Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Dunking and Spraying

Dunking and spraying are my high tech terms for how I color lace, cheesecloth, shipping tags and found objects for my artwork.  Anyone can do this and it is fun.  Kara helped me color this cheesecloth shown above with Glimmer Mist and Walnut Ink Antiquing Solution.   You simply place the item on wax paper and spray until the desired color is achieved.  Consider mixing the colors too!
Love the earth tones we created here.  I do this with any fabric. This weekend we focused on cheesecloth purchased at the grocery store.  I spray it while it is double layered then often peel it apart when dry. The thinner layers provide different textures when making projects.
Left over morning coffee never makes it down the drain at our house. I will dunk something in it first. I love the color of coffee and tea stained objects.  I will purchase anything white knowing I can alter the color later to fit the needs of a project or decorating plan.  The longer you soak and the less you rinse (just wring out in your hands), the darker the color.  If you went too dark, run under a bit of warm water.
If I want to quickly age a found object, like these brass bells, I will use an antiquing solution purchased at my local craft store.  It helps speed things along. Of course, follow directions carefully and look for solutions that are more environmentally friendly please.

There are so many ways to dye and age your supplies. Leave a box of metal objects outside this winter. You will have beautiful rust and patina by Spring. Try slow boiling some of your summer blooms and see what colors you get. Have fun with it.  I love having a stash of goodies like this ready to use in my creations. Hope you are having a great week. Thanks for visiting and for your sweet comments. 

40 comments:

  1. Just beautiful!! I haven't tried it yet but I have friends who boil veggies such as eggplant, beets, rhubarb etc to dye their fabric.

    xxoo
    Marsha

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  2. No more coffee going down the drain at our house!
    ~jen

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  3. Love the colors!
    They scream Fall!!
    enJOY a lovely day,
    Kimberly

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  4. Love those earthtones on the cheesecloth Vicki. Great project. I love to use coffee and tea too.
    Have a wonderful day.
    xo Tina

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  5. These are beautiful! I have some white lacy pillow cases that I want to tea stain...but I don't know if I should soak them in straight tea (lol) or dilute the tea with water...

    Thanks!

    Lou Cinda :)

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  6. Cheesecloth from the grocery store...Who knew? Thanks for all the ideas and tips!!!

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  7. Love the wax paper idea. Great colors of cheesecloth. Thank you for sharing your techniques. Happy dunking...

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  8. What a great idea for jingle bells. Gotta try that! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  9. The colours are wonderful, dear Vicki,I never tryed to color that way, but may give it a try- only the inks are very expensive here- but Coffee and tea-I love to use,too.Thanks for the ideas, so sweet of you.
    Hugs,Dorthe

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  10. I love your tips, too! I have a couple of doilies I want to use for bags but they have a little discoloring! I'll try the tea or coffee! I just posted the little crate I bought for a dime! lol Hugs ♥

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  11. Love the variety of colors you managed to get - and ohhh...those earthy, muddy, colors get me every time. Love it! Happy Tuesday! Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

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  12. The cheesecloth looks great! Great colors. Thanks for the tips, I never thought to use glimmer mists!
    Kelly

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  13. You seem to be on top of it over at your place. So organized. The cheese cloth is gorgeous and so fallish.
    Lisa

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  14. merci for your very helpful tips mon amie! i must get working on some "inventory" for those long New England winters!

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  15. Hi, Vicki, the cheesecloth project looks like fun. I've heard of the glimmer mists and wondered how they performed, now I can see the results, they are beautiful.
    I like how the bells came out. Maybe you could email me the antiquing solution (I won't take it as an endorsement! heehee). I will do the items outside this winter and just leave them til spring, great idea.
    I'm going to try the rusting technique on the first,
    to really help them along. Thanks for passing along
    the great tips.
    Warm Regards,
    Susan

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  16. A weekend full of wonderful fall colors, what could be better, Gorgeous results!!!!
    hugs Lynn

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  17. I love the soft colors you can get when you control it yourself.The wax paper idea is great! Thanks!

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  18. I have used tea and coffee...but never the glitter mist on fabric. Thanks for the tip!!

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  19. Beautiful fall colors, Vicki! I really love the coffee dyed piece! Thanks for the tips!

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  20. I love the colors the cheesecloth came out with when you used the glimmermists and the walnut ink antiquing solution. I'll have to try it. Like you, never let the coffee go to waste! :)
    Have a wonderful week,
    Sonya

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  21. love the cloth done in all those amazing colors! WOW! can't wait to see what you make with them!

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  22. These are some great ideas Vicki, I love the colors that you got on the cheesecloths.

    Have a great day!
    xoxo

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  23. I love them all! Can you email me what you used on the bells? I would love to do something with a bag of bells I have sitting here staring at me. lol
    Thanks!
    Linda
    Linjmarino@gmail.com

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  24. I love the colors you wound up with. Very pretty! Haven't dried coffee or tea staining anything yet but would like to give it a go one of these days. Hope your week is great. Tammy

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  25. Nice colors, can't wait to see your creations!

    Sylvia

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  26. Vicki, great tips! Unlike you I wait until I want to start a project then decide to age....Then wait, then never get back to the project!

    Carol

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  27. Good messy FUN!!!

    Hugs, diane

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  28. Love the colors of the cheese cloth. I tend to want to die everything in sight once I get started.
    Thanks for stopping by my centerpiece post.
    Michele

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