It's easy to add the elegant look of gold to your dinner table by gilding your own charger plates. For formal dinners, presentation is everything, and these gold chargers - plates set beneath the china for each course - add a regal touch to any table setting.
Materials:
clear glass plates
gold leaf
a crafter's pompon or soft sponge
two paintbrushes (one-half inch and two-and-a-half inch)
"gold size" adhesive
glass cleaner
crafters' varnish used on glass
Steps:
- Clean the underside of the plate with glass cleaner so that you'll have a dust -free, smooth surface to work with.
- Turn the plate upside down and apply gold size to the entire rim. Allow the plate to sit for about 10 minutes or until the surface becomes tacky.
- Place sheets of gold leaf around the rim and tap gently with a dry paintbrush . Gold leaf is fragile, and pieces will flake off. Be sure to save the scraps so you can apply them to any spots you may miss.
- Rub the gold leaf with a sponge or pompon to ensure a smooth surface.
- Complete the project by applying a coat of varnish designed for use on ceramics. Let the plate dry. Be sure to hand wash your new chargers after each use.
Note: Although Grumbacher Gold Size has been discontinued, gold leafing materials may be found in most craft and art stores.
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