Jennifer Carroll Events Blog

My DIY Silver leaf dresser project, Part 2

Hooray!! I'm finished! {insert tossing of confetti here!} But I have to tell you this was the hardest project! I would say this is definitely one of the more difficult DIY projects I've taken on... here's how it went:

FRIDAY:
I sanded the entire dresser with a handheld power sander. Definitely the right tool for the job - except that I apparently haven't been properly trained in how to sand because my finished sanding job showed lots of cirlces and scratches that looked like loopy-doodles.... thank goodness the silver gilding would cover this. I'm in big trouble when I go to do another painted furniture project though!

Then after my so-so sanding job I filled the holes from one side of each handle - I'll be replacing with knobs since I can't find handles that are the same size as these... next, I painted the base coat color. Here I used an oil-based dark chocolate from Benjamin Moore. If you are considering skipping this step - don't. I have to admit I almost did and I am now sooo glad that I didn't because it really does show through. Which leads me to my 2nd point - pick a color you'd like to see because - {ahem} you'll see it. I'm hoping that's the nature of gilding and not just my woeful gilding skills...

SATURDAY:
All excited to begin gilding... discover the brown paint is still drying. Darn this Virginia humidity!

SUNDAY:
OK! Finally ready to begin gilding! Yippie! So, at 7:30 am out to the garage I go. I bought the "quick dry" style of size which dries in 3 hours. "No problem, 3 hours? I'll be done by lunch!!" {insert dramatic/scary music here!} With paint-brush in hand, I begin applying the size. It's thick and sticky so I applied a nice thin coat. It took about 45 minutes to an hour to apply it carefully to everything. I wait another 30 minutes for the top to be "tacky" and then begin applying the silver leaf... This stuff is wafer thin. The slightest hint of a breeze and your placement is totally off. Well.... after carefully placing each little sheet of leaf I realize my 3 hour window has ended and the entire rest of the dresser has completely dried. After several seconds of panic and many, many deep breathes... {and panicked thoughts of "who can I call to come help me do this project!!??" or "could my 6 month old possibly hold a paint brush?!"} I realize that I'm going to have to apply the size and the leaves in sections. Thankfully the pint of size I ordered held more than enough to do this. So, taking it in sections, I finally completed the project nine hours later. Oh yes, you read that correctly... NINE hours. That would be 9 hours of hunching over, sweating, crying, more hunching, more sweating and a lot more crying. I admit it. I'm a wimp! This was not how I envisioned this project (or my Sunday!) going! I seriously thought I'd be done before lunch. NOT at dinner. And by then - I was so tired I barely wanted to eat anything...

MONDAY:
Feeling a little better after a night's sleep with no nightmares about the dresser - yay! - I headed back out to the garage to check on my dresser. It was sitting there looking all sparkly and shiny with a lovely distressed feeling to its patina. And I was smitten!! It is now happily residing in my bedroom and I'm mostly thrilled with it. Yes, there are some mistakes here and there but that's part of her charm.... her story.... and now that it's over, I love her for sharing that story with me.

Not sure if I'll keep the acrylic knobs - I love them {they're from Target! } but they kinda fade away... might try a darker knob... we'll see!

Happy Wednesday!

Jennifer

My DIY Silver leaf dresser project, Part 1

My daughter and I recently moved and I'm in the process of decorating my new bedroom. It's fun to have the liberty to decorate only to please your own personal style and taste but it's also kinda overwhelming! I've been busy building a Pinterest inspiration board for my bedroom and have gotten a little overwhelmed with all the options and styles that are out there. But the great thing about the board is that it collects everything visually and then helps me to see patterns develop and begin to really choose what I like and I what I don't. I'll share before and afters of the room with you soon but for now I wanted to let you see what I'm tackling over this Labor Day weekend.

I came across the top photo while trolling the internet looking for ideas and fell in love with the silver dressers. Fortunately I have my grandmother's old dresser which has a similar (although not identical) shape and thought.... "hmmm.... I could paint you!" I did a little more looking around and realized that paint probably wouldn't give me the look that I want but Silver Leaf would!

I found this handy blog post on Little Green Notebook (thank you Jenny for posting it!) and felt inspired to tackle this project! I bought my brown paint from my local Benjamin Moore shop (I got an oil based paint) and ordered my "size" and silver leaf. Like Jenny I also ordered the aluminum (not real silver) leaves.

So with tools in hand, my daughter and I (ok, mostly me) are headed out to the garage to begin sanding. Hopefully come Tuesday morning I will have photos of my beautiful newly silver leafed dresser to share with you! Wish us luck!!

I hope you have a fun & safe holiday weekend!

Happy Friday!

Jennifer

 

Behind the Scenes: September 2011 e-zine!

I am busy, busy working on the September issue of Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll and wanted to share a sneak-peek at one of the treats I've created for this issue: Caramel-White Chocolate Apple Pocket Pies! That's a mouth-full of yummy! Can't wait to share this recipe and more with you.

Not a subscriber? Click her to sign-up so you don't miss out! http://www.jennifercarroll.net/index.php?/newsletter

Happy Wednesday!

Jennifer

My DIY Printable Pirate Party kit now on etsy!

 

Ahoy Maties! My DIY Pirate Party kit is now up in my etsy shop! Please visit and share the link with any friends whom you think would like this kit for their next pirate party! http://www.etsy.com/shop/JenCarrollVA?ref=seller_info

Right now these are download only files (for printing on your home printer or through your local print shop). In 2012 (or maybe later this Fall!) I will be offering these items in a boxed set. Stay tuned for those details!

To view the entire pirate party shoot check out the August issue of Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll!

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Online Publishing from YUDU

Click here to sign-up so that you don't miss an issue!

I want to say a GIANT - THANK YOU!!! to everyone who helped with this Pirate shoot! Jen Fariello, Dara, Stage & Liam Parker, David Riley, Jim & Pat Roberts and Sherry Spencer of Pat's Floral Designs, Millie Smith, and Jenny Yetman for all their invaluable help! Thank you also to the folks at Chris Greene Lake for letting us shoot there.

I've also just found out that this photo shoot will be featured in the Spring issue of Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate magazine!!! How exciting is that?!!!! I'm a huge fan so this is incredibly exciting to me!!!

I hope you are having a wonderful week!

Happy Wednesday!

Celebrating Everyday Life :: July 2011 is here!

Hello, hello, hello! I apologize for the few months of radio silence as I adjusted to life as a new mommy! Emma and I are doing great and I am easing back into a little bit of designing with my paper line and the e-glossy. I had a lot of fun pulling together the July issue of Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll and I hope you get a fun tid-bit or two out of it.

 

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Happy Thursday!

Jennifer

Style Me Pretty features...

... Jen Fariello Photography and Shawn Cossette of Beehive Events! As always, we're thrilled when our fabulous friends get the recognition they deserve and we feel so lucky when we get to collaborate with Jen and Shawn. Shawn hosted a pretty springtime Bridal Bouquet design session for a bridal party, allowing her bride to really have some input on our bouquet. The group turned it into a party and Jen took some gorgeous pictures-- what a fun way to throw a shower!

{photos by Jen Fariello}

We couldn't think of a better way to spend a springtime afternoon-- beautiful flowers, good friends, and some design savvy! Kudos to Jen and Shawn and congrats on the Style Me Pretty Facebook feature!

Happy Friday!

-Jennifer & Stephanie

Super Bowl Snack Time!

It's football time! Friends and family might not hear those words from the girls here at Jennifer Carroll Events often, but even we don our favorite team's jersey or start spouting stats when Super Bowl fever comes around. Throwing a game-watching soiree this year? Jazz up your usual gridiron grub with some delicious-- but simple-- snacks!

One of our new favorite goodies to munch on comes from the darling food blog, Love and Butter. Cake pops are a growing trend and, besides being delectable, are super simple to make! Check out the latest issue of Celebrating Everyday Life with Jennifer Carroll for more Super Bowl tips here!

Ingredients (to make 50 pops):

1 box cake mix OR 1 store-bought pound cake

{if you choose to make your own cake, you'll need the ingredients listed on the box as well}

1 can frosting

1 pkg. chocolate candy bark for dipping

Paper lollypop sticks

Styrofoam block

White icing and tips for piping

 

Step One:

Prepare cake according to package. Let cake cool completely. {If using a store-bought cake, skip to step two.}

Step Two:

In a large bowl, finely crumble cake. Add 1/2 of the frosting {you can add more if needed, but start with 1/2}. Using a spoon, gently combine mix and frosting until it's well blended like cookie dough.

Step Three:

Scoop dough into balls and roll into football shapes. Place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet. Once all dough is rolled, place sheet in fridge to set.

Step Four:

Meanwhile, melt chocolate candy bark in the microwave. Be careful not to overheat it. Remove footballs from fridge and grab your sticks. Dip end of stick into melted chocolate no more than 1/2". Then stick the chocolate dipped end into the football. Repeat until all footballs are on sticks. Let chocolate set.

Step Five:

Get your styrofoam block out. Dip entire football into melted chocolate to cover. Gently tap the football to allow excess chocolate to run off. Stick football into styrofoam block to allow it to dry.

Step Six:

Once footballs are dry, lay them on your baking sheet and prepare your white icing for piping the laces. Pipe the long vertical lines first, then pipe your short horizontals "laces". Serve and enjoy!

 

Happy Friday! Go team!

-Jennifer & Stephanie

{Get the look} Lori & Nick's Veritas Wedding

It might have been months ago, but here at Jennifer Carroll Events, we're still swooning over Lori & Nick's summer wedding at Veritas Vineyard! We're so excited that The Knot is currently featuring this couple's rustic nuptials in their Spring issue and we just posted a larger peek at the entire day on our Facebook page. Lori and Nick really embraced their wedding's vineyard setting and, inspired by their enthusiasm, we intertwined their love for Virginia and each other into all the day's rustic details. Love this look, but aren't quite sure how to get it? Here are a few tips for bringing Lori and Nick's Big Day into your every day:

This wine cork place holder is super easy to re-create for any event-- from a wedding for 200 to a casual dinner party for 20! The key is ensuring that the cork doesn't roll. After slicing the cork top, to place the card in, shave the bottom to create a flat edge for the cork to rest on. If you're using a tent card (like Lori and Nick did, above), you don't have to shave the bottom-- just insert only the front flap of the card into the cork and allow the back flap to stablize the cork. Don't have a huge collection of corks at home? Your local winery will usually give their used corks away for free-- so be sure to ask!

{photos by Jen Fariello}

Another detail we loved was the cider plank menu cards-- the look and feel of the wood added an extra jolt of "Wow" factor as soon as guests sat down. For this design element, visit your local builder's supply company and ask if they have any extra cedar plank shingles. Cut the shingles down to size, then sand everything-- you don't want anyone getting a splinter when they pick up their menus!

A vineyard theme can be incorporated into any event, whether it be a cozy dinner for two or a large corporate luncheon. Lori and Nick really emphasized the natural summer colors of Veritas-- lavendars, greens, browns-- and by incorporating those into your space, you'll invoke a summery, wine-soaked scene.

Happy Wednesday!

-Jennifer & Stephanie

{Friday Sneak Peek}

Wow, the week has flown by! We've been hard at work on some exciting new projects here at Jennifer Carroll Events, where the holidays are taking over our subconsiousness. One of our recent endeavours includes prepping for our upcoming December e-zine-- think holiday entertaining, tips on crafting a winter wonderland ambiance for any event, and gift ideas galore! Here's a sneak peek at one of our e-zine inspirations:

We love creating new ways to spice up the holiday season-- elegant touches in decor or crafty ways to glam up gift-giving! Whether you're a low-key holiday planner or you love to host family and friends throughout the season, you won't want to miss our December newsletter, which is packed with seasonal inspirations. If you haven't signed up for our monthly e-zine, head here to subscribe!

Have you "liked" us on Facebook yet? We post all our blog posts straight to our Facebook page, so they show up automatically in your newsfeed! We love all the support we get from friends, family, and the community-- so if you like what we're doing here at Jennifer Carroll Events, be our Facebook fan!

Happy Friday! Enjoy a gorgeous fall weekend!

-Jennifer & Stephanie

Grape Bridal Shower Invite

Lori Ferguson, one of the wonderful bride's I'm working with in 2010, sent me this photo and I had to share it with you! Lori & Nick are getting married this June at Veritas Vineyard and we are using my grape cluster wedding invitation design for their invites. Well, as part of my Jennifer Carroll Designs line of stylish notecards, I have a grape card which Lori's mom picked up at Chimney Corner in Charlottesville and cleverly printed Lori's Bridal Shower invitations on - making a completely unified paper ensemble!

I think they turned out SO well!! Don't you? Being so completely obsessed with details as I am, I love having everything tied together like this - seeing a motif repeated in different ways is a perfect way to personalize and "brand" your wedding - helping to make it even more memorable for you & your guests!

Best wishes to Lori for a wonderful Bridal Shower this month - I hope you have a wonderful time with the girls!!

I'd love to hear of ways that you are doing this with your wedding or special event!!

Happy Monday!

Jennifer