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"  Add an elegant touch to ordinary objects with ease. Applying silver leaf is simple\u2014basic materials are available at craft stores\u2014and the process gives a polished look to otherwise bland items. No matter your skill level, try one of these projects to make your accessories shimmer.  Silver Leaf FramesBeginner  Materials   Paint frame, if desired; let dry. Apply sizing to surface of frame. Use the leafing brush to pick up the first sheet of leaf and place it directly on the frame. Using a soft paintbrush, smooth the leaf over the surface, removing any excess leaf as you go. Position the second piece of leaf next to the first and repeat the process. Use small pieces of leaf to cover any areas where the leaf didn&amp;#039;t adhere the first time. Wait at least 24 hours for the leaf to set before gently rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to polish the frame. Apply varnish as desired.  Silver Leaf SeashellsIntermediate   Materials   Paint objects, if desired; let dry. Apply sizing to surface of objects. Use the leafing brush to pick up the first sheet of leaf and place it directly on object. Using a soft paintbrush, smooth the leaf over the surface, removing any excess leaf as you go. Gently work the leaf into the surface crevices using smooth strokes with the paintbrush. The leaf may break as you work; you can either fill in the gaps with small pieces of leaf or leave some areas exposed for a worn look. Position the second piece of leaf next to the first and repeat the process. You may find that smaller pieces of leaf allow better control when working with detailed surfaces. Wait at least 24 hours for the leaf to set before gently rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to polish the object. Apply varnish as desired.  Silver Leaf Glass VaseAdvanced   Materials   Clean and dry the vase thoroughly inside and out; any grease or smudges will prevent the leaf from adhering properly. Mix 1/4 teaspoon gelatin into 3/4 cup boiling water. Allow the gelatin to melt in the water to make the sizing. Start at the bottom of the vase and work up. Leaf will be applied to the inside of the vase. Using a clean, soft paintbrush, apply a light coat of sizing onto the glass, working on one small area at a time. Use the leafing brush to pick up the first sheet of leaf and place it on the sized area. Be careful not to allow the brush to touch the sizing or else the sizing will adhere to the brush instead of the glass. Once the leaf has been positioned, move onto the next area, applying sizing and leaf. When working with gelatin sizing, there is no need to rub the leaf in or push it into crevices because the sizing shrinks as it dries, pulling the leaf into the surface. Allow the piece to dry for several days. The leaf will dry to a mirror finish. Before placing a potted plant in the vase, waterproof the leaf finish by applying a coat of varnish; dry 3 or 4 additional days before allowing contact with water.  Silver Leaf Ribbed VaseExtreme   Materials   Clean and dry the vase thoroughly inside and out; any grease or smudges will prevent the leaf from adhering properly. Mix 1/4 teaspoon gelatin into 3/4 cup boiling water. Allow the gelatin to melt in the water to make the sizing. Start at the bottom of the vase and work up. Leaf will be applied to the inside of the vase. Using a soft paintbrush, apply a light coat of sizing onto the glass, one ring at a time, starting on the lower ring of the vase. Use the leafing brush to pick up the first sheet of leaf and place it on the sized area. Be careful not to allow the brush to touch the sizing or else the sizing will adhere to the brush instead of the glass. Once the leaf has been positioned, move onto the next ring, applying sizing and leaf. When working with gelatin sizing, there is no need to rub the leaf in or push it into crevices because the sizing shrinks as it dries, pulling the leaf into the surface. You can apply smaller pieces of leaf to cover any areas that aren&amp;#039;t covered by the first layer, which can happen when applying leaf to a ribbed surface. Allow the piece to dry for several days. The leaf will dry to a mirror finish. Before placing a potted plant in the vase, waterproof the leaf finish by applying a coat of varnish; dry 3 or 4 additional days before allowing contact with water.  Silver and Gold Leaf TableIntermediate   Materials   Sand all surfaces of the table. Apply one or more coats of brown paint, letting dry after each coat. Mask off the area to be gold leafed by applying two rows of painter&amp;#039;s tape above and below the area. Apply sizing to surface of the table between tape lines. Use the leafing brush to pick up the first sheet of gold leaf and place it directly on the area. Using a soft paintbrush, smooth leaf over the surface, removing any excess leaf as you go. Gently work the leaf into surface crevices using smooth strokes with the paintbrush. The leaf may break as you work. If this happens, you can either fill in the gaps with small pieces of leaf or leave some areas exposed for a worn look. Carefully remove the tape. Apply the sizing and silver leaf, starting right along the edge of the gold leaf and repeat the process. Smaller pieces of leaf allow better control when working with detailed surfaces. Apply silver leaf over the rest of the table. Wait at least 24 hours for the leaf to set before gently rubbing the surface with a soft cloth to polish the table. Apply varnish to all surfaces.  THE ESSENTIALS BASIC LEAFING SUPPLIES - Timing is essential when applying leaf, so assemble all the basics before starting. Because it can be tricky to get the leaf into the crevices of a detailed object, begin with simple shapes until you feel comfortable with the process. SILVER LEAF: We used artificial leaf, which is heartier than the real thing. Most leaf is sold as a pad of sheets and is also available in gold and copper.  SOFT PAINTBRUSHES: Good quality, in assorted sizes.  LEAFING BRUSH: This has a wide, thin row of soft bristles for picking each sheet of leaf off the pad.  ACRYLIC PAINTS: Assorted colors, optional. The base paint may affect the final color of the leaf. It may also appear between small cracks in the leaf, if desired.  SIZING:This is the material used to adhere the leaf to the surface. Both water- and oil-based are available in craft stores. Follow manufacturer&amp;#039;s directions for using whichever sizing you choose because the sizing can take a while to set up and be ready for leaf application. When using gelatin sizing, there is no need to wait for it to set up. Liquid sizing is applied with a soft, clean paintbrush.  SOFT CLOTHS: To polish the piece after leafing.  VARNISH: The leafed surface needs to be sealed for durability. Use a clear varnish to prevent any yellowing. You may wish to allow the piece to age and tarnish several weeks before sealing for a different effect. 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