Copper leaf sheets come in booklets and are separated from one another by protective tissue paper. Expose your first sheet of copper leaf and carefully lay it onto the sized surface. It will stick immediately. Gently pull the booklet away and let the rest of the sheet fall flat onto the surface. Press down firmly to adhere the copper leaf. Wear cotton gloves so the copper leaf doesn't stick to your fingers. Work in a draft-free area. Copper leaf is extremely thin and can be easily disturbed by a draft. Use your fingers to tap down the copper leaf to ensure it is fully adhered to the surface. Then use a soft paint brush or cotton ball to brush away any excess leaf. Continue the same process of exposing the sheet, dropping it, tapping it down and brushing away the excess until you've covered the whole surface. Once you've covered the entire surface of your project with copper leaf, inspect it closely. Holidays are places where the copper leaf didn't adhere properly. Use more copper leaf to fill these "holiday" areas in. Try to avoid touching the gilded surface too much at this point, since your fingerprints can leave permanent marks on the surface of unvarnished copper leaf. Surfaces gilded with copper leaf will tarnish easily and quickly. A protective sealer needs to be applied to protect from oxidation. Apply one coat of oil-based varnish or specially formulated acrylic topcoat with a paint brush. Allow the sealant to dry completely before handling your project. See the instructions provided with your varnish product for more information about curing times. You can obtain varnish or topcoat from most home improvement and craft stores. It also comes in spray formulas.

Summary: Fold back the tissue paper to expose the copper leaf. Remove the excess leaf. Look for and fix "holidays" on the surface. Seal and protect the surface.

Pop a piece of gum in your mouth while you study to increase blood flow to your brain and increase arousal. Pick a mint flavor, like spearmint, peppermint, or wintermint for an extra invigorating bite. Keep a pack of gum in your backpack or pencil case so you always have it with you when you're studying. Snack on foods that are primarily composed of protein, like nuts, meat, or cheese, which fuel your body longer because they aren't as easily digested as carbs. For example, choose trail mix, beef jerky, or string cheese to eat while you work. Avoid sugary foods or drinks, like cookies or soda, along with carb-heavy foods, like potato chips. These might give you a quick boost, but you'll crash later on. Try to eat every 2 to 3 hours, even if it's just something small, to avoid low blood sugar, which makes you feel sleepy. Stay hydrated to avoid feeling drowsy or sluggish. Drink a full glass of water at least every 2 hours, which will help the blood flow in your brain and make you feel more alert. Keep a reusable water bottle with you that you can refill as you study. Avoid alcohol, particularly on days when you're studying or the day before. Drinking alcohol regularly can negatively affect your brain function along with dehydrating you. Drink a mug of coffee to wake yourself up quickly, as caffeine prevents the cells that make you feel tired from reaching your brain. Have the equivalent of 200 mg of caffeine, which is 12 oz (.35 L) of coffee or 24 oz (.7 L) of tea, for example, over the course of 24 hours. Be aware that coffee and other caffeinated drinks can actually be dehydrating, so you should drink water with them, too. Avoid drinking coffee or consuming anything with caffeine, like chocolate, soda, or tea, within 6 hours of when you plan to go to bed or you may have trouble falling asleep. Don't consume more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day. Too much caffeine can be very dangerous for your heart and can also worsen existing conditions, like anxiety or depression. While quick fixes are tempting, stay away from drinks, pills, or shots that promise instant energy or that are loaded with chemicals and too much caffeine. Be aware that they can have dangerous side effects, like increased anxiety or even heart problems. If you want to use energy drinks or products, talk to your doctor first. It can be very risky if you have certain health conditions, like high blood pressure or a weak heart.

Summary: Chew mint gum to wake up your brain. Eat foods that are high in protein for longer-lasting energy. Drink at least 8 oz (.25 L) of water every 1 to 2 hours to fight fatigue. Consume a single caffeinated drink if you want an instant boost. Avoid energy drinks and pills that contain caffeine and/or chemicals.

If you are worried about playing sports in class, practice at home. You won't become an all-star player overnight, but you'll feel more comfortable (and look better) playing basketball in gym class if you've dribbled a few times beforehand. The same goes for any other athletic activity. Even jumping jacks can be difficult if you've never done one. When you're thinking of what to wear to look good in gym class, the goal should be to bolster your confidence. Thinking positively and dressing well create a self-confidence loop of sorts that will help you get through gym class more easily. You'll feel confident because you look good, and you'll look better because you carry yourself confidently. Staying focused on what you're doing will help you stop worrying about distractions. Your performance will improve, and you'll feel more confident as a result. Talk and bond with your classmates. Gym class is one of the few times you can interact with them outside of a classroom. Take the chance to set a relaxed atmosphere, and you'll realize people care less about your performance than you think. People are spending a lot less time looking at you than you think they are. Remember that except for the jocks, most of your classmates are nervous about gym class on some level too. Most of them aren't looking to judge you. Remember that gym class is one of the only chances you get to exercise in the day. Try to have fun with it.

Summary: Try to learn the basics. Be confident. Relax and have fun.

A blazer is a simple way to dress up a pair of distressed jeans. You can wear a loose and long blazer, or a more formal and fitted blazer. Pair the jeans and blazer with high heels or loafers and a nice T-shirt for an office look. Lightly distressed jeans that don't have rips, but have slight bleach marks work best with a blazer. A button-up shirt is another simple way to dress up distressed jeans. Any type of button-up, plain or patterned, will work. Pair the jeans with a nice pair of dress shoes looks to keep the look dressy. Wear a long-sleeved button-up shirt with lightly bleached jeans and dress boots or ballerina flats. A long jacket paired with distressed jeans is a good look for cold weather. A long pea coat or trench or trench coat would be an ideal choice. Make the look dressier by buttoning up the jacket and wearing dress shoes. Wear plain sneakers and a T-shirt to dress up the jeans, but still maintain a slightly casual look. Wear a long pea coat with a plain sweater, boots, and jeans. Put on a trench coat with a black T-shirt, jeans, and high heels or loafers. Accessories are a simple way to dress up your distressed jeans, no mater what shoes and pants you choose to wear. A statement necklace and earrings is one choice to dress the outfit up. Or, you can choose to wear a leather belt and watch. Choose your accessories based on your outfit. For jeans and a T-shirt, wear a simple belt and/or basic earrings, like small silver hoops. For a dressier outfit, like a sweater and pea coat, wear a long scarf.
Summary: Pair a blazer with your jeans. Put on a button-up shirt. Wear a long jacket. Choose dressy accessories with distressed jeans.