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How to Gold Leaf Everything

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials

In the previous post we looked out various types of gold leaf, foil, gold paint etc.  Basically a run down of all the different types of methods you can use to gold leaf items.  A lot of those techniques work better with certain materials.  Whaaaa????  Trust me, gold foil is going to look a lot nicer on fabric than spray paint!  Not all methods work with all materials, though, traditional gold leaf is going to be pretty dang versatile and look the closest to, well… gold leaf.  If you are looking for gold leaf by technique check out Part I, otherwise on to the list by material that you are gold leafing:

How to Gold Leaf Anything and Everything Part II

Looking for Part I where we break down tutorials by techniques like traditional leaf, Rub N Buff and much more?  Look no further! PART I

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials

Fabric

While you can use traditional gold leaf on fabric, if you really want a nice, smooth, washable gold then gold foil is the way to go.

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials

Gold Foil, the Right Way to Gold Leaf Fabric Step by step tutorial on how to use Gold Foil to add accents to DIY napkins

3 Fabulous Ways to Use Foils on FabricCecile’s Unique Stitching Blog Highlights three different ways to apply fabric foils

DIY Gold Foil PillowHonest to Nod Using iron on fabric gold foil

Modern Art: Concrete Style – Gold leaf and concrete on  cotton canvas

Food

Sprays, powders, and actual edible leaf exist to decorate your food and give you interior some bling!

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials

Golden Birthday CupcakesBetty Crocker Using edible gold luster dust

Homemade Cotton CandyCooking Books Looks like spun gold, just from sugar!

DIY Gold Feather CupcakesThe Cake Blog Using gold luster dust to make a paint for fondant feathers

Glass/Finished Ceramics

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials
Image via Winthrop Chronicles

While you can use just about any technique for a real resilient finish you are going to want a gold leaf pen or specialty glass paint

Gold Leaf Painted MugsWinthrop Chronicles Using a gold leaf paint for permanent finish

DIY Gold Dot VasesLilikoi Joy Using gold paint pen on glass

DIY Gift Guide: Mother’s Day MugsLauren Conrad Gold leaf been to make washable ceramic mugs

Metal

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials
Image via Honey Sweet Home

Pretty much everything is a go.  Spray paint can come off looking a bit ‘fake’, but can easily be toned down with other techniques.

Goodwill Rocks, Rub ‘n Buff for a Gold Leaf Luster Combo of spray paint and Rub N Buff creates an antique gold finish on a metal candlestick

DIY Brass Etagere – Gold Leafed Ikea Vittsjo Hack!Honey Sweet Home Cons of spray paint and finish with traditional gold leaf

DIY Gold Leaf Flower PotsCrafts Unleashed Rusted metal flower pots get gold leaf arrow accents

Paper

Pretty much everything goes.  This one is really open to all types of techniques from liquid leaf to hot transfer gold foil.

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials
Image Via It’s Always Autumn

Liquid Leaf and Paper Clay Paper based clay can have gold leaf too!

10 Minute Fall Decorating: Gold “Leaf” Wall ArtI Heart Organizing Create a gold leaf out line with Rub N Buff

The New Minc Foil ApplicatorIt’s Always Autumn Heat Transfer foil on paper

Gilded Business CardsCamille Styles Take business cards to a new level with gilded edges

Plastic

Say it don’t spray it…  No wait!  Just spray it.  Getting a good gold spray paint base can give you the ability to add more layers like Rub N Buff to give it a more authentic look

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials
Image via Landeelu

DIY Gold Christmas Decor: Mantel DecorationsLandeelu Make plastic Christmas lights look expensive with gold

Golden Safari Mason JarsGiggling Caravan Plastic animals become fancy jar toppers

Gold Leaf, Glue Gun, & a Dollar Store Plastic Easter EggMagia Mia Plastic Easter Eggs turned into faceted golden eggs

Wood

Wood is the base of paper, which makes it kind of like paper.  Open to all types of applications! Just remember to prime in certain cases so the wood doesn’t suck up gold paints and rubs.

How to gold leaf anything and everything. Tutorial on using all types of leaf on variety of materials
Image via This Heart of Mine

Before & After – Wooden Bowls with Gold Leaf This Heart of Mine Wooden bowls with gold leaf touches

15 minute DIY: Gold Leaf on WoodBeautiful Hello Blog Use and adhesive pen to add gold leaf to rustic board

Gold Dipped Log Candle Holders LifeovereasyEtsy Blog Using gold paint to achieve a shiny mirror metal finish on logs

Miscellaneous

Did you know you can add gold leaf to shoes? feathers? rocks? Read on for some fabulous tutorials on all types of strange materials

Image via Fun at Home With Kids
Image via Fun at Home With Kids

How to Gold Leaf a Lampshade How to use Traditional Gold Leaf Sheets

Gold Leaf FeathersB@H Make gold tipped feathers

Golden Glitter SlimeFun at Home With Kids Not really gold leaf but who doesn’t love some gold slime!

DIY Gold Staples House of Huntley Make fancy gold staples from regular office supplies

Making a Golden Apple Using gold spray paint to make Thanksgiving Decorations

 

 

12 thoughts on “How to Gold Leaf Everything

  1. I was wondering if you could give some advice on how gold leaf can be adhered to air dry clay? I’m having students carve into the clay, paint it once it’s dry, and then embellish with gold leaf. I was thinking that painting gesso onto the clay first, and then adhering the gold leaf on top… do you have a different suggestion, or do you think that’s the way to go? Thanks!

    1. It has been awhile since I worked with air dry clay but I recall it sucks up liquid pretty rapidly. If you plan to use spray adhesive as sizing it would probably be fine as-is. The liquid sizing would likely need a gesso or paint underneath to get a good coating. Maybe try a sample?

  2. I bought a bunch of Krylon gold leafing pens for a mural project on a navy wall. How do you recommend I seal this so it doesn’t rub off over time?

    1. No idea for a whole wall. If it isn’t super high traffic or needing cleaning all the time do you really need to seal it? Sure it might darken over time but seems like it would be easy to touch up or you might want to change your wall by that time.

  3. I love what you did with everything, it looks so pretty. It’s amazing how anything can be transformed.

  4. Lots of good info. I’ll let you know how my magnolia pods turn out.

    1. I would love to see your magnolia pods when complete! Please send me some pictures.

  5. Gotta try that gold cotton candy sometime! I think I could impress some guests with that.

    Good roundup!

  6. Normally I am a silver lover, which I assume that most of these finishes are also available in silver, but I love the “Love” framed print in the gold and the little wooden bowls with the gold. Arg! I have been a silver lover forever, now you have me dithering! I love these images, great post full of great tips!

    1. You can do every single one of these finishes in silver. I happened to start my house with a blue and gold wallpaper that went in the bookcases and just went with that accent from there. I personally rarely wear gold and almost always go with silver. But for interiors, I have learned to love the warm nature of gold.

  7. I can look at these pictures all day! There is something so elegant about the gold. I remember a far off memory where I had been hiking and the sun hit a small patch of leaves on the ground and they shone like the golden sun. To this day some 15 years later that image is still etched in my mind. And you reawakened it with your lovely post.

    1. I was never a huge gold fan, but over time I have started to see the classic elegance of the finish.

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