Dressember 2016 Kick-Off + Giveaways

Dressember 2016 kicks off in just two days! I can't believe it's almost here. As I look to this next month, I am excited for what's ahead, and I'm hopeful that many of you will help me make this Dressember a great one.

Dressember happens because of generosity. Because people believe in a cause and give what they can to make it happen. As I'm typing this post, Dressember donors have already given a combined $70,000 to the cause. That's 70k to fight human trafficking, to restore the lives of victims, and to prosecute those who make a living on exploiting the powerless.

I know during this time of year, money can be tight. But I also know that this season encourages us to be generous with what we have. It doesn't take a lot to make a difference. You don't have to give the largest amount of money to take a stand. Any amount you give goes toward the ongoing work of anti-slavery organizations International Justice Mission and A21. No amount is too small to be a voice for those who have none.

I am asking for your help to kick off Dressember 2016 well. Help me get started on the right foot as we head into the month of December. And to say thank-you for your generosity, I have some special giveaways. (All I need is your address so I can send your thank-you item on its way!)

Donate $30 or more to my Dressember campaign on Giving Tuesday (November 29, 2016) and I will send you one of my mini splatter paint journals! I have eight of these cuties to give away, and they make a great little gift for the journaler or artist in your life.

 
Each one-of-a-kind, hand painted, 3.5 x 5.5" Moleskine journal is filled with 64 pages of blank paper with 16 perforated sheets at the back. Each features a flexible navy, black, or grey cardboard cover and back pocket for lose papers. The front with be adorned with a fun splatter paint design in a surprise color! The small size fits easily into a pocket, purse, or backpack and is easy to take on-the-go.

Donate $20 or more to my Dressember campaign during the first week of Dressember (December 1-7, 2016) and I will send you a piece of my "famous" brush lettering artwork! This has been a beloved thank-you item in the past and once again I will be creating these original works of art for my donors. Each quote is selected and hand-painted by me, so you will be receiving an original piece, not a print.

Be one of the first 10 donors to give $10 or more to my Dressember campaign and you will receive a limited-edition thank-you card featuring one of the images from my #DressemberCollection of photographs. These images are also available for purchase, with proceeds going to Dressember. Please contact me directly if you are interested.

I will be sharing my Dressember Collection on my Instagram account throughout the campaign. My hope is that the images will cause viewers to reflect on the differences between young people who are free, and young people who are not free. All are deserving of the best life possible--full of dignity, vibrancy, and autonomy--and that is something worth fighting for.

Please consider what you can give to my Dressember campaign. Simply click the link below to donate. Thank you for your consideration and support. Let's do this!

Donate now

Dressember + Art Giveaway

Happy day four of Dressember! As of hitting publish, we have joined forces to raise $735 for my campaign and over $230,000 total! That's enough to fund over 50 rescue operations, which on average cost $4,500. I am so thankful to be part of this journey and to have so many wonderful donors joining me.

Before Dressember began, donors gave $475 to my campaign. On the first day of Dressember, which was also Giving Tuesday, I hosted a surprise giveaway and donors gave $160. Since then, $100 was donated yesterday, pushing us over one third of the way to the goal.

As we move into the weekend, I want to help keep this momentum going, especially since I doubled my goal from last year and I would love to meet it. But that means I'm going to need lots of help from you!

So this weekend I'm hosting an art giveaway! For Friday through Sunday only (December 4-6), all donors to my Dressember campaign will receive a piece of art, chosen and hand-lettered by me. This will be an original piece, not a print, and also a surprise as you don't know what you'll get until it shows up!

I'm not setting a donation requirement, simply asking that you consider what you can give to this great cause. All I will need from you is an address if you're not someone I see on a regular basis. If an address isn't provided, I won't be able to get you your art.

This is just one simple way I can say thank you for your gift to Dressember. All donations are tax deductible within the United States and secure. You can choose to make a one-time donation or a monthly gift. You can also choose to donate in memory of someone, or in someone's honor. If you donate in honor of someone, I will send you a card that you can give to your honoree, letting them know about the donation.

Also, if you do donate $20 or more to my campaign, you have sponsored a dress and get to choose one for me to wear from those listed on this page. This is a fun way to get involved with the creative process of Dressember by choosing what I'll wear. If you have sponsored a dress but haven't selected yours yet, please send me your selection, otherwise I will choose one for you.

Donate now

If you have questions about Dressember, please ask! You can also check out my Dressember page on this blog or my Dressember campaign page for more details. If you don't see the answer to your question, leave it below in the comments or contact me and we can chat!

Check out more of my art and photos of my Dressember styles on Instagram @MrsEliseMance.

Dressember + A Fundraiser Challenge

I've been excited to see donations coming in already for my Dressember campaign! It gives me hope that my crazy goal isn't quite so crazy. If you've donated to my campaign, thank you so much! I can't do this alone and having your support is awesome.

Last year during Dressember, I offered quote art as a bonus to my donors and I've decided to incorporate it again this year, but in a slightly different way to help build momentum.

My hope is to reach at least $1,000 in donations by December 1 (as of hitting publish, we're only $600 away, which breaks down to $30/day). If that goal is reached, I will give each donor of $25 or more a piece of hand-lettered art. All art pieces will be totally unique and lettered on thick, mixed media paper ready for framing or hanging.

If you were waiting for an incentive to give, this is it! Not only will you help fight slavery, but you will also get a beautiful work of art to display or gift to a friend. As soon as we reach $1,000, I will start creating the art and collecting donor addresses so I can get it mailed out as soon as possible. That way, if you're wanting to give your artwork to someone as a Christmas gift, it will *hopefully* arrive on time!

If you're wanting to find some examples of my work, you can check out my Etsy shop, Tumblr or Instagram. Leave any questions you may have in the comments or send them to me via email. You can visit my Dressember page to donate now and find out more about the campaign.

Thanks for considering this great cause and visiting my blog!

My 2015 Etsy Holiday Gift Guide

Christmas is coming and now is a perfect time to start planning for thoughtful, hand-picked gifts. Let my gift guide help you with some one-of-a-kind ideas from my Etsy shop!

In my shop, I specialize in custom creations. My listings feature examples of product designs as well as some pre-made items. With this gift guide, I hope to show you some things that are ready to buy, or give you ideas for something totally new that I could make for you.

When I talk to friends about what they want for Christmas, most say they want something thoughtful. What better way to give a thought-filled gift than a completely custom creation from my shop? I will work with you to design something that reflects the style and personality of whomever you are shopping for.

When you shop through my Etsy store, you are not shopping alone! Consider me your personal shopping assistant, who will also make the items you're buying! Together we can create personal gifts that will be treasured for years to come. Plus, they'll be delivered right to your door!

These journals are perfect for the writer, note taker, or artist in your life. They're also great for anyone who wants to begin keeping a journal but may need help getting started. These notebooks are perfect for women or men of any age. Plus, they can be gift wrapped so they'll arrive ready for gift-giving!

My art options are perfect for home decor and make a great, personal Christmas gift. Plus, if you order a custom piece, I will work with you to create a design that fits the style of whomever you are shopping for. Once you've settled on a size and design, why not purchase a coordinating frame from another Etsy vendor or local store to make your gift complete?

If you don't see exactly what you're looking for here or in my shop, please send me a message or custom order request. I've done paintings, signs, and made various other products for my shoppers. Just because it's not listed doesn't mean I can't do it.

Finally, top off your gift order with a few finishing touches like a card, gift wrap, or a bag tag. When you purchase something through my shop, you will be able to designate if your item is a gift or not. If it is a gift, you will receive a free, hand-lettered tag. On select items, you will be able to add gift wrapping for only $2. Your item will arrived wrapped and ready to go!

If you want more than a swing tag, order a custom card or my pre-made Christmas card set (one set is available, it comes with 3 cards). These cards ship free when you add them onto an order with another item.

As a thank you for checking out my gift guide, use the code "BLOG10" at checkout to receive 10% off your order! Come over to Elm Creative Designs and let's make this holiday season one to remember!

Grand Opening: ELM Creative Shop + Sale

I am so excited to announce the GRAND OPENING of my shop on art-hosting site Society6! And what better way to celebrate than with a sale?! Get free shipping + 20% off all apparel, tote bags, phone cases, and mugs!

This shop has helped to fuel my creativity as I have been working hard to fill it with new designs and art pieces. I launched it with a soft opening several months ago, but wanted to add more of my original work before the grand opening. Now I have not only my photography for sale, but also some of my painting and lettering designs!

Please come check out what I currently have to offer! Also, if you sign up for my ELM Creative email updates, you will be the first to know about new designs and sales! (Updates are only periodic and definitely NOT spammy, I promise!)

I'm so thankful for the support and encouragement I have already received. I've always wanted to have a shop of my own and now I get to! My goal is to create unique designs and also meet the requests of my shoppers. So, if you have a particular design you would like to see, let me know! The sky's the limit!

>> Shop at ELM Creative now! <<