A Most Merry Christmas

Today is our last day before closing our studio for Christmas and New Years. We'll be back and in full swing January 5, 2009. We thank you for your business and look forward to providing many more ideas and inspiration for all your events in 2009.

Hostess Gifts

Here's an little inspiration for all your hostess gifts this weekend or last minute gifts for your co-workers.

{images courtesy of MarthaStewart.com}

Anita's Turtle Bars

Anything with dark chocolate I'm in love with. Are you looking for the perfect recipe to make this Christmas. You can not go wrong with these Turtle Bars.

You need:
For the base:
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter
For the topping:
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups pecans
• 1 cup chocolate chips — I used 64 % cocoa Valrhona dark chocolate, chopped coarsely instead

Steps:
•Preheat the oven at 350 F. Line a 9 by 13 inch pan (I used a 8 x 8 inch pan) with aluminum foil, leaving enough to hang over the edge and act as handles to remove bars after baking. Grease foil with cooking spray.
•Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and blend briefly to combine.
•Cut butter in small pieces and sprinkle over flour mixture. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
•Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the crust is golden and firm and dry. Leave the oven on at the same temperature.
•Combine the cream, butter, salt, and brown sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil for about 1 minute.
•Spread the pecans over the top of the crust. Pour the hot caramel filling evenly over the pecans. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the caramel topping darkens.
•Remove from the oven and sprinkle the chocolate chips over the hot topping. Let sit for a few moments and then use a knife or offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top.
•Chill the bars in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until the bars have fully set before slicing them.
•Using foil as handles, pull bars from pan and place on cutting board. Cut long side into 9 strips, then cut 4 strips across the short side, creating 36 bars. Wipe the knife clean between cuts.

Free: gift tags

The countdown to Christmas has begun and with all those gifts to wrap, you'll need to label them. Here are some free gift tags for your wrapping pleasure.

1.Clip-Art Tags from Martha Stewart
2.Fill-in-the-blank Gift Tags and 4-pack Gift Cards from The Small Object
3.Tags/labels for You from (inside a black apple)
4.Holiday gift tags from Microsoft Office
5.Free Little Tags/Labels from Creative Comforts

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Columbia, Maryland - carla david design is excited to announce the opening of our showroom in Maplelawn --located in Fulton, Maryland. Our official opening will be January 1, 2009. Come and visit our display of invitations, save-the-dates, menu cards, favors, shower invitations, holiday cards, graphic design projects and more. Visit anytime, but we ask you make an appointment for a free consultation, to learn how we can help you with your invitations for your next event or graphic design needs for your next design project.

Located inside Techlab Photo • 8170 Maplelawn Blvd. Suite 170

Thank You Cards

Nearly every aspect of planning a wedding tosses up one choice after another, so it may come as a relief to recognize that there is one custom no one has to debate: Every gift must be acknowledged with a personal, handwritten thank-you note. Preprinted or typed notes won't do. And even the most enthusiastic phone call, while it may be welcome, can't replace a written acknowledgment.

If you receive one hundred gifts, you can plan to write that many notes. Gifts will begin to arrive as soon as you announce your engagement, so you'll want to be prepared. Think about what you want your notes to say, both aesthetically and literally. These, after all, will most likely be your first expression of yourselves as a couple, and the details deserve careful consideration: What kind of paper is appropriate for the occasion? Whose initials or names go on the stationery? Who writes the notes? Who signs them? What, and how much, do you say? What is the acceptable time lapse between receiving a gift and sending a note expressing your gratitude?

Start with the foundation of a thank-you note -- the paper. Selecting a style of writing paper has become simpler in recent years, according to Joy Lewis, the owner of the New York City stationer Mrs. John L. Strong. "Handwritten correspondence has come to be used for ceremony and presentation only -- thanking and inviting," she says. "Otherwise everyone uses the computer or the telephone."

There are two common formats for thank-you notes: a stiff five-by-seven-inch card on which the correspondent can write on both sides, or an "informal," a small fold-over card typically about four-by-five inches. The informal may be engraved quite formally; its name comes from the placement of the fold at the top, in contrast to formal correspondence, such as wedding invitations, which fold at the side like a book.

You may also want to personalize your thank notes with pictures of you or designed to match your wedding stationery. Below are some samples of thank you notes. If you would like to explore more ideas. Give us a call, we would love to help you express your appreciation and gratitude in the most creative and unique way.






images from pose prints, martha stewart, linda & harriet

Sweet. a bakery and cafe

I'd like to introduce Sweet. a bakery and cafe which is located in Ellicott City, Maryland. They have the most delicious cakes and some great designs to match any event theme. I can highly recommend them as they baked up a yummy cake for my birthday.

Gone are the days where a bride has a choice of a few wedding cake designs from a book and two flavors. Incorporating an overall design is popular with weddings today, and the cake is certainly part of it. That’s why at Sweet. a bakery & café, they learn all about your wedding, your colors, dress design, flowers and venue and incorporated that into your cake. They believe a cake should not only look great, but be delicious as well.

You will experience there high level of service throughout your experience with them. From the tasting to any follow up conversations, they will make sure your expectations are exceeded. In addition, there’s no need to save your "time tier" and eat a frozen cake on your first anniversary, we’ll provide a fresh one for you, at no additional charge. And their price levels are very inclusive.

Need a cake for your wedding, party or next event? I suggest checking out Sweet Bakery.

Happy Weekend

Happy Weekend I hope you get lots of your holiday shopping, decorating, and baking done. Happy Weekend!


{via Zakkaliciousness flickr}

A Jolly Christmas

I just love this time of year. Here's another inspiration board brought to you by snippet and ink.

I'll Have a Blue Christmas

With the Holidays around the corner how can we not give some inspiration for a Christmas Wedding. This time of year I love turning up my stereo and singing along to all the Christmas Carols. Here's some inspiration from the song "I'll have a Blue Christmas".




Top row from left: blue and white Christmas tree from Cottage Living; Tiffany jingle bell, Oscar de la Renta dress and centerpiece (with table number by May-Bell) all from Martha Stewart Weddings
Row 2: ranunculus styled by Lucyina Moodie via Decorology, cupcakes from Cannelle et Vanille, ring pillow from Martha Stewart Weddings, numbered table runner
Row 3: photo from Country Living via Design Editor, monogram neckties from Martha Stewart, bouquet by Mindy Rice from InStyle, aquamarine ring from Twist
Row 4: knit shell from J.Crew, ornaments via Lily G, invitation via Once Wed, cheese buffet from Martha Stewart Weddings

Botonical Garden Themed Wedding

For me one of the most wonderful things about this blog is that I get to not only show off what we've done here at Carla David Design but also the services of other great vendors. This is an invitation set we did for an amazing couple. As you can see above, the sky is the limit with design. We designed everything from their invitations to their "travel ticket" escort card, table number, cd cover, program, thank you cards and special details in between. I'd like to highlight Photography by Alexander. A great photographer to work with. He's got the eye for detail. Thank you for allowing us to showcase your work!

Winter White

December is here and for those of you getting married this month Congratulations. For all those Winter Weddings here's a Winter White color theme for your wedding. Menu cards, favors and table numbers shown below.

Introducing Eventures

'Tis the season to start planning for your holiday parties or at least finishing up the final plans. I'd like to recommend a group of collective event professionals that I'm a part of. Each person has a passion for what they do and look out for each and everyone of their clients.
This is taken from the first newsletter sent out in September 2008 describing who we are and how we got started.

"We are a group of event professionals who serve the DC, MD and VA metropolitan area. Whatever the event, corporate, wedding or Bar / Bat Mitzvah, we guarantee to make your planning easier and remake your expectations of what it can be. So let us share Eventure’s philosophy. It’s simple. The Eventures team came together to fill the need for reducing the time and energy required to locate and secure an event professional best suited to meet your unique needs. And let it be known that every member of the Eventures team consistently pays the highest attention to detail while taking a personal interest in each event, that means yours!
The Eventures team has made the commitment to donate a portion of our marketing money to breast cancer research through purchasing of breast cancer stamps. The team is also committed to the use of recycled paper for our printed marketing materials. We meet monthly to discuss how better to give you what you need faster, while forging a personal bond of trust amongst us, so you can trust Eventures to deliver the best possible adventure for your event. We invite you to find out for yourself just how much the whole process, from the planning to the event, can become a happy adventure as you explore the many options that Eventures has to offer.
Check out the professionals at www.eventures.us.com.