A few months ago a group of bloggers teamed up to celebrate the color hot pink. Now it’s time for round two—this time the challenge was gold. Mandi from Vintage Revivals invited us to create gilded projects, and I couldn’t wait to join in. I’ve been seeing bottle brush trees everywhere on Pinterest and wanted to make my own, but with a golden twist. Tiny gold-dipped trees are irresistible, so I dyed a batch and gilded their tips for a sparkly finish.
Supplies:
- White bottle brush trees
- Food coloring
- Spray bottle
- Water
- Liquid gold leaf
- Gold glitter nail polish (or craft glitter + glue)
- Paint brush
- Tape
I began by dyeing the white trees using a simple method that works great with food coloring. The process is straightforward: mix a few drops of food coloring into water in a spray bottle, mist the trees until the color is even, then let them dry completely. This is an easy way to create pastel or deeper hues depending on how much coloring you use.
Once the trees were dry, I gold-dipped the tips. Using a stiff brush, dip it into liquid gold leaf and lightly brush the edges of the bristles so only the tips pick up the metallic finish. This step can be messy, so wear gloves and protect your work surface. After the liquid gold was applied, I added extra sparkle by brushing gold glitter nail polish onto the tips. If you prefer, use a small amount of glue or Mod Podge on the tips and sprinkle craft glitter over it for the same effect.
The combination of dyed bristles and gold-dipped tips creates a frosted, elegant look that’s perfect for holiday decor. These trees look great grouped together in varying sizes or used as charming gift toppers. They’re small, inexpensive, and add instant sparkle to a mantel, table setting, or wrapped present.
If I had a mantel, I’d line up a whole forest of these in mixed sizes and shades of gold. They’re also great for creating small holiday vignettes or for adding height and texture to a centerpiece. Because the technique is simple, you can make a variety of colors and finishes quickly.
All photos by Studio DIY
Be sure to explore the other gilded projects from this challenge for more inspiration from talented makers who also worked in gold.
