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.
Ensure that the object that you want to try gilding has a very smooth surface. This might mean sanding it first. Clean it well so that there aren't any specks of dust or dirt that can cause irregularities. Then place some painter's tape over the areas that you don't want to be gilded. Next, apply sealer to the surface if necessary.
Follow with the base coat and let it dry. Now comes the adhesive. In gilding circles, it's called a sizer.
The next step is to apply the foil itself. It's easiest to cut it into smaller pieces and let these overlap as you apply them. Remove the backing and place the pieces on the flat surface. Lightly touch a cotton ball to the petroleum jelly and then use this to pick up each piece, which will stick to the cotton ball. Be sure to cover the entire surface and use small pieces to fill in any gaps.
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.
Ensure that the object that you want to try gilding has a very smooth surface. This might mean sanding it first. Clean it well so that there aren't any specks of dust or dirt that can cause irregularities. Then place some painter's tape over the areas that you don't want to be gilded. Next, apply sealer to the surface if necessary.
Follow with the base coat and let it dry. Now comes the adhesive. In gilding circles, it's called a sizer.
The next step is to apply the foil itself. It's easiest to cut it into smaller pieces and let these overlap as you apply them. Remove the backing and place the pieces on the flat surface. Lightly touch a cotton ball to the petroleum jelly and then use this to pick up each piece, which will stick to the cotton ball. Be sure to cover the entire surface and use small pieces to fill in any gaps.
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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