DIY Gold Leaf Faux Jewelry

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:

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)

Leave a Comment

79 Comments

  1. I want her eye-shadow. What a great idea!

    Bright Green Laces

    10.11.11
    Reply
  2. Lex wrote:

    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

    10.11.11
    Reply
  3. how long will this stay on you think? 🙂

    10.11.11
    Reply
  4. Super creative! I love it!
    Have a lovely day!
    xoxo
    Susie
    http://www.myfashionview.com

    10.11.11
    Reply
  5. Amanda wrote:

    What brand/color is your nail polish? I love it!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  6. Nikki wrote:

    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

    10.11.11
    Reply
  7. Manding wrote:

    wow. although this is perfect for anytime…. is this a possible halloween costume inspiration ????

    ps, http://amandamantes.blogspot.com !

    10.11.11
    Reply
  8. Oh, cool! Thanks for the tutorial! xoxo
    http://hellofridaybypaik.blogspot.com/

    10.11.11
    Reply
  9. Jessie wrote:

    thats a bit too much for me but a solid idea! thanks for sharing.
    xx, http://wordbyjessie.com/

    10.11.11
    Reply
  10. Mallory wrote:

    this will def. keep your friends guessing, so creative!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  11. geneva wrote:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this ladies. perfection. I think a gold leaf cuff would be amazing too!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  12. Cristina wrote:

    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/

    10.11.11
    Reply
  13. Ambyr wrote:

    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

    10.11.11
    Reply
  14. This is amazing!!! This must be the day of glitter..I just did a little glitter tutorial as well.
    pinning this!!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  15. Too cool… love this!!! WTF, why are you guys so awesome? 😉

    10.11.11
    Reply
  16. So pretty! I wonder if it would work on nails as well?!
    xx
    Maya

    10.11.11
    Reply
  17. Love the idea!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  18. Fahmida wrote:

    Love this! Sooo cool!!! Love your DIYs!! 🙂 xxx

    http://fbegumstar.blogspot.com

    10.11.11
    Reply
  19. Fahmida wrote:

    Love this! Sooo cool!!! Love your DIYs!!! 🙂 xxx

    http://fbegumstar.blogspot.com

    10.11.11
    Reply
  20. I love this D.I.Y, this is one kind of gold jewelry I can afford!

    10.11.11
    Reply
  21. Elizabeth wrote:

    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

    10.11.11
    Reply
  22. Plami wrote:

    Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this!

    XoXo
    Plami

    http://www.fashionthrill.com/

    10.11.11
    Reply
  23. LizaChloe wrote:

    So cool! Great inspiration!

    http://www.LizaChloe.com/

    10.11.11
    Reply
  24. amazing!!!! definately accesorizing this into my outfit ASAP

    10.11.11
    Reply
  25. wow, pretty damn cool!

    http://www.dragonnfruit.com

    10.11.11
    Reply
  26. Bruna wrote:

    U should check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXHuJ0hOd1Y&feature=player_embedded
    DIY – Tom Binns inspired neon earrings

    10.11.11
    Reply
  27. stephanie wrote:

    what a fab idea! how much would it cost to gold leaf a whole person i wonder :o)

    10.11.11
    Reply
  28. roberta wrote:
    10.12.11
    Reply
  29. sophie wrote:

    fockin love it <3333 !!!!
    http://sophie-andersen.blogspot.com/
    xx Sophie

    10.12.11
    Reply
  30. Kelly wrote:

    Love love love this DIY!! Have to try this myself!

    10.12.11
    Reply
  31. @ Maya: I had the exact same thought!

    10.12.11
    Reply
  32. alicia wrote:

    I’m about to start wearing gold leaf with t-shirts and jeans. It’s so cool.

    10.12.11
    Reply
  33. MadCecile wrote:

    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!

    10.13.11
    Reply
  34. Like gold finger candy, love it!

    10.13.11
    Reply
  35. Wilma wrote:

    I love it! How long will it stay on?

    10.16.11
    Reply
  36. Nomadic D wrote:

    That may just be one of the craziest tutorials you guys have done yet. And I love it!

    http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/

    10.17.11
    Reply
  37. Definitely an original DIY idea! How long does this stay on??? It looks pretty cool!

    10.19.11
    Reply
  38. Adelle Rosan wrote:

    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

    10.22.11
    Reply
  39. Itziar wrote:

    Love it!
    well, i love all your DIY

    My shop on line of jewelry and complements handmade
    http://www.margaritavintage.es

    10.23.11
    Reply
  40. Megan wrote:

    What if you have to wach your hands? Is there a way to make these so you can wear them more than once?

    11.1.11
    Reply
  41. Lici wrote:

    Fantastic idea!

    11.11.11
    Reply
  42. Erin wrote:

    LOVE it. I am trying this asap.

    11.19.11
    Reply
  43. erw wrote:

    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

    4.2.12
    Reply
  44. They Call Me J wrote:

    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.

    12.6.12
    Reply
  45. Ana wrote:

    Spirit gum at the ready!

    1.5.13
    Reply
  46. 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

    6.15.13
    Reply
  47. bodygolding wrote:

    You gotta see also http://www.bodygolding.cz

    11.24.13
    Reply
  48. What a funky creation!

    6.3.14
    Reply