Stampin’ Up! just released the new January-June 2021 Mini Catalogue and it is filled with so many beautiful stamp sets, colourful papers, and sparkly new embellishments!

One of the new embellishments featured in this catalogue, and it’s even on the cover, is the Gilded Leafing Embellishment (or as I keep calling it, gold leaf).

It is a light, gold foil that you use together with the Heat & Stick Powder. The first step is to stamp your image in Versamark (I used the large sunflower from Celebrate Sunflowers), then apply Heat & Stick Powder, and set with the Heat Tool. Once it is heat activated and tacky to the touch, the Gilded Leafing can be applied. The excess can then be brushed off with a Stamping Sponge.

Because the gold flakes are so light, they tend to fly everywhere once the jar is open, but there are a few tips that will make this easier to manage. First of all, place a small amount of the leafing into a larger container so it can expand and just work from that. Secondly, use a pair of tweezers to apply the gold leaf and this will prevent it from getting all over your hands. And finally, when you are finished with it, use a small desk vacuum to clean up any remaining gold flakes. (This last tip was courtesy of Cindy Schuster and was invaluable to me!!)

You may be asking, “How is the look of Gilded Leafing different from Gold Embossing?” Well… they look quite different upon comparison. The gold embossed flower (on the left in image below) has clean lines with a deep gold colour, whereas the flower with the gold leaf has more of a rustic look with a gorgeous, bright pop of gold.

Of course, I had to use the gold flower on a card and I used a combination of products from the new Mini Catalogue (Gilded Leafing Embellishment, True Love DSP) and the Annual Catalogue (Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle, Ornate Floral Embossing Folder, Gilded Gems).

I love the look of the gold Gilded Leafing Embellishment and will be using it often on my projects. Be sure to follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss seeing any of them!

Leah