Inspired by a shoot styled by Mandy of Oracle Fox where gold leaf was applied in the form of makeup and jewelry, I immediately had to try it myself. It’s an instantaneous and temporary solution for a lack of bling. Plus, it looks super fly! This technique may even come in handy this Halloween season when you decide you’ll want to dress up as a Fendi-bot . . . or C-3P0.
You’ll need:
- one sheet of imitation gold leaf
- spirit gum or non toxic liquid adhesive
- a foam brush
- tape
Start by cutting the sheet of gold leaf into half inch strips. Use scotch tape to tape off an area of the skin.
The gold leaf will not adhere to anything without an adhesive agent so an application of spirit gum is necessary. Apply a coat of spirit gum. (Spirit gum, which is normally used for affixing wigs and fake mustaches, is a great non-toxic solution and can be found at most speciality stage makeup stores or Ricky’s in New York.) With a foam brush, dap the spirit gum until it becomes tacky.
Pick up a strip of gold leaf and press the gold side onto the tacky area with pressure. Remove the strip and repeat the steps until the whole area is covered.
Remove the tape and use your fingers to smooth out any loose flakes. The gold leaf should stay on for at least 8-10 hours. Spirit gum remover or rubbing alcohol can be used to remove it if necessary.
Voila! You’re rocking gold leaf!!
(top image via Vogue.com, rest of images by HonestlyWTF; bottom image Jennifer Fisher Spike Ring & Zoya Edyta polish)
I want her eye-shadow. What a great idea!
Bright Green Laces
this is super cool! i love these DIYs.
for more DIY jewelry inspiration you can check out my DIY Dream Catcher Necklace 🙂
http://burnoutbrite.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/diy-dream-catcher-necklace/
xXo
how long will this stay on you think? 🙂
Super creative! I love it!
Have a lovely day!
xoxo
Susie
http://www.myfashionview.com
What brand/color is your nail polish? I love it!
I just adore all of your DIY posts! I love the gold leaf look as a beauty tool and I never would have thought to do it as an accessory! Very chic.
http://www.cositabella.com
wow. although this is perfect for anytime…. is this a possible halloween costume inspiration ????
ps, http://amandamantes.blogspot.com !
Oh, cool! Thanks for the tutorial! xoxo
http://hellofridaybypaik.blogspot.com/
thats a bit too much for me but a solid idea! thanks for sharing.
xx, http://wordbyjessie.com/
this will def. keep your friends guessing, so creative!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this ladies. perfection. I think a gold leaf cuff would be amazing too!
This is such a good idea. I have used gold leaf for years on everything but myself! I never thought to use wig fixative. Thanks for sharing.
http://mostlyclothes-cristina.blogspot.com/
Oooh that’s fun. I love that you did it in a ring form. I was nervous about this glue-in-eye-mishap I would be doing.
xoxo
http://www.thewrittenrunway.com
This is amazing!!! This must be the day of glitter..I just did a little glitter tutorial as well.
pinning this!!
Too cool… love this!!! WTF, why are you guys so awesome? 😉
So pretty! I wonder if it would work on nails as well?!
xx
Maya
Love the idea!
Love this! Sooo cool!!! Love your DIYs!! 🙂 xxx
http://fbegumstar.blogspot.com
Love this! Sooo cool!!! Love your DIYs!!! 🙂 xxx
http://fbegumstar.blogspot.com
I love this D.I.Y, this is one kind of gold jewelry I can afford!
I love yours! I was wondering where you were thinking in terms of placement and making a faux ring was so genius! I like it even better than the eye shadow!
-E, House of Guise
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this!
XoXo
Plami
http://www.fashionthrill.com/
So cool! Great inspiration!
http://www.LizaChloe.com/
amazing!!!! definately accesorizing this into my outfit ASAP
wow, pretty damn cool!
http://www.dragonnfruit.com
Very very cute!
Shop Dresses Online at CopperEtiquette
U should check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXHuJ0hOd1Y&feature=player_embedded
DIY – Tom Binns inspired neon earrings
what a fab idea! how much would it cost to gold leaf a whole person i wonder :o)
AMAZING!!!!!!! 🙂
http://traveloguewithlove.blogspot.com/
fockin love it <3333 !!!!
http://sophie-andersen.blogspot.com/
xx Sophie
Love love love this DIY!! Have to try this myself!
@ Maya: I had the exact same thought!
I’m about to start wearing gold leaf with t-shirts and jeans. It’s so cool.
Love the idea, reminds me this makeup by Alex Box http://www.sassisamblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Illamasqua_Myer_Backstage_01.jpg
I’ve just bought some golden leafs at Ebay to do something interesting this halloween!Thanks for your great DIY!
Like gold finger candy, love it!
I love it! How long will it stay on?
That may just be one of the craziest tutorials you guys have done yet. And I love it!
http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/
Definitely an original DIY idea! How long does this stay on??? It looks pretty cool!
DIY fashion jewelry are just so fab! I’m not really good at crafts, beads, and wires in making jewelry. So discovering magnetic jewelry pieces is truly heaven-sent for me. I stumbled upon this video by Arden, ARose186 http://www.youtube.com/user/ulinxjewelry#p/u/0/A9ay60xQVrE and she’s showed how simple and fun it is to create/assemble, mix-match-swap magnetic jewelry pieces made by ulinxjewelry.com. Yeah, by simply linking and clicking the pieces, you could create a charmed bracelet, a necklace, an arm band, a ring — all from just one set of bracelet –the possibilities are endless! I hope I win that giveaway set. Abso-lovely! I likey! 🙂 http://www.facebook.com/ulinxjewelry?sk=photos
Love it!
well, i love all your DIY
My shop on line of jewelry and complements handmade
http://www.margaritavintage.es
What if you have to wach your hands? Is there a way to make these so you can wear them more than once?
Fantastic idea!
LOVE it. I am trying this asap.
Hi manager
we are chinese gold leaf manufactory.we produce the transfer gold leaf and the loose gold leaf.we can offer you competetion product,pls check our website http://www.goldleaves.net
.thanks
Very cool. I saw this done at NAHA in Las Vegas a number of years back and the girl had silver leaf around her neckline (sort of like a necklace only a bit more abstract). It looked fantastic. Gold makes it that much better.
Spirit gum at the ready!
Actually no matter if someone doesn’t understand afterward its up to other people that they will help, so here it happens.
Look at my blog post; doctor excuse
You gotta see also http://www.bodygolding.cz
What a funky creation!