NaturallyGildedEasterEggs

We’recraftingathome,rummagingthroughartboxes,pantrycupboardsandbookshelvesforinspiration.Youmightfindyouhaveawealthofmaterialsjustbeggingtobeputtocreativeuse.Tryingsomethingnewcanfillyourspiritwithjoy!Todaywe’reusingsomekitcheningredientsandtoolstogildEastereggs.Wewereluckytofindbrownandwhiteeggsatthegrocerystore,andsomenaturallyblueandgreenaraucanaheneggsatthelocalfarmersmarket.Theleafclingstothesurfaceoftheegg,creatingaglowyou’llneverseewithpaint.Theseeggscanbeeaten,sonothinggoestowaste.Let’sgetstartedonthesefree-formgildedbeauties.

Whatyou’llneed–

Rimmedwashabletrayorbakingsheet

Adozeneggs(ormoreasyoucanspare),broughttoagentleboil,coveredandleftoffheatfor10minutes,thenchilledincoolwatertoroomtemperature,anddried.

Twosquareorroundsmallbrushesforpaintingthegluesolutionor“size”ontoeggs

Twosoftbrushesforpickinguppiecesofleaf

Vegetableoilorlipbalm

Packetofpowdered,unflavoredfoodgelatin–thiswillmakeyourgildingglue

Clearmeasuringcup,teaspoonandmetalstirringspoon

SeppGildingWorkshopImitationGoldLeafbookof25leaves–orabookofGenuineGoldloose“Surface”Leaf–don’tusepatent/transferleafforthisproject*

Acoupleofcottonballsorpads

*Youcan find thegold leafwhereSeppGildingWorkshopproductsaresold.Youmayhave towaitacoupleofdaysforyourordertoship,butartstoresareworkinghardtofulfillshipmentsatthistime.

MakeyourGelatine-BasedGoldSize

Use½ofonepacket(orabout1½teaspoons)ofgelatine,andsprinkleitover¼cuproomtemperaturewater ina liquidmeasuringcup. Swirl itaroundabit.Bringsomewater toaboilandafter removingfromheatforaminute,pourthehotwaterintothemeasuringcuptomake1½cupsofgelatinsolution.Youdon’twantthewatertobeboilingwhenyoupouritasthislevelofheatwillbreaktheproteindownanditwon’tmakeastickyadhesive.Stirwithaspoontocompletelydissolve.

PreparingtheCraftArea

Placeyourmeasuringcupofsizeandyourbowlofboiledeggsinsidetherimmedtrayorbakingsheet–thiswill catch thedrips.OpenupyourbookofLeaf,andremoveacoupleof squaresof leaf.YoucangentlytearImitationGoldLeafintosmallerpieces.Ifyou’reusingrealgold,tapthegoldwithyourdry,clean“pickup”brushtobreakitintosmallpieces.Moveslowlysoasnottodisturbtheleafwhichmaywanttofly!

Applyatinyamountofvegetableoilorlipbalmonthebackofyourhand.Swipethetipofyourdrypickupbrush(NOTthesizebrush)overtheoil.Thisprovidesclingtopickupyourleaf.

ApplyingtheGelatineSizeandtheGoldLeaf

Thisisaquickprocess–unlikesomeothertypesofgildingwhereyoumustwaittillthegluehasdriedforawhile,you’lladdthegoldimmediatelyafterapplyingthesize.Holdyoureggoverthetray.Dipyourbrushinthegelatinsolution,anddabsomefree-stylebrushstrokesoverthesurfaceoftheegg.Itwilldripandthat’sok,youwanttheareastobegildedtobeniceandwet.

Usingyourpickupbrush,gentlyscoopupapieceofleafanddropitontothewetareas.Trynottogetyourpickupbrushwet.Don’tworryaboutmissinga spot - it’s impossible tomakea less than lovelygildedfinishwiththistechnique!Youcanuseyourbrushtonudgedownanyleafbitsthatarestickingup,orblowgentlytopushtheleafdown.Preparemoreleafasnecessarytocontinuegildingyoureggs.

AllowtheGildedEggstoDry

Setyourgildedeggsontoaneggcartontodryinawarm,draft-freeplace.

PolishYourGoldEggs

After2-3hours,youreggswillbedry.Gentlypolishthemwithacottonballorpad.Ifyoufeelmoisture,waitalittlelonger.Usethecottontobrushawaywrinklesandbufftheleafdown.

Decorate

Refrigerateyoureggstillreadytodisplay–thesemakeastunningcenterpiece,gift,orgoldensurpriseforanegghunt!Note:washyourhandsafterpeelingeggsforeating.