good. It started through Gentri Lee's blog.

The idea is to get to know other bloggers all around the world and to send something good to a secret blogger you have and receive something good in return.

I had so much fun with this project and it was so fun to get to know my secret blogger, who I now adore. She has a super cute blog aka Rose and Lou {{missroseandlou.blogspot.com}} AND an adorable etsy shop {p.s. She has a sale going on this weekend! Hop on over to her blog to check it out!}

She loved all sorts of things, so I just picked a few from all the things she loved. Can you guess what they are?

1. Stationary + Vintage = Super cute vintage map stationary {at least I thought it was cute} :)

2. This one is kind of tricky. The box looks similar to the previous one, but instead of stationary, it has tea in it! Same with the little white package wrapped with a bow. 

 3. A bundle of vintage-inspired fabric tied neatly with a bow.

4. Fabric state map in a frame {she and I are both from New York, how awesome is that?} The package was tied with a teal {one of her fav colors}, sparkly {which she also likes} scarf/belt.
{{p.s. check out the state map DIY here}}

5. A journal. This one I feel the need to explain a bit. She is going to be married soon, and my intention for this journal was to be a cute way for her and her soon-to-be husband to write love notes to one another. Or just as a journal to document her engagement/wedding/marriage. Whatever she chooses :)



I was so caught up and excited about giving Traci {my secret blogger's name} her gift, that I didn't really think too much about my gift! So when it came, I totally wasn't expecting it and it was an awesome surprise.

My secret blogger was Ashlie Blake over at Painting Bliss. She is a mixed media artist and creates some very beautiful pieces! Seriously, I'm so impressed with her sense of creativity. Plus I love her adorable handwriting. These were my gifts from her.
{please excuse the terrible pictures!}

A bamboo spoon and fork, perfect for salad serving
Some vintage buttons, which I adore
A cute blush hat with an adorable flower
{and did I mention it's handmade?}
A fun firefly necklace to see in the dark
And a stationary set that really a work of art {complete with a stamp and an E for Elyse}
And finally, and probably best was the beautiful handmade mixed media art made just for us.

If I were any good at poem writing, that might have rhymed....haha.


Anyway, this was such a fantastic opportunity and I'm so grateful I got to be a part of it. Now go check out the other awesome blogs!

DIY: Fabric State Map

Have you seen all of those print outs of state maps? You know, the designed ones that look really pretty? Well, that was kind of my inspiration for this. But this was much easier to do (well for me at least since I'm not terribly great at design).

{Please excuse the terrible pictures. It was night time when I made these and I used my phone's camera}

DIY Fabric State Map

 

Supplies:
Two contrasting fabrics
Glue
State map cut out {I found this map online, printed it, and cut it out}
Frame

The size of the map will depend on the frame size you want to use. I used an 8x10 frame and I liked the way it looked, but it might also look nice in a really small frame. It really depends on how the state you choose is shaped.

1. Choose your two contrasting fabrics. I love the vintage flower-y look, so I used that as the fabric for the state. For the background fabric, you want something really plain, otherwise it will {most likely} look too busy. I chose a plain royal blue color for this one. {Note: You can also switch it and have the background be a little crazier and the state be simpler.}

2. Place your cut out state backwards on the wrong side of the fabric {aka the side you don't want showing}. That way you can trace it without having to worry about pen/pencil marks on the front of the fabric.

3. Next, cut out the fabric you plan to use for the back. To do this, I just put the back of the frame on it and used that as the template

3. Once it's traced on, cut it out and glue it on to the fabric you've chosen for the back.

And voila! You have your finished project. I like the first one {the teal & flowered one pictured at the top} I did much better, mostly because the state cutout turned out much better. But if you mess up, it's pretty easy to redo :)

P.S. I'm not so sure how I feel about the crazy frame with the crazy fabric. Maybe a more muted frame might suit this one better. But {of course} you should do what you like :)