Last year, I purchased some oversized farmhouse style sleigh bells at a favorite shop Prairie and Bloom in Omaha.  My girlfriend and I went down there after having lunch.  Ahh remember having lunch, a glass of wine, long lingering conversation, No Mask!  Anyway the most wonderful and annoying thing happened.  Every time I turned a corner the bells let loose with the most wonderful and musical jingle.  My car is red and sassy so I just imagined I was Santa Claus with his 8 tiny reindeer!

When putting out all the decorations this year I put out a folk art Santa that was carved by a beloved friend of my parents. I know he can be a bit scary but for me he’s just another part of the puzzle that makes up my life.  I love him, and in context he’s not so bad! I always put a lantern on his arm because you know it just calls for one.  Just a boring little lantern I picked up at Michaels. 

 I’m a true believer in details and I tend to embellish to excess.  For some reason, this little lantern has never received any attention.  I decided it needed to be gilded so I brought it up to my craft room to attack it.  Looking at the picture it still needs to be glazed.  After I got it done I thought well that was fun, what can I gild now? 

I remembered the large sleigh bells that hang off newel post that I purchased last year.  They are made of some kind of metal and your typical grey metal color and I decided that newel needed some jazzing up.

I will warn you that leafing is a messy job.  You will have little bits of leaf from one end of your room to the other and all over yourself.  It collects static electricity and therefor it will stick to you. 

 Of course the leaf I use is not the 24K kind that the professionals use.  I use the craft store kind and find it works fine.

Leaf comes in gold, silver, copper, I think rose gold now, and maybe platinum and bronze.  You can also find it in mixed metals which is a great effect as well.

Things your will need:

Step 1

Make sure your object is free of dirt and dust. With your 1/2-1″ brush apply Leaf Adhesive which is milky in substance and color as it goes on.  

Set aside.  When the adhesive turns clear this is when you want to apply the leaf.  The adhesive should be tacky to the touch not sticky.  The one on the left is just about ready to receive the leaf.  If it is sticky, set it aside for a few more minutes.  By the time I was done applying the adhesive to the last bell it was time to add leaf to the first bell.

Step 2

This is when it gets just a bit tricky.  Run your brush thru your hair, this will put static electricity on your dry 1 1/2″ brush.  Use the brush to pick up one layer of your leaf.  Leaf sheets are packaged with a piece of tissue between each sheet of leaf.  These sheets are very fragile and tear easily which is not a problem at all.  It’s just easier to pick it up with a brush than to try and pick it up with your fingers.

Place your leaf on your object and gently pounce into place with your brush. 

The leaf will tear and cause cracks in your finish which just enhances the beauty of the object.  Don’t try to reposition because it’s impossible.  I like imperfections, if you don’t then just put another small piece of leaf over the “crack”.  

Continue until your object is covered.  

These bells probably took about 7 sheets of leaf. When that is complete burnish your object with your brush until smooth and shiny.  If you like the way it looks then you’re done; if not go onto step 3.  

Step 3

Apply Antique Glaze by taking a pouncing brush, piece of cheese cloth or even a paper towel and dabbing the glaze into place.  Note this takes just a tiny amount so put the glaze on your applicator and pounce most of it off onto a paper plate or paper towel than take it to  your object.  I use a glass craft sheet to put all my adhesives and glazes on.  Washes up easily and works for me.  There will be areas where you’re going to be a bit too heavy on the glaze so just dab it off.  When you’re satisfied you’re either done or go on to step 4. 

Step 4

To insure that your finish is strong at this point you can seal it with Leaf Sealer this will help insure that your finish stays for years to come.

On my bells, I didn’t glaze them right away because I wanted to see if I liked them unglazed.  This scruffy girl decided nope they need to be glazed.  They were way too brassy and shiny before I applied the glaze so today they got coated.

Once you learn the “mystique” of leafing, you will think of all different kinds of things you can use it for.  This is just a fun and easy craft and sometimes that little bit of sparkle is all it takes to elevate an object from ordinary too extraordinary.  Pick up some leaf and have some fun.  Ah much better.

Let me know if you’ve done some gold leafing in the comments below. I would love to see your technique.

Thanks for stopping

Shelley