Spring Cleaning

The last few days its finally been warm enough to throw open all the windows, shake the rugs and sprouse up a bit. This is usually the same time when things I haven't seen for a while (but not forgotten, thanks in great part to this blog) magically reappear. Others only need to make their appearance for brief periods, when it starts to be springy.

One being this little vintage wooden bird last seen here. Another gift is this chunky bottle of Nordic spring called Freia by MOR. Inside is an Orangery of epic proportions, -a collection of citrus'- from pink grapefruit to Mandarin and Sicilian oranges tinged with Clementines and Moroccan neroli (orange blossoms). All this sunniness (high on the vitamin C and something celery-esk) develops into vanilla, amber and my all time favorite, gooey labdanum. White enameled wooden peacock adored bottle... vanity material without fear of spoiling the juice inside! (this will be the only time I call perfume juice, promise, it was unavoidable with all that citrus talk).




Modern Twist's Hide box based on traditional Japanese Anemone designs.

Modern Alchemy's solid perfumed pocket watch. Yuzu flower is so spring.

Antique lace and collected pastel seas shells... remember the DIY embossed gift wrap? Now it's peeking through white tulle and a poof of purple Lunaria flowers which later turn into these in late summer.


Many other things were unearthed as well (and promptly misplaced), look for them to be posted in the coming days.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Lavanila

This has to be one of the most delicious perfumes I've had the pleasure of encountering in a long, long time! Exquisite! For the vanilla lover, this is an absolute must try... Vanilla Coconut by natural perfume house Lavanila. As if you dabbed pure essential oil or extract of vanilla on yourself but without the staining and as the day rolls along it turns ever more into cool ice cream. The creamy coconut peeks through and so does the monoi Tiare but both never steal the show from the Madagascar vanilla beans.

Image: mam for Gave That

Gift Skins

Gift Skins by Expressionables has created a sweet way to create your own personalized gift wrap online. Upload your photographs, pick your style (template) and it's printed on rolls of wrapping paper delivered to your door. The possibilities are endless!

I Do Gift Wrap by GiftSkins

Image: mam for Gave That

Happy Easter!

Image: mam for Gave That

DIY Tea Cup Candles

For the longest time I've wanted to create a tea cup candle, especially when I found some gel wax in the cupboard. Let's pretend this is a Rooibos red tea candle. For the nitty gritty on how these are created (and more pictures) watch the video below!

- Materials Needed -
China Tea Cups & Saucer
Gel Wax
Glass Container
Gel Wax safe fragrance (optional)
Wick
Elmer's Glue Spots
Wooden Skewers

Image: mam for Gave That | Video: Magda & mam for Gave That

Z Palette

My little studio space has a cache of pallets and cases of all shapes and sizes which is why I was intrigued when Z Palette contacted me about their line. Creating your own custom palettes of makeup is only one of the benefits of these... another is helping the environment by cutting down on plastic packaging ending up in landfills.

A number of companies have started to sell their makeup without the typical plastic packaging along with refills or you can try depotting your own. These pop onto the Z Palettes magnetic plate and stay put. Refills and cosmetics without packaging can cost less as well (for a list of companies see here at Z Palettes site).

The clear window forces you to take stock in what you already have and encourages you to use it up. All in all this is the perfect, unique gift for the beauty devote and jet setter in your life. Check out how these Z Palettes fit perfectly in the Hold Meg Bag too, that's where mine is nestled.

Z Palette in Zebra

Image: mam for Gave That | Hold Me Bag

Reusing Gift Wrap

This is a way I've been using bits of left over wrapping paper for years... use it to line your envelopes. Lined envelopes are such a luxury today but so simple to DIY.

Taking the envelope you're looking to line, place it on top of your wrapping paper and trace around it using a pencil. Leave 1/2 inch off the bottom as you cut out your lining. You may also need to trim a smidgen off the sides of your lining paper so that it slips easily inside your envelope. Using a glue stick, lightly tack down your lining paper to the inside of your envelope. (For step by step instructions see the video below)

Tissue paper, while a little harder to work with, looks beautiful as well. Any crinkles in either gift wrap or tissue papers can be ironed out using a low heat setting.


For more ideas see my GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS section of the blog.

Image: mam for Gave That | Video: Magda & mam for Gave That

apple & bee

Love, love, love these organic cotton eco travel bags by Australia's very own apple & bee. They're incredibly tricked out and unfurl to hang up for easy access. Even better apple & bee has created The Bee Foundation with a portion of proceeds going towards helping to bring awareness to the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and other environmental projects. Sweet!

Image: mam for Gave That

Tory Burch for Japan

Tory Burch ♥ Japan... get yours here.

Image: mam for Gave That

DIY Prim Bath Salts

This is a fun little way I like to display (and gift wrap) bath salts. Taking an old tea cup and saucer which doesn't even have to match and filling it to the brim with large chunks of heaven. NARS oil soaked crystals remain a favorite but these are deceptively easy to concoct. Some sea salt from the grocery store, a few drops of pure vanilla or orange extract, food coloring if you like a pop of color and a bit of tulle to wrap everything up. All in all it's a way to give new life to pieces of china who have lost their way from sets or who have sat way too long collecting dust someplace.

Have sea shells instead of china tea cups? Look here for a past bath salt gift look I did here using them.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here and you can find my collection of DIY gift ideas here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Hold Me Bag

This is one of the best bags that I've seen in a good while and it's surprisingly not a clutch! This is actually a makeup bag by Hold Me. I was fortunate enough to be sent one in Classic Black by Hold Me (thank you so much!) and it is absolutely amazing in person. Done in Knew Suede it's soft and luxurious to handle. It actually begs for it and the design which is what initially caught my eye —modeled after vintage school bags— is impeccably chic.


What made me the most excited about this bag was the flap with 15 pockets to hold your makeup brushes. No more brush rolls or being limited to travel sizes.



Makeup is messy by nature but in this case the Knew Suede, inside and out on this Classic Black bag, is very easy to clean and brush off.



The Z Palette fits perfectly in the slit pocket on the top flap and I can fit tons of other palettes in the center of the bag which zips close.


Every detail was clearly thought of from the way it unfurls and lays everything out for you to view and use to how plush it is to help keep your makeup safe (and intact!). This is invaluable for anyone who travels a great deal or loves to take their makeup and perfume with them everywhere they go. Surely the "It bag" of all cosmetic bags making Hold Me the perfect gift.

Hold Me Bag in Classic Black

Image: Magda & mam for Gave That

Inspiration: Lanvin

Emma Watson's Lanvin top on the cover of Marie Claire was absolutely stunning. Done in chiffon looking flowers with tiny sequined and bejeweled centers it seemed like the perfect inspiration to transfer to dainty favor boxes. Blue Damask vellum was cut into free form 5 petaled flowers and clear gems affixed to the centers over a white gift box base.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Embossing Paper & Butterflies

Textured gift wrap, especially done completely in white, has been on my mind for the longest time and today the old embossing tool and plates were dredged out (one of the best investments ever made, they can be used in so many ways). Using plain white paper it was covered in tiny stars and swirls. A little time consuming but thoroughly worth it... I could imagine these in towering groupings at a wedding. O-la-la.

Letting the paper be the focal point seemed best so it first was bundled up with a simple gold string and bow. Then I remembered the vellum butterflies, created using rubber stamps and baby blue ink, I had about and formed a little wreath on the top.

For more gift wrap looks please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.

Image: mam for Gave That

Writing On Rice

Many years later and this remains as baffling as ever. How in the world do they write on grains of rice this tiny? These little glass pendents (above an evil eye and little turtle) always find a place in the cabinet of curiosities and have long been some of the most cherished friendship gifts I've exchanged.

Image: mam for Gave That

Cherry Blossoms & Dragonflies

They always say never pick flowers while it's raining and I always fail to listen... bouquets of early blooming cherry blossoms kept together with black twine and a glittery silver dragonfly cut out of scrap paper. Underneath it all are shell pink mulberry paper hearts and wax paper to wrap the gift box.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

For more gift wrap please see my gift wrap design inspiration area here.


Image: mam for Gave That

Jane Post

It's still Rainy Days here but it seems more bearable when you have a suit of armor. To go along with the weather proof bags, in your face umbrellas and my Sperry's I just had to show you this incredible rain coat by Jane Post. The outside looks like a classic glossy slicker but it's actually the shell that fits over another coat made of wool underneath. Sort of like a gift wrapped coat. Pretty ingenious. I think mum would surely love this (mums day is around the corner) as both are so minimalistic in a Jil Sander (hope Ms. Post takes this as a complement) sort of way.

In other cherry news as I was moving things about I opened an old cigar box to find some handmade friendship bracelets inside. I made this one before and ended up giving it away so it's so nice to have a few replacements. Teaming them up (or interweaving them) with vintage rhinestone bracelets seems to be the perfect DIY project for these ongoing soggy days. For a DIY tutorial on that see my post here.

Rain coat: Jane Post
Bag: Pietro Alessandro
Bracelets: Handmade & Vintage

Image: Magda for Gave That