How to Make a Gilded Autumn Plate and Candle Holders

Autumn is a time when we enjoy the warm colors of orange, red, burgundy and deep greens. Walking through a tree-lined autumn lane is exhilarating. It is as if the trees have been hand painted for our enjoyment. Bring a bit of that warmth into your home by making an autumn plate and gilded candle holders.

Things You'll Need

• 10 inch clean glass plate
• 1 large and 8 small fall leaves from your walk in the woods
• Color photocopier
• Matte decoupage sealer
• Gold Leaf
• Dark green acrylic paint
• Small scissors
• Flat 1 inch paintbrush
• Marker
• Waxed paper
• Heavy Book

Instructions

For The Plate

1. Take a stroll in the woods and pick up 1 large leaf and 8 small leaves of your choice. Press the leaves inside of a book to flatten them out. Leave the leaves in the book overnight to make sure that they are as flat as possible.

2. Take your flatten leaves to your photocopier and place them face down on the color copier. Cover it with a white piece of paper and make your print. Do this for all nine leaves.

3. Take your photocopied leaves home. You will now cut out the shapes of the leaves. Randomly arrange them on the front of the plate. Take your marker and lightly outline the placement and remove the leaves.

4. Lay out the paper leaves on waxed paper. Brush a thin coat of sealer on the front of the leaf. Add a thin coat of sealer to the back of the glass in the leaf’s position.

5. Place the leaf onto the traced outline and press out from the center to remove any bubbles. Let the glue dry overnight.

6. Brush glue over the back of the plate and leaves and lay on sheets of gold leaf. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying gold leaf. Allow the glue to dry overnight. The next day lightly dust off any residue that may be sticking up. Seal the back of the plate with glue and allow the glue to dry overnight.

7. Paint one coat of dark green acrylic color to the back of the plate. Allow the paint to dry overnight.

For the Candleholders

1. Pick up your leaves from your stroll in the park, take them home and then press them inside a heavy book. Allow the leaves to flatten overnight.

2. Wash and dry the outside of the glass.

3. Tear small irregular shapes of rice paper and colored tissue. Place in a bowl for ready access while working on the candle holder. Set the paper aside for later use.

4. Take your paint brush and brush glue on the outside of the glass. Set your paintbrush aside. Pick up small pieces of assorted torn tissue and rice paper and place with your fingers to the glass. Allow the edges of the paper to overlap each other. Cover the outside of the glass completely and brush the entire outside with one additional thin layer of glue. Allow the candle holder to dry overnight.

5. Place the leaves facedown on waxed paper. Brush a thin coat of glue to the back of the leaf. Apply a thin coat of glue to the paper covered glass. Lift the leaf by its edge and smooth it into place with your fingers. Place your leaves randomly around the candle holder. Apply a thin layer of glue to the entire candle holder and allow it to dry overnight.

6. Brush glue over the back of the glass and leaves and lay on sheets of gold leaf. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when applying gold leaf. Allow the glue to dry overnight. The next day lightly dust off any residue that may be sticking up. Seal the back of the glass with glue and allow the glue to dry overnight.