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, as the practice is better known, is an age-old art. Paper-thin sheets of metal are used to cover an object and give it a metallic, shiny finish. In the past, people used real gold that could be close to 100 percent pure. This is expensive, though, so today alternatives are often prefer. These include something called Dutch gold leaf, which looks like the real thing but consists of copper mixed with zinc.
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.
Next, apply the base coat. When it's dry, apply the sizer. This is the special adhesive to which the gold leaf will stick.
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, as the practice is better known, is an age-old art. Paper-thin sheets of metal are used to cover an object and give it a metallic, shiny finish. In the past, people used real gold that could be close to 100 percent pure. This is expensive, though, so today alternatives are often prefer. These include something called Dutch gold leaf, which looks like the real thing but consists of copper mixed with zinc.
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.
Next, apply the base coat. When it's dry, apply the sizer. This is the special adhesive to which the gold leaf will stick.
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!
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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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