I like to check out new merchandise, and I particularly love to search out new and simpler methods to do issues. One of the vital time-consuming steps to ending the cupboards on the mural wall of the studio was including the gold leaf accent to the entire doorways and drawers.
I do know gold leaf isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, however I completely find it irresistible. I feel the gold leaf accent on these cupboards is like the jewellery to complete off a reasonably outfit. However my goodness, was it a tedious and really messy job!
All of that taping off, then portray on two coats of adhesive, then the messy means of including the gold leaf, after which eradicating the tape and sealing the gold leaf. It was such a ache!
I nonetheless have this whole space of cupboards to complete (i.e., the “workplace” space of the studio)…
…and whereas I fairly benefit from the sanding, priming, and portray course of, I’ve been dreading the method of including the trim, after which including the gold leaf to the trim.
Anyway, I used to be looking on Amazon for one thing the opposite day, and I occurred to return throughout this gold foil tape (affiliate hyperlink).
Something shiny and gold goes to catch my eye 😀 , so I seemed on the buyer critiques to see what individuals have been utilizing this tape for. Individuals have been utilizing it so as to add gold “frames” to their TVs, and different enjoyable issues. I didn’t have any particular want for it in the intervening time, however I assumed it is likely to be enjoyable to have some available simply in case inspiration strikes, so I purchased a three-pack of the tape for just below $10. The tape is simply over 1/2 inch large, and every roll has 32 toes of tape.
When it arrived, I nonetheless didn’t have a use for it. However I unwrapped it and was going to place it into one of many drawers in my studio, and I observed that the colour was nearly an identical to the gold leaf accent on my cupboards. I assumed, “Oh my gosh, how a lot time would that save me if I may simply use tape so as to add this accent!”
I wasn’t satisfied that it will work. In any case, discovering a non-gold leaf possibility to duplicate the look of gold leaf is nearly not possible. Over time, I’ve tried waxes (like Rub ‘N Buff), paints, liquid gilding, and so many different issues to attempt to replicate that actual metallic look. And in case you’ll bear in mind, my first try at including gold to my cupboards was performed with a gold paint pen.
It wasn’t horrible, however it was undoubtedly darker than an precise gold leaf, and it didn’t have that very same shine to it that gold leaf has. It’s simply very arduous (nearly not possible) to duplicate the look of precise metallic with non-metallic merchandise.
However once I noticed this tape subsequent to my cupboards, I assumed that this may really be the one factor that may replicate the look of actual gold leaf. (And naturally, once I say “actual gold leaf”, I’m not that means to suggest that the metallic leaf I take advantage of is actual gold. I merely imply that it’s actual metallic. So whereas it’s actual metallic, I solely ever use imitation gold.)
So I examined one strip on my cupboards, after which stood again to check. Are you able to inform which one in all these traces of gold is the metallic tape?
I’ll provide you with a touch. It’s the one which’s essentially the most constant gold coloration and doesn’t have these darkish spots that all the time appear to look on my gold leaf tasks.
I’ll even slim it down and let you know that it’s one of many eight traces on these two doorways. Are you able to inform?
I used to be completely amazed at how completely this metallic tape matched the gold leaf. Even standing up shut, I can’t inform a distinction in any respect. And the very best half is that it took me all of about two minutes to place the one strip on and trim off the surplus. This actually would have saved me hours of labor that I spent gold leafing the 20 doorways and drawer fronts on this mural wall! And there’s not one of the mess that comes together with utilizing sheets of gold leaf.
So which one is the tape? It’s the highest left.
That one is the tape, and the remaining are gold leaf. They usually all look an identical to one another. Even standing within the room, and standing up shut, there’s no means anybody would ever be capable to inform that this one is totally different from the others.
Now clearly, this tape isn’t fully a substitute for gold leaf. There’s no means I may have gold leafed the sunshine within the again entry of my studio utilizing this tape.
However for tasks that want easy, clear traces of gold, this gold foil tape is my new gold leaf substitute. Now I’m really trying ahead to doing the remainder of the cupboards and seeing simply how shortly I can do the gold leaf accent! I think about it’ll take me a fraction of the time that the mural wall cupboards took. Oh properly, it’s all a studying course of!
Addicted 2 Adorning is the place I share my DIY and adorning journey as I transform and adorn the 1948 fixer higher that my husband, Matt, and I purchased in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do bodily work, so I do the vast majority of the work on the home on my own. You can learn more about me here.
