Photos ©2005 The Homemaking Cottage

Instructions for gold leafing transparencies...

1.  Using the glass from your frame as a guide, center the image, mark and trim off the excess film around the edge.  All pictures are made slightly larger pieces of film so the image can be centered properly.

2.   Lay the Film WRONG SIDE UP on newspaper.  All temple pictures and pictures with words should be gold leafed on the wrong side so the finished picture is not backwards.  All other pictures can be gold leafed on either side.

3.   Spray the film with spray adhesive holding the can about six inches about the picture.  A light dusting is sufficient.

DO NOT OVERSPRAY!!!  Transfer film to a clean area of newspaper.

4.   IF YOU GET ANY GLUE ON YOUR FINGERS BE SURE TO WASH IT OFF OR THE GOLD LEAFING WILL STICK TO YOU!!!!

5.   Winkle the gold leaf before laying it on the film (This helps avoid lines and the look of squares that sometimes show through on the other side.)  Carefully lay squares of gold leaf on film until covered.  Make sure to put the same side of each piece of gold leafing down on the film.

6.   Using the tissue carefully press the gold leafing into place.  This "wipes" out the air bubbles and helps eliminate lines.

7.   If a hole appears in the gold leaf, patch it with scraps. You may re-spray and area LIGHTLY in the gold leaf will not stick.  Be very careful in doing this and only spray where necessary.

8.   Cove the film with the backing for your picture and turn the picture and backing over.

9.   Holding the picture steady and using the side of your hand, rob out all remaining air bubbles.  This seals the gold leaf onto the film and gets out all the air pockets.  Be sure to rub every square inch of the surface of the picture.  Use the tip of your finger along the sides of the film to trim of any excess gold leafing.

10.  Wash and dry the glass to be used in the frame. Place then the gold leafed picture and then the backing in the frame.

Your picture is now finished.

DO NOT WASH FILM WITH WATER, SOAP, OR ANY KIND OF CLEANER.  If it becomes smudged by finger prints, wipe with a tissue or a soft dry cloth.

How To Make Your Own Transparencies

(I do not know of a company that sells them)

Here are the instructions to make them by Sis. Jackson:

"Would you believe I have a gold leaf picture of a Greg Olsen print?

My MIL did them for the whole family at and Enrichment meeting. I have it hanging in my family room where no one can see it! Lots of wards are doing them, but a lot of sisters I talk to really haven't known about the copyright violation. So, I suppose that they have innocently broken this law. However, there are those who know and don't care! We need to be so careful. Lots of wards choose to do things because another ward has done it, so it must be okay!

I have also heard that you can use pictures in the Ensign, but I think it would be best to check with the church copyright department. I'll see if I can find the number and whom to speak to and post it later. They really are very nice! The reason I think it is best to make sure is because in my mom's ward, someone supposedly had copyright permission from Greg Olsen, but when it came right down to it, they didn't. Better safe than sorry!

HOW TO:

We did the 8x10 size. Smaller pictures can be enlarged by your local copy store. One time we provided frames, and one time we didn't. I think the cost was about $5.00 without frames.

1. Take the picture to a reputable copy store (I have had some difficulty with this).

2. Have them make a colored copy on transparency paper (they will be familiar with this)

3. Spray the back of the transparency with spray adhesive-I like Duro, All Purpose Spray Adhesive. (make sure you have this right, my mom did a Manti Temple picture on the wrong side and it looks like

the Temple is falling off the hill).

4. Gently place the sheets of gold leafing (buy these at your local craft store, around $7.00 a package-it takes about 4 squares to do an 8x10 picture) on the surface you have sprayed with glue, try not to fuss with it too much, the more you touch it the more it will tear, it is very delicate stuff! Cover with tissue paper or other paper and smooth out with a cotton ball. You can also add more texture by crinkling the gold leaf gently in your hand before placing it on the picture.

5. Remove tissue or other paper and hold picture up to the light. Check for any holes or gaps, and fill these with small pieces of gold leaf. You usually don't need to respray, a good glue stays tacky for

several hours. Just don't fuss with it too much!

6. When you are satisfied, tape a piece of cardstock paper to the back of the picture, to protect the gold leafing. Mount and frame as desired.

*Silver and copper leaf are also available. We did some silver leaf pictures that were beautiful. You can also do this with family pictures, or other personal photos that you enlarge. I have seen the RS Declaration and the Proclamation done this way too, but I haven't personally checked on the copyright.

I hope these instructions are clear enough. It really is quite simple and quick to do. Make sure you spray outside! Otherwise, the glue can get on the floor! You also will have gold flakes everywhere, but they sweep up fairly easily! If you need more clarification, just ask!

We did not limit the number of pictures the sisters could do. They only take about 10-15 minutes tops to put together. Good luck."

A note on Copyrights for HFPE craft projects:

Just a little FYI you may already know regarding the copyright laws...we are going to do the gold leafing and we also had a sister say that they did it in another ward with permission...she called the Relief Society Board in Utah and was told that it is NOT OK...we may use any CHURCH DISTRIBUTED pictures of temples, & any picture from the Gospel Art Kit, or the sisters can bring a personal photo (maybe a wedding photo, etc.).  To be safe, we are meeting in the church library for the sisters to choose their pictures; better safe than sorry!  Hope this helps! 

-Donelle Kersey

Try finding Temple sketch pictures from http://www.ldsgrand.com/

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