First mix some Borden's white glue with water to a consistency of milk.  Now the traditional background color for gold is red oxide or black.  So if you don't want the gourd natural underneath, paint one of the two colors.  For silver leaf the traditional undercolor is sage green (dull green) or black.  Separate the pages of leaf from the booklet, leaving the coversheet over the page of leaf.  Apply the glue in small sections and lay the sheets of leaf or parts of sheets (keeping the coversheet on) on the gourd.  It doesn't have to be completely smooth.  Now after you've covered what you want to with the leaf--let it sit at least 2 hours.  Then take very fine steel wool and gently wipe off the excess leaf.   Then you can antique it if you want with Burnt or Raw umber acrylic mixed with water, brushed on and wiped off will do it. You don't have to do that if you don't want to. Then coat the leafed area with either gloss acrylic medium or polyurethane  By the way, remove the coversheet, it's easier to handle.  Also if there are too many gaps when you use the steel wool you can add more leaf  and repeat above instructions.