Came the Spring

 

This picture just sang to me. Thank you Henry W. L. 

DIY gold floral containers

A few months ago I ordered an inexpensive urn for a wedding design.

It came looking like something I got for a dance trophy when I was ten years old. So shiny, so tacky. No good for this classy white & gold affair. What to do?

I gravitated toward the mercury effect seen in many DIY tutorials, but since this container was plastic, not glass, something else had to be done.

I couldn't have been happier with the way it turned out with Design Master spray paint and this water-resist effect, (check out THIS VIDEO) so I snapped pictures for.. drumroll.. my very first tutorial. Feedback is VERY welcome!

 Materials you will need:

1. Desired containers. The urn shown is from here. Relatively inexpensive, silver and gold finishes available, and two different sizes. Also, it is LIGHTWEIGHT, which is so nice once it's filled with water, foam, florals, etc. This process also works on glass, metal -- you name it.

2. Spray paint. Shown is Design Master ColorTool Spray in Brilliant Gold, which is $10 here, but probably less expensive at a craft store. This particular item is useful because it can be used for multiple materials, even fresh flowers.

3. Small spray bottle with water. Self-explanatory.

4. Paper towels. Check.

This really is so easy. Here we go.

ugly duckling plastic urn about to receive a makeover ^

 After gathering your materials, make sure your container is clean and paint-prepared. Find an area with good ventilation and protect the surroundings with newspaper, cardboard, etc. I used a cardboard box.

Taking your spray bottle, spray one side of the container until the water starts to bead together in droplets -- but does not run in streaks. The larger the water droplets, the more "textured" your paint will appear.

Lightly spray the water-treated area with paint. Start with less, then add more as needed. Allow the paint to bead up with the water droplets to start creating your mottle-y pattern. After a few minutes:

Take a paper towel and gently dab off the water droplets and paint that have collected together.

Allow the paint to dry for a few to several hours, depending on the amount of product used. Turn the container around to repeat on the other side (water spray--paint--dab off). For a layered effect, this process can be repeated multiple times on the entire container. 

Just look at that sheen! So much improved from the previous eye-offending First Place trophy, I can't gush enough. This would look absolutely lovely at an outdoor gold-themed wedding with the sun hitting it just like in these pictures. Or on a shelf near a window as home decor.

Here's how this guy actually showed up, full of blooms at the wedding at The Woods on Ninth. Please excuse the lower quality of the phone picture. 

You would never guess that underneath that golden glow was the tacky trophy, right? (shudder).

Now go Goldify many things.

All About the Numbazz

{Caitlin & Jason}

These hand-painted table numbers are made from 4'' by 4'' canvases and the designs match the bouquets.

Can you guess what flowers will be in the arrangements? 

eleven days until these two are married (5.24.14)

ten days until these table numbers go down

nine days until I see my family (and brand new nephew!) again

eight is my lucky number

let's stop there.

Lauren & Michael

Lauren and Michael McConkie

4.12.14

{conversations with Lauren}

What would you say best describes your personality and the personality of your husband to be?   

We are both outdoorsy and love to be spontaneous. I am most at home when the sun is on my face and I am in the mountains. We love to explore and go on adventures but also love to stay in and read books and watch movies

what is the style of your wedding? a little bit rustic, a little bit vintage, a little bit bohemian

and your personal style? simple, but beautiful. I'm all about being barefoot and not brushing my hair and I think my decorating style is simple and clean.

 

{bouquet}

  
So white flowers with a TON of greenery is what I want for the most part, with some light peach flowers for variety. 

and the handle treatment? something very minimal, I don't want ribbon or pearls or anything, but something that makes it look like we picked the flowers and tied them together 

describe your wedding dress: we took apart an antique dress from the 1800s and remade it. It is absolutely perfect. 

{In the mix}

Peonies, David Austen garden roses, Icelandic poppies, flowering orange bush, scabiosa, ranunculus, lisianthus, snowberry, paperwhites, veronica, daisy mums, and dark green foliages 

Looking forward to professional images from Tracy Hill Photography

Tulip Festival

My cousin's husband is a part of the family who owns Thanksgiving Point, and the incredible Tulip Festival which blooms there every spring.

This year, we went as a family to this beautiful garden escape. Here are some of my favorite pictures from that day... For the love of flowers.

(No filter or editing on these vibrant colors!)
I think I'm in love with that forsythia. 

To Make You Smile

I am so so excited to be working on a post for the wedding of THIS GIRL ----> Casmin Wisner. (Kazz-min Whizz-ner. Did you smile? I do. Every time).

Speaking of smiling, here she is, grinning and surrounded by her ladies.

There is no one like this girl - anyone who knows her can attest. So no short, half-post will suffice. More is on its way!
Love,
Becca