There’s something incredibly satisfying about transforming an everyday object into something completely unique. Whether you’re breathing new life into an old piece of furniture, decorating a keepsake box or adding the finishing touches to a handmade gift, gilding and decoupage are two wonderfully creative techniques that can make a big impact.
Both crafts have been used for centuries to decorate furniture, artwork and interiors – but you don’t need to be an expert to give them a try.
The Polyvine Craft Gilding Kit and Decoupage Kit bring together the essentials you need to discover these traditional decorative techniques at home.
What is gilding?
Gilding is the art of applying an incredibly thin layer of metallic leaf to a surface, creating the appearance of gold, silver or another precious metal.
Traditionally associated with ornate picture frames, furniture and decorative architectural details, gilding can also be used in much more contemporary ways.
Think gold detailing on a painted plant pot, metallic accents on a jewellery box, a gilded picture frame or flashes of silver leaf across a piece of upcycled furniture.
The beauty of gilding is that a little goes a long way. Even the smallest metallic detail can completely change the character of a piece.
Try gilding with the Polyvine Craft Gilding Kit
Our Gilding Kit has been designed to give you the key products you need to experiment with this beautiful technique.
Inside you’ll find:
- 100ml Polyvine Acrylic Size
- 100ml Polyvine Gilding Lacquer
- Gold leaf sheets
- Silver leaf sheets
- Two brushes
The Acrylic Size creates the adhesive surface needed for your metallic leaf, while the Gilding Lacquer helps protect your finished work.
With both gold and silver leaf included, you can experiment with different looks – from traditional antique-inspired finishes to bold contemporary details.
What can you gild?
Almost anything can become a creative project. Try adding metallic details to:
Picture and mirror frames, wooden decorations, plant pots, boxes and trays, furniture details, lettering, ornaments, mixed-media artwork and handmade gifts.
You don’t have to cover an entire object either. Try gilding just the edge of a shelf, the handle of a box or selected details within a painted design.
Creative tip: Combine gilding with Polyvine Craft Acrylic Enamel Paints. A deep black, blue, green or purple background can create a dramatic contrast against gold or silver leaf.
What is decoupage?
If gilding is all about metallic detail, decoupage is all about pattern, colour and personality.
Decoupage is the decorative technique of applying pieces of printed paper or decorative napkins to a surface to create the appearance of a painted or illustrated design.
It’s a brilliant way to transform something plain – and it’s particularly good for upcycling.
Florals, typography, botanical prints, vintage illustrations, abstract patterns and colourful motifs can all become part of your design.
You can keep things simple with one carefully positioned image or build up different elements to create a completely individual piece.
Get started with the Polyvine Craft Decoupage Kit
Our Decoupage Kit contains the essentials for starting your first project:
- 100g Polyvine Decoupage Glue
- 100g Polyvine Craft Varnish
- Decorative napkins
- Two brushes
The Decoupage Glue helps position and adhere your chosen design, while the Craft Varnish provides the finishing stage to help protect your creation.
What can you decoupage?
Once you start looking around your home, you’ll probably find plenty of potential projects.
Try transforming wooden boxes, trays, plant pots, picture frames, decorative signs, furniture, ornaments, storage containers and handmade gifts.
It’s also a fantastic technique for giving older objects a second life rather than replacing them.
Creative tip: Paint your surface first using a complementary Polyvine Craft Acrylic Enamel colour, then add selected decoupage details over the top. Picking out colours from your paper design can help bring the whole project together.
Why not combine the two?
Here’s where things get really creative.
Gilding and decoupage work beautifully together.
Imagine a floral decoupage design finished with a fine gold edge, a vintage print with scattered touches of metallic leaf, or a decorated jewellery box with gilded detailing around the lid.
Add Acrylic Enamel Paints into the mix and you have even more possibilities.
Paint. Decorate. Gild. Protect.
Experiment with layers, colours, patterns and metallic finishes until you’ve created something that is completely your own.
Traditional crafts. New ideas.
One of the best things about crafting is that there are no rules about what something should become.
An old box can become a treasured keepsake. A plain frame can become a statement piece. A forgotten piece of furniture can become something you’re proud to put back on display.
Gilding and decoupage may be traditional decorative techniques, but the possibilities for using them are anything but old-fashioned.
The Polyvine Craft Gilding Kit and Decoupage Kit make it easy to discover both techniques, with carefully selected products brought together in one place so you can concentrate on the enjoyable part – getting creative.
Whether you’re an experienced crafter looking for your next project or you’ve never tried gilding or decoupage before, pick a surface, choose your design and see where your creativity takes you.
Polyvine Craft – Your Creative Companion.