Ideas needed for the right finish...

[Dnjneb]

Greetings, I am trying to make a "mosaic" style picture using cut paper rather than stone. I want it to have an "ethereal" look. a magic, pearlescent, glittery look to it after I am finished. I have tried gold glitter spray, brush on glitter paint pearlescent medium in clear suspension and it just isn't looking right, The gold glitter looks ugly brown and sandy on the paper until the light is shining on it at which time it looks fantastic. The spray glitter gave a more even coating but then again makes the picture look sandy and yucky . Got any ideas?