Making Leather Look Paper using Ranger Color Wash Inks

Welcome back

 
Did you hear a whoop of delight?  That was me I had a play in the studio just to make some simple end papers for my books and OMG I have found the most wonderful technique. I say found this technique but I did see the idea done in a similar way by Leonie on QVC. But mine has more depth of colour as I use more colours together. Being a generous sort here’s how you can get the same effect for yourself.

 

**Please note the following cautions to prevent damaging your soft furnishings**

Please be aware that this ink will stain whatever it comes into contact with. So it is best not to do this over carpet, near wall paper or curtains. The kitchen is a good place if you don’t have a dedicated studio space.

You will need

• Ranger Colourwash Spray ink. (Sell whatever you have to, and buy them all they are fabulous)

 

• Disposable gloves; the cheapest going is fine. You really need these!

 

• A large empty, no longer required cardboard box.

 

• Blank newsprint; available in large sheets from removal companies; I got 500 A2 sheets for £12
• A couple of bin liners
• Blank printer paper; white

Method

This is truly messy and best done over a hard floor just in case some ink goes astray. Don’t do this for the first time near wallpaper or curtains!
1.  Cover your entire workspace with at least two layers of blank newsprint OR cut open your bin liner and use this to cover your working area.
2.  If you need more drying space than your table allows for, cut open a couple of bin liners and place them on the floor.

3.  Place your cardboard box on your table; you will be spraying the ink into this box.
4.  Arrange your inks on you now waterproof surface. Ready to go.
5.  PUT THE GLOVES ON!! Don’t think this is being OTT this is dye ink and will stain your hands for DAYS!
6.  Place a sheet of folded up blank newsprint in the base of your box, this will catch any overspray.
7.  Place your sheet of printer paper in the bottom of the box.
8.  Choose three colours of ink that you like and remove their lids.
9.  Spray the inks over the paper, start with the lightest and work down to the darkest.

 

 

10.  Don’t be afraid of the ink, get the paper well covered and don’t forget the edges.

 

 
11.  When you have a good coverage of ink, carefully pick up the piece of paper.

 

 

12.  CAREFULLY fold this up into a ball, keeping the inky surfaces on the inside. Gently squeeze this together till you get a ball. Do this gently as the wet paper is delicate and will tear if you go too harshly with it. Some of the ink will ooze out of the paper and you will then know you have a good coverage of ink on your paper.

 

   

 

 

13.  Gently and slowly open out your paper. Do this gently as the wet paper is delicate and will tear if you go too harshly with it. The paper will have lovely wrinkles all over it, and the ink will have soaked more deeply into those wrinkles. If you used several colours, you should see the tones showing through of the more dominant colours.

 

 

14.  Place the paper onto the plastic sheet to dry.

 

 

The papers I have made are still drying, so I’ll post some pictures when they are dry. Double click on this they show up better when the picture is enlarged.

 

***UPDATE***

If left to dry naturally the paper will be very textured, I have ironed the still just damp paper and it has retained some texture but is flatter I think you need to iron it whilst still wet to make it flat enough to stamp onto. I will post when I’ve tried this and let you know.

As for covering books with this paper, ironing it seems to have fixed the dye. When I pasted the back of the paper with pva glue it ‘relaxed’ and lost some of the texture allowing it to adhere to the cover board. There is still enought texture to give interest but it is well stuck to the boards. YEY

 

Here are some lush colour combinations I have found though.

Brown tones

• Butterscotch, Terracotta and Espresso
• Butterscotch, terracotta, Espresso and Raisin

 

Green Tones

• Pesto and Bottle
• Stream and bottle

Red tones

• Cranberry, Raisin and Espresso

Awesome violet came from Wild Plum and Stream!!! Gorgeous!
This technique is dead messy but soooo worth it.

Have fun

Billie :)

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