EASY GILDED INITIALS TUTORIAL!

My Art Spark Tutorial...
EASY GILDED INTIALS!

The Old manuscripts featured 20 Karat gold initials called Versals-they started the verses! You can easily reproduce these stunning shiny letters.

Here I’ve used my versals from the book Hand Lettering for Crafts by Sandra Salamony- but any intials could work.

Using bright colored or black paper sketch the outline of the initial lightly with a pencil. Then carefully fill it with a small brush and Duo Adhesive. You can get Duo Adhesive from Paper and Ink Arts, (www.paperinkarts.com) You can also use Mona Lisa Glue from Michaels but I like the Duo better. You’ll want to fill the initials with a LOT of adhesive-flood it once you do the outline.

Here’s how it looks when you apply the glue. It will be creamy white and cover the paper completely.







Now the hardest part-wait till it drys COMPLETELY CLEAR! During
the drying make sure nothing touches the glue-I always seem to forget and put another paper on top and that wrecks the surface! ( You can just reapply the adhesive if this happens)

                     The letters should look like this when finished drying

Now apply the gold leaf-I find La D’Ore at Michaels and art stores. It comes in many colors and variegated. It is super flimsy and light.

Carefully remove a sheet and place it on the adhesive, using your fingers to get all the nooks and crannies. Remove the excess with a foam brush

                              Using a soft cloth burnish the gold to a dull shine
                                 Voila!! Gold initials ( Or silver or copper)

 

                                      Here I have made a card using one of the initials

My son and I have put together a kit with all you need to make these initials right away!  It includes a mini jar of Duo Adhesive, ( You can make many initials with this small jar!)  3 sheets of assorted gold leaf, 4 quarter sheets of black Artagain paper, an exemplar of my versals, Small brush, and a foam brush. It is $18 plus $4.95 shipping, please order through my website under the store tab-
www.lisaengelbrecht.com

                                              thanks for giving my son a little project!