Gold Leaf Frame-DIY Whimseybox Craft Tutorial

As an earlier post explained, in addition to my monthly beauty subscriptions, I also have monthly crafting subscriptions.  Needless to say, I am constantly busy :)  The crafting subscriptions are Darby Smart and Whimseybox.  Sign up today and instantly get credits towards projects!!

This post is a tutorial on my June Whimseybox project, Gold Leaf Frame.

Each kit comes with everything that you need for that project plus they usually have enough to do another project!  What is nice about this project, is you can simply do this with just getting some gold leafing sheets, too.

Here are all of the supplies the kit came with.

So if you want to get them yourself, here is what you need:

Blank frame
Gold leafing
Paintbrush (fine tip)
Sponge applicator brush
Glue
Sealant
Rubber gloves
Optional: Letters (kit did not come with them) and paint for the letters

My supplies, including what I purchased 

Let's get started, first determine where you want your gold leafing to end on your frame.  I am going for a gold dipped look.  Take a piece of paper and draw lines in pencil on the frame.  I initially was going to do stripes and then changed my mind.  Make sure to wrap the paper around the edges and on the inside of the frame so there is not any blank wood space.

Then take your sponge applicator and apply glue in a thin coat where you are going to put the gold leafing.  Keep in mind, the leafing will literally stick exactly where you put the glue.  So on the front, make sure you have created a sharp line.

The glue will need 10-15 minutes to dry.  When it is sticky and tacky to the touch, you know it is ready.

While my glue is drying, I decided to paint some letters to add to the frame :)  I truly am a Junk Gypsy :)

Now that the glue is ready, time for the glitz!!!

You are going to want to put your rubber gloves on now and is really helps while working with the gold leafing.  It is super fragile (Fray-gee-laaay).....

Pick up a sheet at a time and lay it right on the frame.  You can use your fingers to press it down and then take the paintbrush and smooth the leafing all over the frame.  It gives it a smooth, yet textured shiny finish. Its beautiful!!

Continue wrapping it around all the edges.  When you brush the gold after it is stuck to the frame, the excess will simply fall off.

When it is all on, take the sealant and seal the gold leafing all over.

After the sealant has dried, take crafting glue and glue on the letters.  Any glue that shows white on the gold will dry clear.  This is the glue I recommend.

TA DA!!

Donezo :)

Have you worked with gold leafing before?

What are the projects you have done?

Sound off in the comments below!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, it turned out beautiful.  You can use the excess leafing for a manicure ;)

Have a great day!!

The Do It Yourselfer

I have never had an artistic bone in my body.  That's my brother.  He is amazing. Ask him to draw anything and it is effortless for him. I have always been the drama queen in the family and love to act and sing and dance.  Okay, I STILL AM the drama queen :)

When my father passed away, I needed something to do. I needed something to take my mind off of the pain but keep busy at the same time and have something to show for it.  That is also about the same time I became aware of Pinterest.  So needless to say it was a dangerous time for me.  I started finding things that I never even knew that you could do with regular household items and I started doing them.

In addition to my monthly beauty subscriptions, I also have crafting subscriptions.  These are surprise DIY boxes that come with all the tools and supplies that I need for a project, mailed to my door.

The first one I love is Darby Smart and it is only $19 a month.  If you sign up with this link, you will get $10 off your first order.  They are constantly emailing discount codes and special offers for the boxes that they sell online (which are different than the monthly boxes) and they have a showroom where they will feature the crafts that you have done.

Here are some of the recent ones that I have done.

The tools and supplies that they send are usually enough to use for future projects and not just a one time thing.  And I love the variety of the boxes.  I currently have a box on the way for a craft I will feature in another post, too! :) They also have great customer service.

The second craft subscription I do is Whimseybox and it is only $15 a month.  If you sign up with this link, you will get $5 off your first order.

I just started this subscription and this is my first box.  I am hopeful that they will be just as good.

Again, there are plenty of supplies that will be able to be used towards future products.  They have a whole community on their website where you can interact with other crafters, too.  They also have very good customer service.  

Joining these subscriptions has helped me in so many ways. I never thought that I would know how to stamp metal and make jewelry.  Plus, it helps me get out of my head for awhile and I know that my dad would be proud of the things that I have made.

Anything that is sold at the store you can make yourself and make it the way that you want with your own style.  Don't be afraid to try!!  I make jewelry all the time now and I do owe it all to Darby Smart!!

Have you subscribed to these subscriptions too?

What are your favorite crafts to do?

Have a great day!!