How to Age With Walnut Ink
Walnut ink is made from the green husks of walnuts. Depending on how it is diluted, the color of this ink ranges from a golden brown to a deep brown-black. It is colorfast, lightfast and very permanent, which makes it ideal for a variety of projects. You can use walnut ink to easily add the appearance of aging to many porous materials, particularly paper, fabric and wood. Using walnut ink is simple, but requires some care because it permanently stains many items that it comes in contact with. (see References 1 and 2)
Instructions
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1
Put on your gloves. Latex or rubber gloves are best because they are non-porous. Walnut ink stains skin and cannot be washed off. (see Reference 1)
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2
Mix your ink in a cup. Many walnut inks are sold as crystals that must be mixed with hot water to form the ink; use about four parts water to one part ink. You can purchase walnut ink in liquid form, as well, and you can dilute this kind of ink. (see References 2 and 3)
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3
Test your ink on a piece of paper to ensure that it is the proper strength. Ink that is too dark will make the surface you are aging black rather than "aged."
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4
Dip your brush into your ink, then gently paint across the surface of the item you are aging. Keep your strokes uneven to make it appear more natural, and concentrate the ink at the edges of the item. If desired, spray the wet surface with a spray bottle of plain water to achieve a more "aged" effect. You may wish to paint more than one coat of ink to achieve the look you want. (see References 3 and 4)
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5
Drop a few crystals onto the wet surface if you were using crystals. If not, wait for your item to dry slightly, then drip a little ink on the surface. This will make your item look more "aged" and add uneven spots and splotches. (see Reference 3)
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Tips & Warnings
Protect your work surface with newspaper or a drop cloth.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages /Polka Dot/Getty Images
