Various staining tips and techniques when using walnut ink crystals...
Walnut ink is very easy to use and can be used in several different ways. It is used to make your piece (paper, art, etc.) look aged and worn, or vintage and primitive.
To prepare the ink, mix 1 tablespoon of walnut ink crystals with 1 cup of hot water (they dissolve faster/better). If you want the ink to be lighter, like a tea stain, add more water...if you want it darker then add less water. Once mixed, the solution does not need to be refrigerated for storage, but do put a lid on it to avoid evaporation. (I mix & store my solution in a spray bottle)
Once you've made and covered your solution, it is good for a long time and even if it does evaporate just add some water to dissolve the residue at the bottom of the container and voila ~ more walnut ink! :o)
In need of walnut ink crystals? My friend Kim sells some.
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Some different Walnut Inking techniques:

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 ino 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)
GreatMusings.com has a huge selection of EPHEMERA for you to stain or purchase pre-stained where all the messy work is done for you! :o)
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- SherryHolderHunt SherryHolderHunt Apr 15, 2009 @ 6:45 am
- I wasn't aware of Walnut ink. Thank you for the information! 5*s
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- rms rms Mar 9, 2009 @ 11:30 am
- I love reading your lenses. I always learn something new! Nice work.
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Mar 1, 2009 @ 7:43 am
- I like the look the Walnut stain makes. Its pretty.
Thanks for sharing.
Lizzy
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- julcal julcal Feb 9, 2009 @ 4:18 pm
- That is gorgeous! Yea, how DO you learn this stuff? do you just mess around and figure it out yourself, or do you learn from other crafters? rhetorical question :)
***** Julie
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- PaulHassing PaulHassing Jan 16, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
- Impressive! How do you LEARN all this stuff?! P. :)
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I am AlteredKat. I love creating art + jewelry.
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