Antique Mill by Marta French, ME 2005

1. Stamp out your scene with the black ink the way you want it.

2. After ink is dry--which shouldn't take too long for matte cardstock-- take your scene and crumple it up--then un-fold and smooth out , but not too much--leave some wrinkles --it adds to the "worn and weathered" look.

3. Then with gold pigment ink, dab your finger--yes I said FINGER --not with the sponge-- into the ink pad and then just start "swirling" and "smooshing" the gold ink onto your scene. Use the gold to highlight areas that you think should be highlighted: trees, rocks, clouds, water, etc. --it's your scene so use your own best judgement!! Swirl and smoosh some gold into some of the crinkles and wrinkles from when you crunched your cardstock as well--that adds to the worn and weathered look, too. If it looks like maybe some of the black is rubbing off into the gold in some places--that's a good thing-- you want it to look faded as well!!

4. Ok, when you think you've done enough with the gold, now it's time for the copper pigment ink. Using the copper, repeat the same procedure as you did with the gold, only this time you use the copper for "shadowing" instead of highlighting-- putting it on the shadowy places: under trees, dark sides of buildings and clouds, rocks,etc. If some gold and copper mix together in the process--that's also a good thng!! Just use your own best judgment using the copper and where you need to touch up the gold--if you need to!! Just "play" with it until you get the "ANTIQUEY" look you want!!

5. Last step: to get the "darkened edges", take cosmetic sponge and black ink pad--use the sponge like you would a stylus tool, and sponge black all around edges. It doesn't have to be even--whatever pattern you want, but I go around the card at least 3 times, so that the very edge gets really dark--darkest on the outside edges, then working towards a lighter "greyish" tone towards the scene.

**NOTE: In reference to using my "finger" to apply the gold and copper pigment inks instead of a stylus tool or sponge--it just plain works better than either of those . When I tried using them, the ink just "BLOBS" on and you can't swirl and smoosh the ink around very well, and I ended up using my finger after all was said and done just to "UN-BLOB" the ink!! Also, I think that the ink reacts to the oils in the skin so that it just smooths and blends better than with a stylus or sponge!! -MF