Hello Friends!  How are you doing this fine morning?  I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with my Christmas list not all checked off.  I have some errands this morning, but soon after I am through I need to get my tail out shopping to finish up the last of my gift buying.

Tonight, we invited some of our neighbors over for a Christmas get together.  This will be the last of our Christmas parties before Christmas Eve.  It is always nice to spend time with friends.

A while back I was asked by my sweet cousin’s daughter if I would make her two canvas prints.  Well of course I said yes.  She sent me a picture of what she wanted and gave me the colors of her room.  So you know when you have a project and you just put it off because it scares you a little because it is for someone else?  That was this project.  I finally took the step and a full day to work on her canvases.  I thought I would share with you the process of painting and using gold leaf on a canvas.

With her permission, here is the wall she wants the canvases to be placed on.  She has a large mirror in the center with a windows at each end of the wall.  She wants the canvases in between the window and mirror.

Here is the inspirational photo she found that she likes.  She is wanting navy, gold and white.

Here is the supplies I will be using:

• Two 24″ x 30″ stretched canvases
• Squirt bottle with water
• Clean cloth
• Mod Podge
• Gold leaf
• Sponge brushes
• Soft bristle paint brush
• Pencil
• Acrylic paints
• Mat finished sealer
• A full day to work

I set up on my breakfast bar.  I protected my surface with a plastic tablecloth.

Took the canvases out of the package.

Took my pencil and made the design where I wanted the gold leaf to be placed.  Trying to make both designs the same.

Opened the Mod Podge and started painting on the glue to the design.  By the time I was done applying the glue it was time to start applying the gold leaf.  I worked on one canvas at a time.

I have yet to figure out the best way to apply the gold leaf without wrinkles.  Maybe if I do it enough I will become a pro at it, but for now…not so much.  I place the gold leaf onto the glue area and press lightly to make sure it is sticking.  I let that dry while I work on the other canvas.

Don’t forget to do the sides.

After at least 15 minutes of drying time take your soft paint brush and lightly brush the gold leaf to remove all of the foil that was not glued down.

It was so hard to keep the design the same on the canvas due to the gold leaf.  It isn’t the same now, but as close as I could get it.

Now it is time to apply the paint.  It is best to keep your canvas damp while painting.  This seems to make the paint go on smoother.  I used a spray bottle to keep it damp.

1. I took white paint to the bottom below the leaf design and applied it all over.
2. I took a small bristle brush and painted navy thin lines in random areas.  Taking a damp sponge brush and lightly making long motions over the navy lines to blend.
3. Took a different shade of blue and made smaller lines and blended that in.
4. Brought back the white paint and painted a light coat all over.

Here is what it looks like.

Now going to the top.  On the inspirational picture the top part has a lot of highlighted colors.  So I used several different colors.  Navy, royal blue, white and black.  In the picture you see gold.  I decided not to use the gold.

With the damp canvas I applied a good bit of navy paint to the top portion of the canvas.  Used a damp sponge brush and painted the navy until it was all covered.  Outlining the gold leaf.

1. Once the canvas was covered with the navy, I took some black paint and went over in spots.
2. Now took the royal blue and did the same as the black paint.
3. Lastly, I took some white paint and a small dab of navy blended the two colors and went over lightly in areas for highlighting.

When I got the canvas the way I liked it, I let it dry while I worked on the other one.  This one is drying.  When done, I let both dry for a couple days before I applied the mat sealer.  Let that dry several more days.

Here is the inspirational canvas.

How did I do?  Do you think my canvas matches the inspirational canvas?

This is how they turned out.

Using gold leaf it is hard to keep your design the same.  Some parts sticks to the canvas and some doesn’t.  One of the gold leaf design is thinner than the other.  I am hoping when separated from each other it won’t be as noticeable.

I placed them on my wall just to see what they look like hanging up.

What do you think?  You think she will be happy with them?  I sure hope so.  I can’t wait until she hangs them up and sends me the photos of them.  When she does I will share them with you!

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Thank you for stopping by and hope you return back here on Monday’s blog.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Stay Strong and Stay Blessed!

Terrie