Simple recipes, combing materials like brown paint, cinnamon, even strong black tea, can operate as dyes or stains to add a touch of authenticity to a piece of muslin or a sheet of paper. These ingredients can be used separately or combined to create an especially "grungy" or antiqued design.
When applying watered-down paint or tea to paper, make sure the ink is fast to the page; recently printed pages or color printer ink tends to run slightly when painted over with another solution. Likewise, some fabric dyes or synthetic fabrics may be altered in color and texture from an extensive antiquing process.
Antiquing with Paint and Water
An easy and effective dye for paper and fabric is a solution of light-brown paint, watered-down so it can be easily absorbed by fabric or paper. Choose medium shades with a touch of yellow for antiquing paper with sepia tones; more traditional light browns add a darker shade to craft projects.
For antiquing muslin, fabric, or even finished projects, mix a teaspoon of paint with one cup of water, then brush gently over fabric. To stain large pieces of cloth, increase the solution recipe, then soak the fabric for several minutes before wringing it out. The paint mixtures instantly darkens or antiques folk art doll with finished features and fully painted bodies -- or unfinished dolls and doll garments.
For paper, increase the paint added to the mixture is necessary, to increase the absorption of color. Brush directly onto the pages, then let dry. Touch the paintbrush lightly touching the surface of unwatered paint, then dip the brush into water, brushing the two together in a single stroke before applying to the paper. Spread over broad sections of the paper to decrease water lines and color variations.
Tea Dye for Paper and Fabric
Tea dyes for fabric work best in bulk, so add one tea bag for every cup of hot water. Let the solution brew --or even "stew" -- for several minutes before pouring into a bowl and soaking fabric or finished projects. Leave fabric items in the mixture for several minutes before wringing out and placing them to dry -- take care, since the hot tea can burn skin easily.
The longer the items soak, the darker the finished project. Soak finished craft projects and painted fabric dolls (so long as the synthetic colors are dry and fast to the fabric) or dye fabric in the early stages of the craft. Avoid brushing on tea dye, since this is ineffective for adding color and may cause some painted fabric or hand-drawn details to run or rub off.
Soaking paper in tea dye can make the material too fragile to remove safely or too brittle once dry. Brush the tea dye onto the pages -- for a more effective method, sponge the tea directly onto the project using the hot tea bags. Wear gloves to protect your skin if the bags are too hot to safely hold.
Cinnamon and Combined Antiquing Methods
To add additional stains or a "grungy" effect to primitive crafts, sprinkle dried cinnamon over freshly-dyed fabric or crafts. This ageing technique can be enhanced by baking the item on low heat for ten minutes. It can also be sprinkled over antiqued paper, although most of the powder will simply brush off. For subtle stains, the cinnamon can be rubbed in spots on wet or dry paper.
These simple methods can all be combined for antiquing or ageing craft projects, but one recipe can be enough to effectively antique any project. Experiment by altering the ratio of ingredients according to each project's artistic needs, from shading to color results.
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