Today I’m joining a few bloggers for the Handcrafted Home DIY Blog Hop hosted by Jamala from Viva LaVintage For Your Home. And because this is a creative + diy themed blog hop, Jamala tasked each of us to transform an item using gold leaf.
Well, what’s a girl to do when the only craft projects on my mind are holiday related? Transform Christmas ornaments of course.
I dove into my holiday stash and found these two unfinished wood ornaments that I purchased from Hobby Lobby last year. They were the perfect candidates for a little DIY UpStyle.
After applying my gold leaf and adding a few vintage ornaments to the top of each wood piece, my ornaments went from plain to pizzazz!
This was a quick an easy DIY project and I love the way my ornaments turned out.
Tips for working with Gold Leaf:
- Gold Leaf is easier to work with on surfaced that don’t have a lot of nooks and crannies. If you’re working with ornaments similar to mine, you’ll have to spend a little time smoothing the gold leaf on all the edges.
- Wear latex gloves or put a few drops of talcum powder on your hands to make handling the gold leaf easier. This stuff is really clingy.
- Use a soft bristle brush to smooth the gold leaf down. Smooth bristle will ensure you don’t tear the gold leaf.
- Buy a high quality gold leaf paper and adhesive. I used the Gold Leaf Kit below (affiliate link) and think its one of the best out there.
Now it’s time to see the other fabulous DIY projects. Hop over and see how creative they got with their Gold Leaf.
Hi Shelley,
You picked the most difficult project, I think, and I hereby give you the “Gilder Award for Accomplishing Feats of Impossible Accomplishment.” I can only imagine how long it took you, but look how it sparkles against the blue paper! Any other project will be like playing in the sandbox to you after this. Did you say “quick and easy?”
Ginene
Thanks so much Ginene. It actually didn’t take long but surely was tedious. I should have followed Linda’s lead and used liquid gold leaf. Next time.
Shelly
I agree perfect touch for a keepsake ornament.
Thanks so much Linda.
Shelly
Oooooo…Shelly! Perfect! That really gave your packages the glam appeal! They look too pretty to open..lol.. thanks for joining us!
Thanks for including me Jamala.
Shelly
Talk about taking it up a notch, these ornaments/gift adornments are beautiful. Love this idea.
Thanks Marsha. Quick and Easy which is perfect formula for a DIY project.