Aging, Antiquing, And Distressing Tools
September 3, 2008 Crafts, Painting, Paper Crafts, Techniques and Mediums No Comments
Everyone loves the look of antiques! You can easily get that look quickly with the following tools:
Acrylic Paints: Water down the paint to an inky consistency, which creates what is called a wash (1 part paint to 3 parts water). Colors of dark blue, patina green, rust, black and burnt amber work best on light color papers while white, light gray and light blue work best on dark colors. Brush light coats onto the paper until happy with the hue.
Antiquing Gel: This is a thick liquid or gel that is brushed on and then rubbed off leaving a thin film that makes an object look older. There are a variety of colors from white to black. For hard surfaces like charms you can age the item by using antiquing gel.
Chalks or Pastels: Chalks and pastels can be used to age paper. Use darker colors and dust chalk around edges, over sanded portions, or all over the surface. Chalks and pastels need to be “sealed” with a spray finish, fixative or sealer.
Chalk Inks: A pigment ink that is usually light in saturation and hue. When dry, it leaves a chalky-like finish. Lightly sponged onto a paper or surface to antique or age it. Lightly sponge chalk ink over paper in aged colors like mustard, brown, rust, black or patina green.
Coffee and Coffee Grounds: Coffee can be used for aging and staining just like tea. Brew up a strong, dark batch of coffee and then you can soak, spray, dribble, or puddle the coffee onto the paper. Coffee grounds can also be used. Sprinkle coffee grounds over wet paper and allow to dry.
Fine Grit Sandpaper or Emery Board: Use the sandpaper or emery board to sand away layers of the paper to give a weathered effect. Use fine grit sandpaper or emery board and sand lightly over different areas of your paper.
Hammer or Mallet: Here’s a chance to get out all that frustration! Simply pound areas to give a dented, abused, and ‘seen a few years’ look to paper, metals, fabrics, and plastics. Some altered artists also use heavy chains to give the same look.
Inks: Inks used in rubberstamping can be used to antique paper and other surfaces. Select colors that lend to aged looks like dark yellows, rusty orange and browns, patina greens, dark blacks and off-white whites. Best application is to lightly sponge ink onto paper in light layers.
Ink Sprays: Diluted inks in spray bottles used to spritz color onto a surface. Shade and intensity vary.
Steeped Tea: Place several tea bags into a bowl and add hot water. You want at least 3 tea bags to each cup of water. In other words, you want a strong batch of tea. Avoid teas that don’t give rich color like green teas. Spray a mist of strong tea onto the paper and iron it. The straining will make the paper look old. Repeat misting until the paper is aged to your perfection.
Walnut Ink: This is an ink that is speckled, dripped or brushed onto paper that gives a sepia or brown wash to the paper. Usually a powder that you mix with water, but is also available in liquid form and in a variety of colors.
