| Gold Leaf is an awesome product and can be found | | | | beautifully. Once I had rubbed the area sufficiently, I |
| in art supply, craft stores and many on-line sources | | | | peeled the paper back to reveal the gold leaf now |
| and is available in real gold ranging from 14K and up | | | | attached to the molding. |
| (yes, you would be adding REAL gold to your items!) | | | | An artists brush is then used to dust away any |
| or much less expensive faux versions. | | | | excess gold leaf and burnish it in to the adhesive. |
| The concept is to brush on gold leaf adhesive that | | | | My molding now has a new finish that brings out its |
| allows the gold leaf to stick to the intended area. Let | | | | detail and beauty and brightens the décor in |
| it dry completely and then gently lay the gold leaf | | | | the room. It also makes it appear that I must have |
| directly on to the dry adhesive. | | | | paid a fortune for my molding! |
| Gold leaf is paper thin and comes layered in sheets. | | | | But gold leaf with a stencil on walls is the "end all" of |
| In many cases, it requires you to gently lift the sheet | | | | elegant décor! Use a single element stencil |
| of gold with an artists brush and carefully apply it | | | | such as a fleur de lei design, single flower or other |
| over the surface. The particular brand I used allowed | | | | element. Create a random, "all over" pattern on your |
| the leaf to stay on the sheets of paper which could | | | | wall by brushing the stencil openings with gold leaf |
| then be applied to the surface with ease. | | | | adhesive instead of paint, move the stencil to |
| In my quest for the perfect decorating elements, I | | | | another area of the wall and repeat. Keep repeating |
| decided that incorporating gold leafing in to the | | | | the design randomly until you are satisfied with the |
| molding of my main floor bath would make its pretty | | | | placement. Then allow the adhesive to dry (usually 24 |
| "egg and dart" carving more noticeable and elegant. | | | | hours). |
| I began by painting the molding gold as an under coat | | | | Apply the gold leaf sheets directly over the dried |
| and then applied a dark stain that was quickly wiped | | | | adhesive and rub lightly with an artists brush to |
| off so that it darkened only the recesses. I then | | | | deposit the gold on to the adhesive. Dust away any |
| applied the gold leaf adhesive lightly over the surface | | | | loose particles. |
| so that it touched only the raised portions of the | | | | What results is an incredible wall design you will be |
| molding. | | | | proud to show off and that will add class and beauty |
| By rubbing the back side of the paper with my | | | | to your walls with very little effort. |
| fingers, the gold leaf deposited on to the molding | | | | |