Have you tried to blow (warm, damp air) through a straw on to the surface of your dried instacoll just before you put on your gold leaf? I have done it many times and it works for me☺️

@lizettetoron8475 ok thnx. Will try that.

There are at least 3 colors of Instacoll that I know of, but they can be very hard to find in other than the mustard yellow. I'm not sure where to direct you to find them, but a google search might help.

I am working on that right now, with different raised effects.

If there are jagged edges, you use a soft brush or Q tip to brush them away. Is that what you mean?

A very forward thinking one! (It's an Irish name.)

I have the same problem.

Hi Ed, with the Instacoll I've never found a need to use a burnisher unless I let it dry to long in the first place. If you catch it at the right time, all that's needed is a Q-tip. If it is too dry, yes, you can use an agate burnisher. You don't want to create heat when doing it, it will soften the Instacoll. If I do that, I usually use a very thin piece of acetate between the gold and the burnisher. It's not the same as using true gesso, which is also lovely to guild with.

Lamy joy is an italic nibbed pen so look at Italic calligraphy books for information, the 1.1mm wide nib is best as starting point.