I saw this seemingly easy project a while back and decided that I wanted to make a silver leaf covered canvas to match our couch. Cooper leaf was on clearance at Michael's so decided get it and use it as practice on some clay pots I bought for just over $1 each.
Supplies:
• Metal leaf water-based sealer
• Black acrylic paint
• Foam brush or any kind of paintbrush
• Medium clay pot
First, I covered the clay pot with the black acrylic paint. I already had some good black paint so that's what I used. I think any cheap craft paint would be just fine on a project like this. Next time I am going to apply 2 coats of black paint. There were a few spots where the clay pot was showing through and I wish the black had been more opaque.
Then, I used the same foam brush (after washing) to apply metal leaf adhesive. I applied the adhesive to a small section, then put the copper leaf onto that same section. A little tip I learned along the way is to cut the metal leaf squares into smaller sections. It is not an easy material to work with so for me, it was much easier to get a clean application from a smaller square. I also found it best to apply the square and apply a little pressure with the brush or your finger. Almost as if you are putting on a temporary tattoo.
After I covered the entire clay pot with the copper leaf, I finished it off with a couple coats of sealer. I tried to be very careful about making the brush strokes perfect but in the end it dried clear so messy brushstrokes would not have mattered.
Overall, it was a quick project. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be but eventually I got into a groove. Next on my list it to get some green plants. The copper leaf looks great in the sun on a windowsill or outside.
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