Ever wonder how certain decors, crafts, or objects turn into a masterpiece bathed in golden glory? That’s the beauty and wonder of applying metallic gold leaf sheets or gilding. Maybe you are wondering how to use gold leaf or how to apply gold leaf.
Gilding is considered an old-age craft skill of applying thin sheets of beaten metal (gold, silver, bronze, copper, etc.) to the surface of an object. It can be a picture frame, a statue, or a piece of furniture, to name a few.
Nowadays, this ancient art has taken the decor industry by a storm. If you want to join the bandwagon, then you’ve come to the right place.
Table of Contents
How to apply gold leaf sheets
Below is an easy to follow guide to help you get started into this ancient art of gilding. The same process also applies to silver leaf and copper leaf.
1. Prepare the object you want to gild and the other materials.
Whether you want to gild picture frames, chair legs, monuments, gates, small teapots or other gilding projects, preparing the area will ensure that your finished product is exactly as you desired.
Prepare all the gilding supplies ready before you start. Cover the areas you don’t want to gild.
Next, sand or scrub the surface to remove any debris that may cause issues when you finally apply the gold leaf. If you are gilding metal, make sure to remove any dirt or grease.
After that, use the primer for gilding and a paintbrush to apply the gilding sizer. It is best to wait at least 30 minutes for the sizer to dry.
While waiting, you can start cleaning the gilding cushion.
2. Clean the gilding cushion.
Take out the gilding cushion or gilding pad padded with felt and covered with tightly stretched chamois leather. This is where you can apply the gold leaf and then cut it using a gilding knife.
Then open the pack of pumice powder to degrease your gilder’s knife and gilder’s pad. This keeps the gold leaf from sticking to the cushion.
You can also eliminate the excess powder using the flat side of your blade to scrape the remaining pumice powder on the gilding pad. This removes any pumice particles that linger.
3. Apply the gold leaf sheets.
Once the above preparation is complete, you can now start the gold leaf application. Cutting the gold leaf into smaller pieces will help make it easier to apply. Therefore, perform this step while waiting for the sizer to dry.
Next, remove the backing by inserting the knife carefully between it and the leaf. You can also lay the leaf and backing on the surface of the object.
After that, burnish the leaf with a brush or your fingers. Lay the gold leaf on the tacky surface and smoothen the leaf with tissue paper backing and your index finger to burnish the leaf. This helps remove any air pockets and keep the paper still and avoid scratching or tearing the leaf.
Brush the leaf so it adheres to the surface completely. This ensures your object will look like it’s made of gold instead of covered in gold leaf.
4. Final step: check for some flaws!
Check the finished product for any imperfections, holes, or any areas where the leaf did not adhere.
Once you’re sure that it’s flawless, you can now seal the final product by applying an acrylic topcoat. This protects the leaf from damage caused by water, ultraviolet light, and handling.
Additionally, wait for 5 hours for the seal to dry. If you are gilding perishable items such as food, the topcoat is no longer required.
Finally, glaze the object for that antique look.
After following these basic gilding techniques, you can now appreciate your finished product.
Conclusion
The above is simply an overview of the gilding process for beginners. With the right gilding techniques and supplies, you can transform any object into gold leaf crafts. Channel your inner Midas touch and transform anything you desire into a golden masterpiece.
Add a hint of glamour to ordinary objects and bring new life to common decors and objects by learning the gold leaf art.
For DIY Gold leaf crafts and other metal gilding crafts, you can check our blog for more info.
FAQ for ‘How to Apply Metallic Leaf Sheets’
Applying gold leaf to any given surface requires time, patience, and a few select supplies. Thankfully, when it comes to how to apply gold leaf, you can feel confident that you can use it on almost anything.
To get started, you’ll need adhesive to create a tacky surface for the gold leaf to cling to. You’ll also need a soft bristle brush to help you carefully apply your genuine gold leaf (or imitation gold leaf). You may finish the process with a sealer or a thin layer of wax, though this isn’t always required.
Gold leafing (or metal leafing) is first done by preparing your surface. You’ll want to make sure that the surface is free from debris. You can also sand it before application. Clear away any remaining dust with a soft brush. Next, you’ll want to apply gold leaf adhesive. This can be water or oil size. Apply it with a foam brush. Once the adhesive starts to feel tacky, use a clean gilding brush to gently lay down your metal leaf sheet. Clear away excess gold leaf with a clean soft brush.
Thin sheets (otherwise known as thin foil) used for gilding can be applied on a smooth surface for easy DIY projects like a picture frame, antique hardware, outdated furniture, canvas art, or anything else you want to gild. Use water based adhesive or oil size to apply the gilding sheets but the glue must reach tack before it is ready to be applied.
As you apply the entire surface of your project with gold leaf, be sure to handle the paper carefully. You can use wax paper to help you with this process. It can assist you as you gently smooth the tissue paper thin gold leaf into place.
Applying metal leaf to wood can be accomplished using oil or water based size. The main thing to keep in mind when applying gold leaf to wood is that you should sand the wood beforehand. Be sure to clear away the remaining debris with a soft cloth or brush. Apply gold leaf afterward. You can also apply a top coat, though this may not always be necessary, particularly if you’ve used real gold leaf.
Use the steps already detailed above to apply gold leaf to glass. Just be sure that you paint on water based adhesive rather than oil based. Also, you can feel free to use a chip brush to remove any unwanted gold leaf stuck to the glass.
Use a gold leaf sheet for nearly anything. A thin coat of gold works well for antiquated projects, concrete planters (INTERNAL OPT), an oil painting, furniture updates, and even food! Just be sure your gold sheet is edible gold leaf if you plan to eat it.
