Sunday, January 24, 2010

LateBlossom Does a Technique!

Pick yourself up off the floor, folks. I know it's shocking, but there you have it. I did a technique, and I'm going to share it with you.

FYI, when I first started doing papercrafts ten years ago, I tried every technique available to me at the time. I made paste papers with all sorts of stuff, did real leaf impressions (using a hammer, honestly!), used bubble wrap to make patterned paper, carved stamps from potatoes, stamped on canvas floor cloths, yadda, yadda. Some techniques worked pretty well but the results didn't make me very happy, and others didn't work for me at all and made me use dirty language, especially a variation on paper marbling using bubbles (add paint and dish detergent to a large flat pan of water, use a straw to blow bubbles, lay paper on top of bubbles, get--in my case--not much of anything but a reason to cuss).

When I discovered stamps, heat embossing, and ink, however, I knew I'd found a lovely, straightforward way to make art that made me happy. Clean and simple art. Art that had actual white space. Sometimes I wish I were an artsy, collage-type crafter, but mostly I focus on pretty, pretty white space. Which is why you come here, right?

Every now and then, though, those old techniques I tried just work for clean and simple, too. Gold leaf is one of them. See what I mean:



I rarely do techniques, much less ones that require glue drying overnight. Patience in artistic endeavor isn't my forte. But as soon as I saw PTI's new Through the Trees set, I knew I'd simply have to break out the gold leaf. It takes shiny to a new level, don't you think?

Real gold leaf comes packaged in really, really thin sheets attached to backing paper. You can buy loose sheets of gold leaf, but it's much easier and less frustrating to work with if you have the attached type. Like this.


Here's what an untouched sheet looks like:



Isn't that pretty?

To put gold leaf on paper, you need some sort of size like gesso or glue for it to stick to. I used The Essential Glue Pad and let it dry overnight. I've never gotten glue pads to hold glitter or much of anything else on a card, but gold leaf only needs a slightly tacky surface to stick.

Note for those adventurous enough to try this. Last time I used gold leaf, I didn't let the glue dry completely and made a total botch job of it.

Learn from my mistakes, Grasshopper.

Once the glue is dry, just put the gold leaf shiny side down on the paper and use a burnisher to get the leaf to stick nicely. A bone folder will work, but an agate burnisher is the real deal. You can even use it directly on the gold leaf and it won't stick. Not sure about the bone folder, which might be textured enough to rub the gold off if used directly on it.


Once the gold is attached, remove the backing sheet and brush off the excess gold with a clean and dry, firm-bristled brush. Experts know how to save the gold for future use, but I've never been able to pull that off.

And you're done. It's not hard to do, and other than the glue drying time, it's quick. This is an expensive technique (it is real gold leaf, after all, and the agate burnishers are not cheap either), but the effect is lovely, don't you think?

34 comments:

  1. Ooooo la la! Very elegant but it sounds difficult. I'm very impressed.

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  2. This is beautiful! I've always been intrigued by gold leaf. I'm all about simplicity, myself, too--and I have a dumb question--couldn't you get the same look by heat embossing with gold metallic powder? Or does the leaf give it a really neat texture? Also, am I understanding you right, that you let the glue dry before adhering the leafing?

    Really is beautiful with those trees!

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  3. Ann Marie,

    The look is totally different from heat embossing with gold metallic powder. It's much shinier and more yellow toned. The texture is also different. If you don't burnish the gold leaf once it's down, you get a slight texture to it that is very appropriate on the birch trees. If you do burnish it, you'll get a smooth mirror-like shine. It's not nearly as raised as heat embossed powder, either.

    And yes, you must let the glue COMPLETELY DRY before applying the leaf. The leaf sticks to any slightly tacky surface (even greasy fingers!). If you try to put it on wet glue, the glue smooshes around and makes a giant mess. Ask me how I know.... *wink*

    Hope this helps!
    Susan

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  4. Awesome technique with this image - it is gorgeous and I love the beautiful layout!
    PS - check out my blog today - I have stamp star sightings there!

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  5. Now that's a beautiful, elegant card! Thanks for reminding me to use my foil.

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  6. Oh, I'm going to have to try this technique. Your card is lovely!

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  7. Absolutely stunning! Oh how I wished I'd ordered that set - it so beautiful! Well I guess there's always next month to order it ;D
    I love that your card could be used for a number of occasions - a great one to have in your stash!
    x

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  8. Goodness susan, yet again you have totally blown my mind - how fabulous! Jo x

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  9. Just lovely! I hadn't even thought of using gold leaf on a card - may need to make a trip to the store this week.

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  10. This is a lovely stamp and it looks incredible with the gold leaf. TFS!

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  11. The gold leafing is fantastic on the trees, I wouldn't have thought to use that technique. You've inspired me to go find my gold leafing and play around with it today!

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  12. The gold leafing is fantastic on the trees, I wouldn't have thought to use that technique. You've inspired me to go find my gold leafing and play around with it today!

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  13. Ah Susan, now this takes me back!! Man years ago I was very into calligraphy and gilding, so I have all manner of gold leaf in many different carats, silver leaf, copper leaf ... even platinum and palladium leaf, and all manner of burnishers and gilding medium and all the other stuff you need!

    I'd never thought to take these out and start using them on cards, but I really think I might now having seen your creation! Thank you so much for reviving one of my lost favourites!!

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  14. Another stunning card. Really amazing. TFS

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  15. This is absolutely gorgeous! The touch of gold on the ribbon is the perfect finishing touch.

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  16. Your gold leaf trees are beautiful!

    Have you already drawn for the white-on-white punched bird card? I'm just wondering if there's no point in keeping all my fingers crossed still.

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  17. Great minds think alike, I was using Gold leafing on Saturday too! Isn't that funny? Gorgeous work as usual! TFS

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  18. Lovely for sure!! I adore it!! I tried to do some gold leaf a while back and it made me say those dirty words!! I didn't realize you have to let the glue dry for so long. Maybe I have to pull it out and try it again.

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  19. Wow. I've been catching up on posts I missed while away, but I think you saved the best for today! otoh, I _was_ feeling quite pleased with the heat-embossed gold and white card I made today until... ;)

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  20. Your Gold Leafing looks so very beautiful, Susan..and I think you've picked a most perfect image for it! So elegant and lovely!!

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  21. That is beautiful. And the ribbon you've paired with it is amazing. I love seeing those trees!

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  22. This really is the business!!!
    I have a card that a friend made for me using embossing paste, a tree stencil (very similar to the PTI stamp but bigger) and gold leaf. I have always wanted to CAS it but never liked the paste bit... now I will try using glue - never knew that you could do that. You are a genius (I know I keep saying it but you are!)
    Thanks for sharing .... love the grasshopper comment!!!! LOL

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  23. I am so glad you showed this card! I have been looking at the gold leaf I've had for years and couldn't remember exactly how we used it. I am going to get it out and play! Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful work of art.

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  24. Stunning. I have never seen this done! You are a genius.

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  25. OMGosh Susan! This is absolutely stunning!

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  26. Did you know you can eat gold leafing - I've seen beautiful cakes with it on top -
    Your card is lovely!!
    http://www.fancyflours.com/edible-gold-leaf.html

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  27. This is beautiful. Gold leafing always scares me because I just think of all the money I'd spend while trying to learn to use it properly. But this looks so lovely, I'm tempted to try.

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  28. you're a genious!!! incredible!!!

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  29. Oh my, oh my, (repeat several times). Stunning! It needs to be framed and placed in a special spot. Stamp on, Sharon NJ

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  30. Wow, the card is gorgeous! I love that gold leaf technique. I might have to try that out sometime!

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  31. I too was a technique junkie when I first started stamping. And like you, I tried everything out there. But in the end, it was just too time consuming and costly (if the technique required special supplies) so I pretty much stopped all together.

    The gold leaf gives a stunning look to the birch trees.

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  32. very beautiful. If you want to use the sraps of the gold leaf, you can mix it in the paperpulp when making new paper from old paper.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!