Adding Gold Leaf to Illuminated Lettering on Paper??

[Saturn]

Hi All,

I debated with whether to put this question in here or in "more art, less craft" forum, but I'm making an artsy book and am getting into ATC's so I settled on this forum.  Anyways...

Anyone know anything about applying gold leaf to illuminated lettering on parchment paper?? 

I've watched Youtube videos that aren't exactly clarifying on the supplies needed--one artisan even called whatever adhesive is used "sticky stuff". Gee...that clears things up. Other artisans seem to skip over minor steps in an effort to make the video lessons short and sweet, also they don't recommend any products. 

What I'm trying to achieve is mirror-like (or darn close) gold leafing accents on my calligraphy projects to make them look like Medieval texts.

The stuff that looks like this: (this is not my work)


I e-shopped around for a beginner's kit, but they all seem to be for projects that aren't paper like picture frames and such. I know the process is called "water gilding" but there seems to be an easier method for raised leafing using some sort of gesso that dries a caramel color that you blow on before applying the leafing? (To add to my confusion)

Can anyone tell me about the basic process and the basic supplies?

Thanks for any help you may provide! 

[CraftyMcCrafterson]

This is basically what I have used in the past. It's a pen with the adhesive in it. You can buy the adhesive in a jar but that requires a brush and I like the fine point of the pen. You apply it like you would use a regular pen. When it dries it becomes tacky. You then lay a portion of the leaf over top of the adhesive and rub or burnish it till it transfers from the leaf backing to the paper where you want it. Super easy. Super addicting

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=157973

[Saturn]

OMG thanks so much!!! This sounds wonderful, and the link you gave me even comes with a trial amount of gold leaf.

Question: When you "burnish" it, does that mean you use on of those rubber tipped "burnisher" things? Just checking in case I should add one to my order ^_^.

Again, Thanks SO SO much!!

[CraftyMcCrafterson]

burnish just means to rub. you can use anything... a q tip, your finger, a popsicle stick.

[amaryllisroze]

This is the kit I've used in the past. Applying the adhesive with a brush would allow for more precision in placement. The leaf itself is very, very delicate. You lift it off the backing paper with a clean, dry brush and lay it over the sticky adhesive. You don't want to burnish it with any pressure really or it will rub off.

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=157677