This is a simple design using the aluminum foil and alcohol inks, wrinkling the aluminum, glue to light weight paper then daub with various alcohol inks. The trees are left over scraps from a previous project. The real fun was making ink. I gathered walnuts and rotted them in the garage for several weeks in water. When the time came to cook them this was the ugliest thing I ever saw complete with mold and rot! I attempted to remove the outer shell before cooking since that is the part that makes the ink but it was like removing the outside of a tennis ball. I decided to cook them and worry about that later. As it cooked everything turned a black color, far preferable than actually seeing what was in there since beetle larva can survive the boiling. Beady eyes in a boiling pot would have ended this very quickly. As the water boiled, I used my thickest gloves to stick my hands in it and start breaking up the ugly mess. I cooked for 5 hours but I believe I should have let it go longer. I then took an old pair of support hose which will never be worn again to strain the sludge. With the help of my guest and craft buddy, we started scooping the sludge into the panty hose. I hoped my legs didn't look as bad in the hose as the nasty, lumpy sludge did! After straining we strained again since a lot of sludge pieces got into the ink. After it cooled we poured it in jars and added 20% alcohol to prevent molding. This did thin out the ink but I was thrilled with the color. It was then used in a mister, sprayed on a craft sheet and any dye reinker or alcohol ink worked beautifully for blending colors.
Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to know if anyone else tried this.
Date: Friday, October 31, 2014 GMT Views: 2781
Favorited:18
Registered: February 9, 2010 Location: Mentone, California Posts: 7361
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 12:18 PM
How cool to be able to see a project made with your home made ink! Such a beautiful backing your two AMAZING trees done in the awesome technique you wrote about. This is so beautifully matted and framed. LOVE this!
Registered: January 20, 2011 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Posts: 7619
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 1:23 PM
Wow ... your trees are gorgeous!! Love the CAS layout so that the trees are star --- perfect!
I have never tried this walnut sludge-cooking thing. That actually sounds very disgusting! Kudos for you and your crafty friend following through to the end ... you ended up with gorgeous ink. The process is WAY out there for me, but sure was interesting to hear about. FYI, I got a notification of your card upload --- yay!! Hope it lasts.
Registered: December 4, 2009 Location: Southern Utah's Dixie Posts: 20558
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 1:50 PM
Gorgeous and rich! I'll leave the walnut sludge cooking up to you, Nancy! Your description sounds intriguing, but no thanks! I'll just look at the beauties you create!
Beautiful card. Love how pretty your technique turned out, but I will leave the cooking of the ink to you. Loved your description of the process, though!
------------------------------ Sharon ♥
Blog: Foxy Stamping Scrapbook Goal: 2024: 14/60 as of 03/31/24
Registered: December 15, 2011 Location: Abilene TX Posts: 11275
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 2:48 PM
I don't know about anyone else, but I would have never even THOUGHT of trying this! That mess would never had made it into my house, LOL. BUT what a beautiful result, and the trees look absolutely stunning against the background. Fabulous card and straight into favorites! Sounds like y'all had so much fun!
------------------------------ JodyLynn - "Love me - love my cats!" DTGD12, DTGD14, HYCCT12, HYCCT13, HYCCT14, HYCCT15, Love Fest 2013, Love Fest 2014 CAS and CC guest designer QFTD 258
Registered: February 22, 2012 Location: Cape Cod Posts: 43340
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 4:24 PM
GORGEOUS card! I love that aluminum foil technique you've used - have got to try it! As for the home made walnut ink - nope never tried it and after reading about your experience, I never will (not that it would even have crossed my mind). YUCK! My husband wanted to know what I was laughing about, so I read your story to him - he called it "self abuse". He does like your card though!
------------------------------ Priscilla (aka - PJ)
QFTD187 My Gallery
Registered: August 15, 2007 Location: Twin Cities MN Posts: 50705
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 4:51 PM
An amazing card..I love the aluminum trees but I also love that oyster shell like bg..it's so pretty! Your walnut ink story was great....very interesting and sounds messy! I had to chuckle about the possibility of finding eyes in there and the part about the support hose..funny, funny!!
Registered: May 28, 2008 Location: Arnold, Missouri Posts: 15273
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 5:15 PM
Oh my gosh, Nancy, not only have I not tried this, but I won't be trying this either, when you got to the part that beetle larva can survive, I knew this was not for me - lol. Getting back to your card. It is nothing short of AMAZINGLY. Fav'd and pinned. Simply beautiful!
------------------------------ "The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Proud Fan Club Member
Registered: June 19, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 6005
Fri, Oct 31, 2014 @ 5:50 PM
Nancy, I stand AMAZED! The design is beautiful in and of itself, but... to make your own ink?! You are my new super hero - seriously. This is very impressive (she smiles).