Staining with Walnut Ink Crystals

1. Pour the ink into a zip lock bag - put the paper or cloth item you wish to stain into the bag and let it absorb the ink until it is as dark as you like. Remove the item and lay flat on a paper towel to dry. I hang my items on a make-shift clothes line in my craft room with household clothes-pegs, be sure to put down an old towel or line the floor with scrap newspapers for drips.

2. Sponge the walnut ink onto your paper with a sea sponge (best kind) or rolled up paper towel, rag, etc. Repeatedly go over certian areas you wish make darker.

3. Use a paint brush or stipple brush to transfer the walnut ink onto your paper. Flick the bristles of a dipped old toothbrush with your finger for a sprayed or fleck like effect.

4. Put walnut ink in a spray bottle and mist/squirt/spray solution onto your paper to get another more heavy spattered design. Lift and turn the paper so ink runs in different directions. Once dry, mist again on desired darker areas of paper and you could even sprinkle walnut ink crystals sparingly on top of paper. Keep adding ink and crystals until desired color is achieved and let dry.

5. Get your paper nice and wet with walnut ink, then sprinkle salt on the paper for another interesting effect.

6. Crumple your paper!...crumpling your paper breaks up the paper fibers and the broken fibers will absorb and hold more ink than the smooth fibers...so your weathered/dis-stressed look will be even more obvious....I love this effect! :o)