cutting gold leaf

Quoted text begins.Any ideas on the sticking, or do I need a gilders knife?
End of quote.

Hi Norman,

I use a gilders mop to manouevre the gold leaf from the packet to the stone
surface. It's just a bulky, soft brush - you can get something similar from the
cosmetics department of a drugstore.

Open the gold leaf packet to expose sufficient gold leaf to cover the letter
stroke, lay it face down on the prepared surface and the gold size and paint
will make the gold leaf stick. Lift the packet away from the surface and
re-apply until all of the lettering is covered.

Use the gilders mop to gently pat the gold leaf into the inscription, be careful
not to get paint on the mop or the gold leaf will stick to the mop instead.

Simon