DIY: Gold Leaf Vases

I LOVE gold leafing and could seriously go overboard leafing everything in my house! So in case you need further inspiration for what you can add gold leafing to, here is a quick and easy way to spruce up any décor or your Easter table this Spring!  These gorgeous gold leaf vases are soooo easy to do and the design possibilities are endless!  All you need are glass vases, gold leafing, metal leaf adhesive, metal leaf sealer and two paint brushes {all of which can be easily found at your local craft store!}. Really! That's it!  I found a great online tutorial here at SAS + Rose.  So go ahead and give it a try!  You won't be disappointed!!

PS.  You can also buy liquid gold leafing which I DO NOT recommend for this project.  I have used it before and it is a great product for certain projects {like my DIY golf leaf pine cone garland}.  However, for this one the gold leaf sheets end up looking so much better and have a lot more character and color than the liquid gold leaf. {And you don't have to worry about brush strokes or drip marks}.

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Tis' the Season

Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year!  One of the reason I love it is because I love creating holiday cards for my clients! It definitely keeps me busy this time of year but it is so fun to see pictures of everyone's cute families and design something for them that they love!  And isn't it the best to have something in your mail besides bills???? Always!

Don't forget that if you place your order with us by December 16th you'll receive 15% of your custom design!  Simply e-mail as at ccarterdesignstudio@gmail.com or visit our website {link above} and fill out the "Contact Me" form and mention the promo code: HOLIDAY15!

Thanksgiving Prep

I LOVE fall and Thanksgiving to me signifies the end the season.  So when I realized yesterday that we are only TWO weeks away from Thanksgiving I couldn't believe it!  I'm still trying to figure out where the first half of November went!  I seems like we had Halloween just a few days ago but it's time to face reality and it's time to start preparing for the large undertaking of cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  I know in my family we always have a huge family dinner followed by food induced comas, football and pie!  Thanksgiving is by far one of my favorite holidays and this year we will be enjoying it with my sister and her family which means her and I will be preparing the meal.  So if there are any of you out there in my boat it's time to start thinking ahead and starting the prep work so we can take a little stress of the holidays. 

I am a HUGE procrastinator so I love love love to make lists that I can check off to help keep myself on track and on time (otherwise nothing would ever get done!).  So with that in mind I have my own Thanksgiving list that I am sharing with y'all and is available to download for FREE on my website!  So hurry and go download it right now because it starts with things you should be doing two weeks before the big day which is TODAY! Yikes!

 

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One Design Rule You Should Break

Gone are the days of matchy-matchy finishes in one space or even in an entire residence.  Old school wisdom tells you not to mix metals but I see no reason why silver, gold, bronze, brass and copper cannot beautifully co-exist in a space.  You see it everywhere from fashion to interior design and people who are breaking this rule are creating beautiful interiors. I'm sure whoever came up with the rule of not mixing your metals is probably rolling over in their grave at this notion, but today, we are throwing out this rule and giving you tips on how to successfully mix and match metals in your home. 

TIP #1:  DON'T LET ONE METAL TONE DOMINATE
     If 90% of your room is in silver and only one or two items are in a gold tone they may seem a bit out of place.  Even the playing field and scatter various metals throughout the space and you will achieve a more timeless, collected look rather than looking like your trying too hard.

TIP #2: USE YOUR COLOR SCHEME
     Use your color scheme as a guide.  In a neutral room you can use gold tones  to add warmth and comfort or use polished silvers to give it a more modern feel. 

TIP #3: SELECT METALS TO COMPLIMENT YOUR EXISTING FURNITURE
     If your furniture already has chrome play it up with accents of gold or bronze and a few silver accessories.

TIP #4: CHOOSE A DOMINATE METAL
     I know what you're thinking..."didn't you JUST tell me not to pick a dominate metal?"  Yes, yes I did.  I'm not crazy though, this tip is for those who may not be ready to jump in and just want to get their feet wet.  If you're still not sure about mixing metals then start with picking a dominate metal and mixing textures and finishes.  For example, mix polished silver with a brushed or hammered silver or pewter.

Don't be afraid to try new things and mix and match!  I'd love to hear your opinion on mixing metals or if you have any questions about how to do it successfully!  Happy mixing!

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