A Whole New World

I had a cheap, old globe that I found at the flea market years ago. Blah in color, it sat in the same corner on the same shelf forever. Last weekend I got bored. End of story, beginning of a whole new world.

I started by using a fine point Sharpie and outlined all the countries. Ok, I outlined most of the countries. Ok. I outlined a lot of countries and some of them don't exist anymore. Who's gonna know? Do the best you can and follow the countries and get as many of the teeny tiny ones outlined as you can. There's a lot of places you just can't get to with a brush and the Sharper really helps. But don't stress it!

After that, I painted all the water black. You want to use chalk paint and it took me 2 coats for good coverage. One of the many things I love about chalk paint is it dries so fast. In no time, I was ready for the next step.

And the next step is

( imitation) gold foil.

I used a very fine paintbrush and painted a very thin layer of adhesive. There is a special adhesive for gold leaf. I usually do things my way and used watered down Aleenes tacky glue. If you're doing a cheap craft like this, that's fine. If you're using GOLD leaf and an extravagant project, please use the correct adhesive. But I have found this works fine for quick crafts. Never use full strength glue. You want a very thin glue.

Once the land areas are covered in glue, let it set for a few and become tacky. You don't want pools of glue...you want a thin layer, and it will become tacky quickly. Once it does, start laying your leaf on it. Press it slightly, (remembering that it rips and sticks to any and every thing for no reason at all ) and let it set for half hour or so.

After it dried, I used a soft paint brush to brush off the excess. If there are some places that didn't get covered, just swab it with some glue and add more leaf.

Once all areas desired were covered and dry and most of the excess was brushed off, I took a soft cloth and rubbed the whole globe, which blends it all together better and softens it.

(Note- I've said it before and I'll say it now... Gold leaf is messy, messy, messy! Do not have a fan on or a window open. Do not breathe near it. It is so fine and feather light that the merest whisper of wind will ...ruin you and make you cry.

Also, when brushing it off, take it outside. It goes everywhere. But I think it's worth the mess.

And the same old corner on the same old shelf will never be the same! It's a whole new world! I really like how it turned out.