Sunday, May 29, 2016

Metal Leafing on Fabric

There is nothing like the shimmer, glimmer, and sheen of real gold, silver, or copper leaf!

In my last post I showed you how to apply metallic foil to fabric a number of different ways. Today I'm going to show you how to apply metal leafing to fabric. Metal leaf, available as gold, silver, and copper, is an extremely thin sheet of real or imitation metal - for example, most silver leaf is actually made of aluminum, which, unlike real silver, never tarnishes.

Store the fragile metal leaf in the original packaging to protect it.
Metal leaf is available in art supply stores and many craft supply stores.

Supplies:
  • Metal leaf 
  • Gel medium
  • Paintbrush for applying gel medium (I use a small foam brush)
  • A soft, full paintbrush for removing excess leaf
  • Parchment paper
  • Iron and ironing board
  • Fabric 
  • Optional: freezer paper to create a stencil or mask, a commercial or original stamp

Although metal leaf is applied to other surfaces with a special glue,
gel medium is the ideal adhesive for applying the leaf to fabric.
It's archival, flexible, has no odor, and is simple to apply.
For this demonstration I'm using a stamp block that I created for printing
with acrylic and adhesive foam, a soft brush, and a small foam brush.
Instructions:

1. Using the foam brush, apply an even coat of gel medium to the stamp. Press it onto the fabric.

Apply even, firm pressure to the stamp for a good impression.
2. Immediately lay one sheet of metal leaf carefully on top of the wet impression. Tap it into place. Use the separator sheets between the leafs to transport it to the fabric to prevent it from crumbling or breaking apart. Metal leaf is EXTREMELY fragile and must be supported as it's moved.

Don't be concerned about small tears or breaks in the leaf, just be
certain to cover the entire surface of the wet impression.
3. Wait 10 minutes for the gel medium to dry and then cover the leaf and fabric with a piece of parchment paper. Press firmly with a hot iron.

The parchment paper protects the iron from excess gel medium
4. Allow the fabric to cool completely - approximately five minutes.

The gel medium acts as an adhesive to hold the leaf to the fabric
5. With a soft brush, begin brushing away the excess leaf. The areas where the gel medium was applied will not be affected by the brush.

Save the small bits of excess leaf in a container for another project

6. The final result. The beauty of leafing is that it is "perfectly imperfect" - there are variations in the edges, in areas that don't take the leaf as well, etc.

Depending on the texture of the fabric, the weave may come through
the leafing, enhancing the final result.
Variations: 
  • Create a stencil or mask with freezer paper. Iron the freezer paper to the fabric. Apply gel medium to the openings of this stencil or mask. Peel off the freezer paper and immediately apply the leafing to the fresh, wet medium. Allow to dry, cover with parchment paper, and press well with a hot iron. Brush any excess leaf away after the fabric has cooled completely.
  • Apply gel medium freehand with a paintbrush. Add leafing sheets to the fresh, wet medium. Allow to dry, cover with parchment paper, and press well with a hot iron. Brush any excess leaf away after the fabric has cooled completely.
  • Mix different colors of metal leaf to the same project.
  • Apply the leftover small bits of metal leaf to wet medium for a multicolored, textured effect.

Note: Fabric that has had metal leafing applied to it can not be washed without damaging the leafing. This makes metal leafing ideal for art projects and not practical for functional projects.

Please leave a comment if you would like to win a package of metallic foil. Tell me how you would use metal leafing in your work, or how you might already have used it!

~ Jane Davila

15 comments:

  1. Thanks for a great tutorial. I have the metal leaf and have wanted to apply it to some projects but didn't know how.
    There is NO stopping me now!

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    Replies
    1. It's fabulous, Kay! Can't wait to see what you do!

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  2. This is a great tutorial. Not only do I want to use the metal leaf, I want to carve a new stamp. Great Wall hanging art!

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  3. Definitely a "must try this" one! Many thanks!

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    1. You are most welcome, have fun playing with the technique!

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  4. I would be curious to see how this compares to foil applications, especially Jones Tones. Can you think of any applications where metal leaf would be better than a metallic foil?

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    Replies
    1. Hi! My last post in this series is a comparison of foil and leaf to help decide which to use when. Let me know if you have questions that I didn't address.

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  5. This sounds like fun, and I would try it on fabric ATCs and postcards, fabric cards and maybe even on some embroidered needle keeps. Thanks

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  6. Easy to follow tutorial! I would like to try this on a partially complete textile project to give it that extra oomph it's missing.

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  7. I would like to try it on a quilt for the wings on an insect. I think that might look pretty cool. Hope to win!! Thanks for sharing your great talents with us all. Pam Gonzalez

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  8. Love the idea of using leaf on fabric/fiber!! So many ideas currently percolating in my head and running through my sketchbook.

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