I’ve been displaying some of my creepy little air plants in cracked open geodes for a little while now but I thought they could use a little jazzing up. While the innards are totally gorgeous and sparkly, the outer shell is pretty dull and lame. Luckily, gold leaf is up to solving that age-old problem! With just a few simple supplies, this project comes together in a snap.

geode  |  gold leafing  +  gold leaf adhesive  +  acrylic sealant  [ or gold leafing kit ]  foam brush  +  soft paintbrush

Gather your leafing supplies and we’ll get started! First you’ll apply a thin layer of adhesive to the part of the geode you want to leaf. Let dry for 10 – 15 ( or according to adhesive instructions ) until tacky to the touch.

Lay a sheet of your leafing onto the tacky exterior of the geode. Smooth onto the surface using your soft bristled brush. Cover all the tacky areas before you get too crazy brushing away the excess to avoid a sticky messy brush.

If there are any bald spots, add a little more adhesive, let dry to tacky and apply more gold leaf. Repeat until you’re totally lovin’ it and then spray a light coat of an acrylic sealant over the exterior. ( Glossy ModPodge will do just fine to seal it too. ) You can find some amazing air plants here or at your local nursery.

Find a place to display your brand new super fancy DIY gold leaf geode and enjoy!