Crack Open a Container of Walnut Ink

Walnut ink is a popular product for staining paper products to make them appear antiqued. An almost magical solution, it dries with a color gradation that mimics actual aging of old documents. Walnut ink is available in several forms (powdered crystals, premixed liquid solutions, and spray bottles) and is made by a variety of manufacturers.

Powdered walnut ink crystals are distributed by Pinecone Press, Tsukineko and Postmodern Design. Premixed walnut ink solutions are available from FiberScraps. These solutions are sold in a plastic bottle with a sponge-dauber top. Simply swipe the solution across your paper project. Available in several new tints, these walnut inks are acid-free* and completely archival. Tsukineko’s walnut ink spritzer bottles are another form of premixed walnut ink liquid. Manufactured in four shades, the ink can be spritzed directly onto paper or poured out and used as paint.

Mixing Walnut Ink Crystals:
When you use the walnut ink crystals, prepare a strong solution. Remember that it is always easier to add more water to dilute the color than to darken a weak solution. Start by mixing 1 tsp. walnut ink crystals with ½ cup of hot distilled water. Test the mixture, adding more crystals or water until the desired shade is achieved. You can store the solution in a cool, dark spot for up to six months.

For a little fun, add a package or two of unsweetened Kool-Aid mix into the walnut ink solution. This creates a tinted brown solution. Green, orange or red drink mixes work especially well for tinting walnut ink. Similarly, drops of water-based dye ink (in the form of a reinker) can be mixed into the walnut ink emulsion.

Applying Walnut Ink to Paper:
There is no right or wrong way to ink a paper project, but each method will give you a different look. Some interesting ways to ink papers include:

• Paint walnut ink onto paper with a spongy paintbrush, bristle brush, or stipple brush.
• Pour walnut ink onto a cookie sheet. Lay paper on top of the ink.
• Spritz walnut ink solution onto paper with a perfume atomizer, spray bottle, or spatter with a toothbrush.
• Use a sea sponge, rag, wadded paper, or wadded Saran Wrap to dab walnut ink onto paper.
• Drip walnut ink solution onto paper for a splattered effect.
• Fill a water pen, bamboo pen, or calligraphy pen with the ink solution and use the pen to write, scribble or draw on paper.
• Use a fingertip sponge or Q-tip to apply color to the edges of a project.
• Drip ink onto paper, then using a drinking straw, blow the solution around the paper.
• Pour walnut ink into a large zip-top plastic bag. Insert paper (tags, library envelopes, envelopes, photo corners, ribbon, twill, fibers, etc.) into the bag and shake well.
• Apply walnut ink to patterned papers for a muted, antiqued effect.
• Wad and crease papers before applying walnut ink. The ink will settle into the creases, increasing the antiqued appeal.
• Apply walnut ink over heat-embossed stamped images for an interesting resist.
• Sprinkle dry walnut ink crystals onto a piece of wet paper. This produces an unusual spotted effect.

Lay inked papers on layers of paper towels to dry. For faster drying, try ironing the papers or blow-drying them with a heat-embossing tool. Using a buffer sheet of paper or cloth is a good idea if you are worried about getting ink on the iron. I have a craft iron for this use, so I don't buffer, I just wipe the iron down after it cools.

Walnut ink is a fun and easy product to give a vintage feel to paper projects. Whether you are aging paper, fabric, stickers, or photos, walnut ink will give your project character and visual dimension.

*Are other brands of walnut ink acid free? There is some debate about this. The actual walnut ink itself is not acid free, but some claim that the dried end-product is pH neutral. I have tested the finished product and have come to the same conclusion. For those who worry about being absolutely safe, it is a questionable product. This is probably a product most safely used with copies of photos - or at least place an acid-free cardstock matte between the inked surface and a special photo.