If your creative juices are begging for an outlet, it may be time to learn a new craft. An easy way to do this is to take something in your home, such as a picture frame or an old salad bowl, a new jacket by gilding it. It doesn't require much skill and anybody can learn in no time how to gold leaf the simple way.
Gilding has been done for centuries and adds instant luxury to everyday objects. The traditional material used for this is sheets of real gold so thin that they resemble foil. Naturally this is quite costly, so you may want to try faux gold leaf instead. It normally consists of copper with some zinc added to it and looks just like the true product.
When you're preparing to begin gilding, first get together all the tools you might need. These include sandpaper, painter's tape, cheesecloth, soft paintbrushes and cotton balls. You'll also need a bit of petroleum jelly as well as sealer, base coat, gilder's adhesive, top coat and, if you prefer, glaze. Have a smooth, flat surface such as a tile or a mirror as your work surface.
First smooth the surface you're planning on gilding and wipe away all dust. Then apply tape to the parts you don't want to cover. Apply a coat of sealer to porous surfaces such as wood.
The next step is to add the base coat. When it has dried, paint on a layer of adhesive. This is called the sizer.
To make applying the gold leaf easier, cut it so that you have smaller pieces to work with. Peel off the backing and place the pieces of foil on your smooth work surface. To pick up a piece, dab the cotton ball onto the petroleum jelly and then onto the foil so that the foil sticks. Carefully apply the piece of foil to the surface that you're gilding. Let the different pieces overlap so that you cover the surface completely.
As you apply each piece, use a soft brush to gently push it down onto the surface. Then use the soft cloth to rub it down until it's smooth. Take care not to crease or tear the foil and be sure to check that you can't see where pieces have been overlapping. Now add some top coat and glaze, remove the painter's tape and you've added instant glamour to your home!
Gilding has been done for centuries and adds instant luxury to everyday objects. The traditional material used for this is sheets of real gold so thin that they resemble foil. Naturally this is quite costly, so you may want to try faux gold leaf instead. It normally consists of copper with some zinc added to it and looks just like the true product.
When you're preparing to begin gilding, first get together all the tools you might need. These include sandpaper, painter's tape, cheesecloth, soft paintbrushes and cotton balls. You'll also need a bit of petroleum jelly as well as sealer, base coat, gilder's adhesive, top coat and, if you prefer, glaze. Have a smooth, flat surface such as a tile or a mirror as your work surface.
First smooth the surface you're planning on gilding and wipe away all dust. Then apply tape to the parts you don't want to cover. Apply a coat of sealer to porous surfaces such as wood.
The next step is to add the base coat. When it has dried, paint on a layer of adhesive. This is called the sizer.
To make applying the gold leaf easier, cut it so that you have smaller pieces to work with. Peel off the backing and place the pieces of foil on your smooth work surface. To pick up a piece, dab the cotton ball onto the petroleum jelly and then onto the foil so that the foil sticks. Carefully apply the piece of foil to the surface that you're gilding. Let the different pieces overlap so that you cover the surface completely.
As you apply each piece, use a soft brush to gently push it down onto the surface. Then use the soft cloth to rub it down until it's smooth. Take care not to crease or tear the foil and be sure to check that you can't see where pieces have been overlapping. Now add some top coat and glaze, remove the painter's tape and you've added instant glamour to your home!
About the Author:
How to gold leaf is a review page that contains all the necessary painting kits you need. To get access to gold leaf supplies right now, visit the website. Your one-stop shop for arts and crafts is only a click away!
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