How to Gold Leaf Tutorial and FAQ

[@DIYDEANNA]

I really enjoy using this product on art pieces and furniture! Tell me... What are you going to apply gold leaf to?

[@CherishEaDay]

Not sure...how durable is it? I have an old jewelry box Id like to add copper leaf to.

[@bobbynip66]

Thanks for this tutorial! I’m building a model of the lunar lander that was taken to the moon, and many parts were covered with a gold foil....I’m looking for a good way to copy that look in my model.

[@soniahofmann4969]

A very large mirror that has been gold leafed but I need to fill in as it is wearing off after many years thank you so much you're a good teacher

[@nyclatina1331]

Thanks!

[@helenai13]

Beautiful work, excellent video. You have a pleasant presence and cover everything that needs to be learned saying just that. I also enjoyed your poses while waiting for the glue to dry. :) Thank you!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed my video 😊

[@jeffchene4661]

Great vid 👍 got me thinking, I want to gold leaf my truck🙄

[@DIYDEANNA]

Jeff Chene what an original idea 💡 Not sure how that would hold up but I’d love to see it! Thanks for watching!

[@jessicaduncan1526]

bahaha!

[@felixthecat3204]

beautiful job!! I love how you explain everything so thoroughly and your tone of voice is such that you're easy to listen to.

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thanks for watching! I love teaching and sharing as much information as I can, glad you enjoyed this video 😊

[@palmtree4i]

These would be GORG for wedding centerpieces omg

[@soniahofmann4969]

Thank you so much yours is the best video I have seen so far on the application of gold leaf good to know that I don't have to use a sealer coat

[@JoJo-xz6fw]

Thank you for your easy to follow video. I've never tried gold leaf and had no idea how simple it is I'll be giving it a try. 👌🏻

[@DIYDEANNA]

Yes! You can do it!!

[@deidreowens9799]

Very nice! Thanks for the video!

[@donnapalaussie19]

I’ve just ordered some 😊 thanks for sharing

[@lacraftyhouse]

Great video !! Can you tell me please which varnish should I use to protect it ??

[@Midnightrider773]

Very helpful thankyou Deanna 😊

[@DIYDEANNA]

Glad you found this helpful!

[@FavoriteCreations]

I love these ✨✨✨will definitely try this at home! So simple yet so elegant and high-end looking 👍🏻

[@buskman3286]

Nice video re application! FWIW, imitation gold leaf can tarnish/turn green after a couple of years if no sealer/finish is applied over it (and may tarnish anyway). Real gold leaf doesn't require any sort of top coat and really isn't all that expensive.

[@nyclatina1331]

Thank you, going to try this on my ikea VITTSJÖ small table. Any suggestions?

[@ceknott]

Excellent, the best as you show the technique and fast forward the rest as we want to learn, not what Hong someone doing his homework top to toe in real time. Clara

[@katharinatrub1338]

I am happy to meet you here earn more about gold leafing. I also like you today's project. Do you have any video where you show gold leafing on paper ?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Hello! I show some gold leafing on paper in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/laammpKVZ6mpnNEsi=1kpPBMsWWXHcQmCS

[@peymanolfatnia5264]

Thank you , this video is so helpfull 👍🏻👍🏻

[@fionayeung185]

your video is super informative! thank you

[@janlowry4890]

I want to add gold leaf to oyster shells. Do you think I will need something in addition to the sizing to make it adhere?

[@SheilaHughesPhotogPets-People]

Love this video! Now to go find things to apply it to :).

[@DIYDEANNA]

Sheila Hughes thanks for watching! Can’t wait to hear about your gold leaf project!

[@eyeofspirit369]

Hi, i am wanting to use Gold and silver leaf on a MDF angels Halo. Could you tell me which glue and how to do it please?

[@DIYDEANNA]

You can follow these steps, just use a combination of silver and gold leaf. Also, you can seal the MDF first or paint a base coat colour if you like.

[@eyeofspirit369]

Hi Deanna. Many Thanks will try this!

[@extremefurnituremakeover]

Hi Deanna, Im so happy I’ve found you!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Hi Dorota! I'm so happy you found me too!

[@JoJo-xz6fw]

Would I need to sand wood before applying gold leaf? Thank you for your video. New subscriber.

[@kerifortier2214]

I love the gold leaf look! I often use it in making jewellery but I’m going to start using on household items!! Thanks for sharing

[@DIYDEANNA]

Keri Fortier I bet it looks amazing on your jewellery! I’m definitely going to give that a try! Thanks for watching.

[@mayrabetances1605]

Hi Keri! What is the best way to do this with real leaves ?....like is there a liquid form so I can just dip the leave ?

[@lacraftyhouse]

Hi , do you use a matte varnish to protect ? I don’t really know which brand I should use .. thanks 🙏

[@josephinecavanagh2949]

I have a lot of missed spots. Do Iredo the adhesive and add another sheet. Do I wait for original sheet to dry.

[@ronfortier8382]

So beautiful !!!!!!!! Are you able to wash these container now that they have the gold leaf on them ?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Ron Fortier thanks for watching! I recommend applying a water resistant topcoat over the gold leaf, this would prevent water spots and allow you to hand wash your vases.

[@NastassiaMeyer]

@@DIYDEANNA do you have any recommendations for a top coat?

[@AhmedSaid-ys3em]

What about sealing ?

[@stephaniejaune6461]

Thank you❤

[@kreeg23]

Looks so great and easy to do. Is it bad my favour part was the 'waiting' montage? I literally LOLed. 🤣

[@DIYDEANNA]

Craig Esau it really is as easy as it looks! And I’m glad you found the ‘waiting’ montage entertaining 😂! Thanks for watching!

[@tarvindersingh4321]

There was burush lines of adhesive on leaf. I saw some water type adhesive in some other video, what was that afhesive?

[@elizabethsmith1902]

Real cute!

[@ferdinandc80]

My project is to put silver leaf to the borders if a wooden frame mirror

[@binhnguyenquoc7424]

What kind of top coat do you use?

[@barbaraheacox5027]

Can you use spray adhesive?

[@JayDee-po5bc]

Hi, I really enjoyed this and some of your other videos (chalk paint). Do you evert use mosaic glass on your projects?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the videos. I don’t use mosaic glass but it looks like fun, Thanks for the idea.

[@TurbulenceTalks]

Hi Diana. How can I use gold leave inside a glass tube( lab glass tubr) withouth any thing adding to procedure

[@mansisukhadia1741]

Hello, thanks for sharing this lovely video. I really loved the way u transformed simple glass vessels into such beauties. Can you pls tell me how to thin the glue. I gold leaf small designs my handmade products and on smaller surfaces the glue strokes show and remain embossed after I stick the gold sheets. Is there a way to make the glue thinner for smooth application ?

[@DIYDEANNA]

This depends on the brand of adhesive size (glue), some will thin with water and others may need to be thinned with solvent. In my experience, one of the issues with thinning is it can make the adhesive less sticky which means it does't work as well. You could try using a small foam roller to apply rather than a brush, you will still have a bit of texture but it will be a smoother than brushstrokes. I haven't tried it myself but it also may be possible to spray it. Thanks for your question!

[@catherineava7937]

Hi, I want to use gold leaf for the leads of my kitchen canisters , but not sure what product to use to prevent the leaf from peeling off. Would you advise, please? Thank you 😊

[@DragonWaveMaster]

Thank you for this video. I plan in the near future to put some gold leaf on a statue of Isis I have.

[@minapuppa]

Would it be possible to seal the surface with something that would hold up to weather outside. I have a sign outside of My business that has gold leaf vinyl. One side has been exposed to sun and has totally faded. I would like to freshen that side up with imitation gold leaf and seal it over to protect it

[@WisdomDesignUK]

Thank you. We were distracted by your brick wallpaper not lining up on the corners BTW

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thanks for watching

[@ekunina5410]

It needs a Plant.

[@TheElisje]

Hi, do I have to wait 10 or 15 minutes after covering the item with gold leaf, before smoothing the surface?

[@brofessormex]

I use plain old white glue, transparent paint, contact cement, kids paint. Basically I could use flour and water. Only because I am a sloppy gold leafer for artifact age gilding on . Just have fun.

[@Preet0118]

Love this video!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thank you! Hope you give it a try, its and easy!

[@kittykatt8512]

I am looking to gold leaf some wine glasses in a similar format to the vases you have made. Since these will be handled more I plan on using a top coat sealant. Would the modge podge dishwasher safe sealant be a good option? Have you ever layered your leaf sheets to make different designs? For example a mix of gold leaf and silver leaf.

[@DIYDEANNA]

Hello! Thanks for watching and for your questions. I have made wine glasses like this before, you are right you should apply a sealer. I have never used the modge podge dishwasher safe sealant, because I have never used this exact combination before so I don't know for sure how it will work. I suggest doing one glass with this sealer and wash by had as a test glass to see if the sealer bonds to the leaf and holds up in the water. Even though it says dishwasher safe I would suggest hand washing as the leaf and adhesive probably won't stand up to the heat of the dishwasher. I always hand wash mine. As for mixing gold and silver leaf, yes you can put one on top of another but it does get a little bumpy or thicker, I found I needed extra layers of sealer to keep the edges in place. Keep your adhesive (size) as thin as possible. I think this would be a great thing to do on a test glass and see if you like results. Hope this helps, have fun making your wine glasses, if you're on Instagram send me a photo of the completed pieces, I'd love to see! @diydeanna

[@kittykatt8512]

@@DIYDEANNA Thank you for the tips! I am not the most crafty person so I appreciate your feedback. Take care!

[@DIYDEANNA]

I bought the mod podge dishwasher safe and tried it out last week over gold leaf on a wine glass. it worked!!! I only hand washed, no dishwasher, and it didn’t come off. The leaf is still a delicate finish so if you scratched or picked at it then it would mark up but that goes for any sealer I have used with gold leaf. Thanks for the question, it encouraged me to try a new product.

[@ruthgunneson-poling1571]

Great easy video to watch. You have a pleasant voice to hear and no jangling music in the background. I tried applying the leaf to the inside of a vase. 2 problems: it's impossible not to get brush marks which show. I may have figured out a better idea. Don't apply globs of adhesive and very very lightly go back and brush any marks. But it may add to the piece so oh well. Second problem: spray the inside of the vase with white paint. 1st attempt for some reason I was spraying continuously while it was on the ground not short bursts. It immediately ran and looked terrible. I had to use Citristrip to remove the paint and copper leaf. I'm going to experiment on small votive jars by spraying the paint in short bursts WHILE I rotate the glass. That way if it drips it'll run horizontally not vertically as before. I'll let you know what happened.

[@alishawalker6044]

Love this video! I have a question though, could you just use modge podge as a base for the gold leaf to stick to or is it just best to use the size like you did?

[@DIYDEANNA]

I think it would be hard to do with mod podge because the leaf is very thin and would be hard to rub down on the wet mod podge. It’s a bit thinner than tissue paper and can tear easily. Hope this helps!

[@mary-kayrichardson9938]

Hi Deanna. Loved this diy video. I am going to try gold leafing on blown eggs. Looking at them after i washed them they seem to be very porous. So, i think i need sealer first..right? Or, would spray painting them with enamel work as well?

[@DIYDEANNA]

What a great idea! I have never done this on blown eggs before but I think the adhesive size would stick to the egg shell just fine as well as on top of sealer or paint. You may have to do a couple test eggs to see what works the best but I have used this on all types of surfaces from paper to glass. Thanks for watching and have fun with your project!

[@urbrother1093]

Can I use PVA as glue to fix my gold leaf?

[@laryssapena6342]

HI!! Thanks for your video!.. I would like to ask you.... I REALLY want to do the same to a cement vessel for a candle... do I have to prep the outside area or not? Thanks in advanced!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Is this for indoor use? Around the 8 minute mark of the video linked below 👇🏼 I add some gold leaf to a concrete project Hope this helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZjOaHuuhZutbaM

[@breelong2544]

If I'm gold leafing a, wall or ceiling do you buy bulk glue for the wall. I would need alot?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Some companies sell this by the gallon, much more cost effective. For walls and ceilings I use a small 4 or 6 inch roller to apply the adhesive and be careful not to create big ridges or lines when rolling the glue.

[@dgarza9978]

Can you use modge podge on top after applying ?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Yes. I have used gloss before to keep the shine of the leaf.

[@roshnibarik386]

OMGGG I LOVED THE WAY THEY TURNED OUT !!! also I needed a little bit of your help with something I'm doing. I'm making druzy pendants with resin and using gold leaf as the base. Now I'm not sure what sealant I could use to protect them and make them wearable everyday. I would appreciate if you could give me specific names for the sealants available in the market. Love from india ❤️

[@lynseyrookes8354]

If I were to gold leaf my kitchen tiles, do I need to sand them a bit before I apply the glue and leaf ? And what would you recommend to seal them x

[@DIYDEANNA]

Yes, scuff sanding the tiles first will help with adhesion. I’d look for a water proof metallic leaf sealer, sorry I don’t know a brand off the top of my head! This will look amazing!!!

[@lynseyrookes8354]

@@DIYDEANNA thankyou so much for your help !!! X

[@courtneydudley4166]

Hi! I found an old wood antique mirror and a spray painted mirror on marketplace. I want to use this process on both the wood and the spray painted frames. What do I need to do for the prep on both? I am planning to use a rentals so durability of the gold leaf is important

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thanks for your questions! The gold leaf finish isn't the most durable, even with layers of sealer so it's possible that it can mark up, I just wanted to mention this since durability is important for you. Here are my tips if you go ahead with your project: make sure the surfaces are clean and free of any loose wood or paint. You will want to lightly sand to remove any loose bits and lightly scuff the surface. In the Mona Lisa by Speedball line of products there is a have a primer and sealer meant for metal leaf that would help with adhesion and protection. I hope you enjoy leafing your mirrors!

[@courtneydudley4166]

@@DIYDEANNA thank you for responding! Would you say just spray painting the frames would be more durable than using this gold leaf method? I have never used gold leaf before so I don’t know much about it!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Yes, I think gold paint with a clear sealer over top would be more durable than the leaf. The look is a little different but both options would look nice on frames.

[@nicolefeliciani8358]

Thank you for this great video! I think I want to gold leaf a few decorative pieces for my wedding. Do you have any tips on how to make the gold leaf look antiqued? Would a black paint rubbed into the gold leaf work? Thanks!!

[@DIYDEANNA]

Yes! Black or brown paint rubbed in or a brown or black tinted furniture wax works too. Sounds like a beautiful idea!!

[@2009doghairs]

I want to use this gold leaf on a Picture frame, what type of sealer should I use?

[@oocrespo]

Hello Deanna, I want to find a top coat to apply on drinking cups on top of the gliding flakes that will not let them come off when the cups are rinse or hand washed. Can you give me an advice if that product exists?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Hello! This is a great idea and you are right applying a sealer is a good idea to keep the leaf from coming off. There are lots of different options, check with your local art or paint store and ask them for a recommendation based on what is available where you live. I like using a sealer that is a gloss or semi gloss to keep the shine of the leaf and something that is water resistant or water proof. I usually only put the sealer on top of the leaf, not the entire glass and I usually don't put the leaf right at the top where your mouth touches the glass. I always hand wash my glasses, the dishwasher might get a little to hot for the adhesive and leaf. Thanks for watching.

[@diggerant]

Is real Gold 23 ct the same as the synthetic Gold to use?

[@edmundamoye8026]

Hey this was great. I loved the practical applications. Where did you source the large table you used in this video?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Thanks for your feedback on this video! My husband and I made the table!

[@bonniegarson80]

Can u use gel medium to stick on gold leaf to canvas? Thanks

[@DIYDEANNA]

I'm not sure if it would work as well as the adhesive size... you would have to press the leaf into the gel medium while it was still wet. I've tried with mod podge which is similar to gel medium and it just made a bit of a mess, it ended up being a bit lumpy. If you give it a try let me know what you think!

[@saramelika1431]

I am applying it to my leather bound book that I had just wrote myself! I am really excited to see how it looks and thanks for the video. Oh and by the way, your video has a lot of loud breathing sounds.

[@FavoriteCreations]

I bought some imitation gold leaf online but it was smaller in size and very difficult to handle as it would curl up the moment I i would pick it up in my hands

[@DIYDEANNA]

Oh that sounds frustrating! These bigger sheets might be easier to handle.

[@vonkachez]

Hi, I enjoyed the video, however I have a question. I heard that imitation gold leaf oxidizes and needs to be sealed. I started working with gold leaf and I am looking everywhere what is the best sealer other than resin but is as shiny as resin. I used water based acrylic crystal clear finish and it made my gold leaf less shiny:( I will appreciate your help:)

[@wtglb]

The same people who make the adhesive (Mona Lisa) also makes a sealant.

[@bajangirlhomedecorideas883]

Can I use mog podge as adhesives to apply it to plastic?

[@DIYDEANNA]

Hi! Thanks for your question. I think the metallic leaf is a bit too thin/delicate to use with mog podge, I would normally use tissue paper, scrapbook paper etc. which is a bit thicker. The leaf would probably crumble if you tried brushing mog podge over it. I think in this case the leaf size is going to work better.

[@ferdinandc80]

How do call again that adhesive

[@wtglb]

It’s called “size”, Mona Lisa Speedball brand

[@johnmichael6053]

Does the gold leaf lose its color? If yes how long in your estimation? Thank u and does it wear off easily in Elmers glue

[@DIYDEANNA]

In my experience it has never lost it's colour and I have some items in my home that have been gold leafed for years! I always use the leaf size like in this video to apply it (rather than glue, that doesn't work the same) and for high use areas like furniture I will apply a sealer over top to protect the finish from wearing away.

[@johnmichael6053]

@@DIYDEANNA alright thank u

[@Rimi7]

What is the name of the sticker please؟

[@toobawaqar588]

Can you write down the name of adhesive for gold leaf? Its siey??

[@DIYDEANNA]

It’s called Size. There’s a link in the description box to the exact product I’m using. Thanks for watching!

[@ceknott]

T best of all going fast speed great

[@BonnieBakkum11]

Why chalk paint on fabric versus acrylic?

[@DIYDEANNA]

I’ve never tried painting fabric with acrylic paint so I don’t the process or results, have you tried?

[@BonnieBakkum11]

No I haven’t tried painting fabric at all, that’s why I thought I’d ask

[@michelleelle4622]

Not sure if you will see this or not since the video was uploaded 3 years ago but I have a question… the gold leaf I have, I can’t even touch with my hands or it sticks to me. I end up with gold leaf absolutely everywhere! It’s honestly worse than working with glitter. Gasp 😱 Why would MY gold leaf do this while yours stays intact? I saw you scrunching yours ups and if I tried that, millions of pieces would be stuck to my hands. Do I have a substandard gold leaf? 🤔

[@DIYDEANNA]

It might be a different brand thank am using, sorry I am not sure.

[@princesssparkle5542]

Me too, tried to do a mirror frame today , what a mess!.

[@michelleelle4622]

@@princesssparkle5542 I FULLY understand!

[@designtreasures]

Put a small amount of baby powder on your finger

[@roarfiercefemininerisingma9607]

If you mess it up on canvas can you remove it? Lol

[@DIYDEANNA]

You might be able to sand it off but the adhesive is pretty sticky. It’s a lot of fun to incorporate into art pieces, Hope you give it a try!

[@allenpliml1308]

Something has made it impossible to enter my height

[@mireyasantos-alonso5752]

Nooooooo