could someone tell me how do i use pieces of gold leaf onto a wall?

Question

i have small pieces of gold leaf and i would like to paste it on the wall to make it look different .i cant find a simple way to do it, heard about glue and stuff but diy shops here dont have it. do i need to varnish the gold leaf after pasting them on the wall? some people have said to rub a garlic on the wall and paste the gold leaf on it, anyone can help? thanks

Answer 1

Here's what you do: Plan on gilding a non porous glass or sprayed metal surface a painted wall will deaden the apperance of the gold leaf. From a sign painters website buy a small can of gold leaf sizing liquid. It has the consistency of oil based polyurethane except it's clear as water. Sketch the design or letters you wish to reproduce. Plan on ordering a sign painters lettering quill. A #6 - 8 would be a good size range. make a rectangular "paint box" out of a 3 x 5 or 5 x7 plain or line white index card. If you aren't following me use a lid off a glass jar to mix your sizing liquid. Here's the inside secret of painting with sizing fluid. Start with an ounce or two of the sizing liquid add a couple drops of "1shot" yellow sign painters enamel paint. You can find this paint on line also. The reason for the paint addition is that you san see the size easier when it's the time to apply the gold leaf. Mix with an artists spatula. Using your lettering quill lay down your design with the slightly yellow tinted sizing with the quill. When loading the brush do not excede 5/8 the length of the brissels with sizing. Prior to running your design stroke your brush across a 3 x 5 index card. This promotes even filling of the brush. With your writing hand hold the brush. In the opposite hand grasp a 28-30 inch resting wooden dowel stick it should be a minimum of 3 / 8 diameter with a rubber plug on one end. The plug resists slipage while you rest the heal of your painting hand on the rest stick while stroking the size on the design. YOU MUST DO THIS NEXT: Allow the sizing liquid to dry well enough to drag the side of your little finger across the size WITHOUT your fingure sticking. It's wise to apply some sizeing in a test area away from the actual design. You'll be able to test drying rate without contaminating your actual sized area. When it's dry enough place your thin gold leaf on a piece of white wrapping tissue paper. Spread a newspaper under your work area to catch stray gold leaf. Now comes the "artsy" part. Slowly bring the wrapping tissue paper with the gold particles up perpendicular to the wall. Carefully roll your free hand under the tissue up firmly on the sized surface. With a pounce bag ( small shamy pouch filled with cotten surrounded at the top with masking tape ) firmly press the areas behind the tissue paper. Roll of the tissue and the gold will be stuck to the size / paint mixture. A couple of days later, coat the surface with clear varnish to protect your work.

Answer 2

Do a real small area at a time, and use Spray Adheasive, (You can get it at Wal-Mart in the crafts department...about $4~a can.) Then gently put on your gold leaf and very softly brush it to the wall with a very soft bristle paint brush. You can seal it with a spray on sealer also. When you are putting it on, "try" not to respray what you have already done. It's clear anyway, but it will just make it nicer if you don't go back over it.
Hope this helps & Have Fun!

Answer 3

Spray the wall with photo glue, and just start sticking on some leafs. You have to work fast though. It's not exactly what you are supposed to do, but that's what I've done before. I saw it on Martha Stewart.

Answer 4

I can really imagine a 50 year old Daniel O Donnell fan wearing this on her trip to see a Drifter's tribute group in Marbella.

Answer 5

complicated problem. do a search on google. that may help!

Answer 6

the process is called gilding and you need to prepare the surface and use rabbit skin glue.

Answer 7

glue