guest post// diy color block gold leaf log

This post is written by Jess, a mom to 3 kids and wife to a collegiate strength coach. She has a degree in Industrial Design and she also minored in Interior Design. Jess loves to share her eclectic sense of style with everyone on her blog, Domicile 37.

Hello All! I feel very honored to be guest blogging on Little Dove Creations today! I love reading about Justine and her sweet family and all that she can do...She is a talented lady and a great mom. With that said, I thought that I would ease her burden (as she preps for her new addition) and help her out by sharing a simple DIY that is all season appropriate and is extremely easy 

to recreate...and it only takes about 30 minutes. 

Before I get started with the DIY, I would love to give y'all the backstory to how I obtained my log. Please do note, you can purchase your log at a store, this is just a story of how I obtained mine...A couple of months ago, while driving to I do not know where, I saw a pile of logs sitting at the curb of a home in my neighborhood, I assumed they were free...well, I am pretty sure they were free because a few days after I obtained my small pile, I drove back down that street and saw a bigger pile with a sign that said free. Anyways, I threw my small pile of logs in my van and let it sit there for a few days while I tried to figure out how I was going to disinfect them of all the creatures inside of them (I live in a townhouse, so I was most certainly not bringing them in without a plan). I decided to put the logs in my oven at the lowest setting (175 degrees) and I let it bake for an hour. To my surprise, it worked. 

Materials: 

A log or tree stump

Modge podge (any brand will do)

Gold Leaf

2-Paint brushes (or foam brush)

*Note: If you happen to pick up a stump or log from outside to kill the critters, you can bake your logs at 175 degrees (or your lowest oven temperature setting) for an hour PRIOR to attempting this DIY. NOW, this is what worked for me but it may not work for everyone---I also checked on the logs while in the oven every 10-15 minutes to make sure everything was okay and nothing was on fire.

Steps: 

(As Pictured Below)

Apply modge podge to desired area on log with paint brush (or foam brush). You can choose to tape off the section if wanted. I think there is beauty in imperfection so I chose to eye ball everything. When working with modge podge, do a little section at a time. Modge podge dries fast, so you have to be quick when working with it. 

I worked in small sections (the size of a gold leaf sheet) and I applied the gold leaf on top of the modge podge and repeated these steps until I worked my way around the whole lower section of my log. After I placed the gold leaf down on the area of the log covered in modge podge, I gently pushed down on the gold leaf, securing it to the log. When doing this, try to keep the fingers you use to push the gold leaf down on clean and free of glue. You do not want the gold leaf to stick to your fingers. 

After I gently pushed the gold leaf down, I grabbed my dry paint brush and I patted the gold leaf down almost like I was doing a stipple affect with a dry paint brush. I wanted the gold leaf to really sink into the wood and to have a raw look to it. I did not want it to look perfect.

After the gold leaf settled a bit into the wood, I took my modge podge and paint brush (the one used in step one) and applied modge podge over the gold leaf to act as a sealant. 

Voila, now you have yourself a chic, on trend (not too trendy), but classic in style decor piece.

Thanks ALL for having me today! I enjoyed sharing a little part of me with you.

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Thank you so much Jess, this is a gorgeous project. 

It somehow perfectly combines a simple, rustic look with chic sophistication, love it!

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