Gilded Paper

Foil leaf is traditionally applied by adding a liquid adhesive to the surface you want to gild. Using a sticker paper instead of the wet adhesive saves a great deal of time & mess, and leaves you with shiny gilded paper.

Supplies

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Cut any shape you like out of sticker paper, using machine, dies, or cut by hand (any brand of sticky paper should work, even the clear sticker papers.)

   

2. Step 2

   Peel the backing off the sticker paper shape. Lay it sticky side down onto silver leaf foil and press all over the back.
   
   Hint:
   The leafing is also available in aluminum, gold, and various colors.

   

3. Step 3

   Flip the gilded piece over and press gently to smooth the wrinkles. You can use white cotton gloves, a soft cloth, or just your bare finger tip.
   
   Hint:
   No need to worry about any fine lines that might occur; any texture will add to the feel of genuine silver leafing.

   

4. Step 4

   Rub off any extra bits and pieces of leafing foil from around the edges or details of your shape.

   

5. Step 5

   As a variation, add silver-leaf foil to the back of any kind of sticker, like this vellum border sticker. Simply peel off the backing and lay onto the leafing.

   

6. Step 6

   Use a stencil brush to remove the extra leafing bits. Working in circles seems to work well.

   

7. Step 7

   Layering negative die cut paper pieces over the silver lends a nice contrast. Just cut your die cut piece to fit. These tags were cut with a Silhouette machine.

   

8. 

9. Step 8

   Adhere the die cut shape to the silver-leafed shape.

   

10. Step 9

    You can also add more delicate die cut shapes to your gilded paper, so that more of the silver-leafing shows. You can even add stamping to it, using a solvent ink like Stazon.

    

11. Step 10

    Try embossing your gilded paper. The Silhouette brand printable sticker paper embosses beautifully after you add leafing to it. Other brands will likely perform nicely as well.

    

12. Step 11

    Use your gilded paper on your projects.

    

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Gilded Paper. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

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