Looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon?  How about some Arts & Crafts!?  The art of gold leafing dates back centuries and can be a great way to spend an afternoon with the family or you can even through a gold leafing party!

The process of gilding involves applying an extremely thin layer of real or imitation gold to a surface such as wood, metal, glass, or fabric to embellish the decorative elements of the item being gilded.  The art of gilding dates back hundreds of years with Egyptians gilding burial cases, Romans decorating dwellings and temples, and the Byzantines creating elaborate mosaics.  Gilding is still done today and all items necessary for gilding can be purchased at your local craft store.

Materials you may need to apply gold leafing include:

• A decorative item (such as a vase or lamp)
• Foam brushes
• Imitation gold leaf sheets
• Gilder’s size (a type of adhesive)
• A gilder’s brush
• Protective gloves
• Gloss or satin sealer

To gold leaf an item simply paint an even coat of gilder’s size with a foam brush on the decorative item and let it sit for about an hour.  Apply the gold leaving when the surface is still wet but not tacky.  With a gilder’s tip brush gently pick up a sheet of gold leaf being very careful not to handle the sheet much so that it will not tear.  Place the gold leafing on the item’s surface and use a brush to smooth it out working from the center outwards.  When the surface of the item is covered, brush away any excess leafing and apply a coat of protective sealer.

Good luck and have fun!

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