How To Use Gold Leaf Tutorial | Five Ways

[@ashleyadams6803]

First time watching, really enjoyed, very informative! I’ve subscribed! Thanks!

[@Happyspacediys]

Thanks for stopping by and subscribing! I really appreciate it! 🙌

[@DebbieJeansThisAndThat]

Thank you. I just ordered some gold sheets from Temu but had no idea how to use them. Glad to hear mod podge can be used. I have that. 👍💕

[@Happyspacediys]

Yes! So many uses! Even on smaller DIYs like picture frames and candle stick holders, etc! Mod podge works great! You can use a thin layer as a top coat too! Have fun with your gold leaf 😁✨️

[@lubblyjubblyfurniture]

Great video and tips, really helpful as im using gold leaf soon. Thanks for sharing

[@Happyspacediys]

Of course! Thank you for watching ❤ Excited to see your project!

[@lubblyjubblyfurniture]

@@Happyspacediys i just can't seem to find the right piece for gold leaf but i also got silver leaf so ill have to see which one

[@debraneria4242]

What a fun learning video ..I love all your tips and tricks...thank you 🥰👍

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you so much for watching! 🤗 I'm glad you found it helpful 😊❤

[@uvefreitag5749]

I'm glad I stumbled across you.. excellent

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you so much! I'm happy you enjoyed the video 😊

[@zonyasvintage7859]

Thank you for the helpful instructions.. I’ve been wanting to try it.. your videos are so practical.. 😊

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you very much! 😊 I'm so happy you found it helpful ❤

[@paulajones4037]

Great tips thank you😊

[@Happyspacediys]

I appreciate it! 😊 Thank you for watching!

[@wakawaka8257]

AWESOME 😎💯❣️

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you!😁

[@flowersmyth]

Excellent video ❤❤

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate the comment 😊

[@ingridsorensen9898]

I learned so much from this tutorial! Thankyou! Btw I really like the way you explain everything so thoroughly in all your videos...

[@Happyspacediys]

Thank you so much Ingrid! I'm so happy you enjoyed the video! I try to explain things in a helpful way so it means alot that you like the tutorials 😊 Thank you for watching 🙌

[@lindacsmith13]

Do you need to spray the gold leaf afterward to keep it from flaking off? I loved what you did with it.

[@Happyspacediys]

Hi Linda! Thank you so much ❤ Yes, exactly! I used a spray acrylic and usually use a water based polyurethane (very thin coats) or a furniture wax. It just depends where it's at and the look.

[@llt5763]

What are some other adhesive you can use ? I don’t have speed ball,

[@Happyspacediys]

@llt5763 You can use mod-podge, a spray adhesive, and some have said they've used Elmer's glue. I've even used polyurethane. You'll want to stick to the basic principles of applying the gold leaf once the adhesive has reached the "tacky" part of the drying process. Hope this helps! 😊

[@mistyburge8472]

Enjoying your videos so much!! I’m loving the pastel purple piece. Can you please tell me what color and brand?

[@Happyspacediys]

Hi Misty! Thank you so much! 🤗 I went ahead and listed the paint color with a link for you in the description box ❤ So glad you're enjoying the videos! Have a great day 😊💕💕

[@Imana23]

Hi. I have a Krylon prime and paint spray for exterior and interior. It’s not a chalk paint. Do you think that golden foil will adhere to this paint?

[@Happyspacediys]

Hi there! Great question! The Krylon spray paint should be perfectly fine as a base for your gold foil. However, make sure the spray paint has fully dried. If it's still "sticky dry" the foil will be more difficult to work with. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 😊

[@mellybubble111]

What do you use for top coat and does it fade quickly without top coat. Will top coat change the colour

[@Happyspacediys]

Hi Mellisa! You can use a water-based polyurethane top coat or clear furniture wax. It does need some sort of protection to prevent damage and preserve the color. If you use clear top coats it will not change the color of your gold leaf. I've kept all of my gold leafing projects, and they all still look great like the first day! Hope this helps! Thank you for watching ❤

[@rose-hope]

Can you use policrylic as your gold leaf adhesive? I want to use a stencil but my gold leaf size isn’t runny/abundant enough to use a roller to apply it.

[@Happyspacediys]

Great question! I would think so! If you have a little spare, I'd try it out on a tester first. I'd use the same method of waiting for it to get tacky and then lay on the gold leaf. Wait for it to dry completely and brush off what didn't stick. Hope this helps! 😊🙌

[@CoconPelu2023]

Do u use gold leaf before or after u seal ur furniture piece ?

[@Happyspacediys]

@@CoconPelu2023 Depends on where I place it and what kind of look I'm going for. Since you can use both polyurethane and furniture wax to seal gold leaf, you can do the gold leafing before and seal it all together. Hope this helps!

[@bluestar.8938]

Thank you : )

[@bobnunyabiznz4917]

How do you make sure the gold leaf doesn’t flake off after applied on drawers, particularly the interior?

[@Happyspacediys]

I would use a few coats of polyurethane in satin or semi gloss to keep the shine of the gold leaf while giving it durable protection. Hope this helps!😊

[@liznicolealbulov]

What are you using to powder your fingers? Flour ?

[@Happyspacediys]

@liznicolealbulov I'm using baby powder. It acts to absorb moisture and create a barrier so the gold leaf doesn't stick to the fingers and can be applied to the project easily. 😊

[@JASONAVALENTINE]

What about wear? Like if you apply the gold to a handle or bare wall won’t it brake off?

[@Happyspacediys]

Great question! It shouldn't. The adhesive and top coat will create enough of a protection to where it'll stay and not flake off. If you don't use a top coat, the gold leaf is more susceptible to damage from wear.

[@Imana23]

Will matter mod podge work for golden leaf?

[@Happyspacediys]

Yes, that will work fine 😊 The finish isn't much of a concern regarding getting the gold leaf to stick. It's more the type of glue. The only time finish matters is when you are applying it as a sealer/ top coat. And then it's just personal preference 😊

[@Imana23]

@@Happyspacediys thank you.

[@carlosX6363]

Nail polish remover has ACETONE too

[@Happyspacediys]

@carlosx5582 yes, it does 😊

[@teresabrancato744]

What did you used as powder for your hands?

[@Happyspacediys]

I used baby powder. Corn startch works as well!

[@kayceguthrie5235]

How well does gold leaf hold up on hardware??

[@Happyspacediys]

@kayceguthrie5235 With using a protective coating and letting it fully cure to the surface, it holds up really well! Still have the hardware from this video and there's been no flaking 😊 They look great!

[@michaelbremer-trainor1301]

It doesn't, for a huge number of reasons. Firstly, there is very poor adhesion to the metal (drawer handle). Secondly, this type of adhesive stays soft indefinitely and therefore remains vulnerable.

[@greghaff229]

You could have laid the box on its side and then you would be working on a flat area.

[@Happyspacediys]

By box, you mean the dresser? Not all of us have the strength to be flipping dressers on their side. But I'm sure those that do would benefit from your suggestion! Thanks for the tip!

[@kierstenridgway4634]

Or take the drawer out.

[@jilllawrence5174]

Sorry I’m halfway through this video, and think these applications are a bit messy at the end results

[@Happyspacediys]

Thanks for the input. I guess don't finish the video??🤷‍♀️

[@michaelbremer-trainor1301]

That's hardly surprising. With all due respect to the presenter, gilding cannot be taught in 10 minutes. In fact in Germany it is a 7 year apprenticeship! Here's some tips from a trained gilder of 30+ years. 1. Oil size (adhesive) gives the best results. 2. The longer you leave the oil size, the better the Finish.(Acrylic size dries only by evaporation rather than oxidation and will remain soft indefinitely. 3. Adding a small amount of colour , artists' oil colour to oil size, artist acrylic to acrylic, will not effect the outcome but will make it easier to see where you are applying the otherwise translucent size (adhesive). 4. Thinning acrylic size with a little water will enable a much thinner coating and less soft, rubberiness later. 5. The term 'gold leaf is very misused: genuine gold leaf comes normally in booklets of 25 leaves, either 'loose or 'transfer'. Our presenter was using transfer in one instance. She was, however using imitation leaf, actually brass leaf sometimes called Dutch metal. Genuine GL is 83mm square and is 8+ microns thick: incredibly thin! DM is machine rolled and much thicker, and much cheaper. Genuine gold leaf is and beaten and costs about $50 a book ( unless you buy lots). Imitation leaf is very cheap! Real gold will never stain or corrode and is only as good as the substrate. This is what is used on exterior statues, monuments etc. Imitation leaf whilst easier to handle with fingers, will tarnish, especially if it is not lacquered, but even if it is. Real gold leaf should generally only be manipulated with a 'gilder's tip', a small flat, squirrel-hair brush. 'Skewing-off', the process of removing the surplus gold, should be done with a 'mop', a soft brush similar to a make-up brush. Although for Dutch metal and other stiff leaf such as aluminium leaf, a 4" foam paint roller works better than a brush. A roller with the minimum amount of size will also work better for stencilling where 'creeping is always hard to avoid. Acetone will remove ALL paint, not just the size. Methylated Spirits (ethyl alcohol), works best for acrylic size, and turpentine or white spirit/mineral turpentine for oil size. Underpinning before sizing, with a colour like yellow ochre or red, will disguise or enhance respectively, misses in the leaf. Perhaps this helps.