altering with archival reinkers...

here's a fun 10 minute project...

the metal candleholder shown below

 was a Hobby Lobby find...

it caught my eye because of 

the chipped surface...

I also liked it because it was white, making it simple to alter with archival reinkers...

archivals are transparent when diluted, so they look great over light colored surfaces...

here it is looking down on it...

obviously it's a candleholder...

but is it really?

turned upside down, now it's an ADORABLE little display stand...

and it looks like a flower on a base...

from the top is looks like this...

for sure...

I see a flower!

start the timer...

this is a 10 minute or less project...

as always, I'm working on my craft sheet...

I added 2 drops of carnation red reinker...

that brown bottle behind it

 is rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol...

I diluted the reinker with the alcohol and mixed the reinker into the alcohol with a palette knife,

to make this inky solution...

then I took a cheapo paint brush and painted the flower portion of my little find...

oopsie...

having too much fun...

forgot to take the next photo...

I used the leaf green reinker 

diluted with alcohol to paint the base...

when the inks were dry, I swiped 

the watering can archival pad

 over the raised areas to define the flower better...

and here's the result...

this next photo shows that I allowed the ink to pool on the base for extra interest...

but, you could paint it 

to be perfectly smooth, 

if you'd like...

hmmm...

now what to put on the stand?

the moral of the story today is to...

always keep your eyes open...

look for simple (light colored) things to alter...

check Good Will...

or flea markets...

or antique stores...

remember...

it doesn't need to be pricy...

and remember that archival inks

 and archival reinkers are...

AWESOME 

when you want to alter your finds...

this technique will work on resin pieces too...

*coming soon to a blog near you!*

there are lots of archival reinker colors, 

so you can customize your find 

and choose any color that fits your decor...

I'm thinking that the new tea rose 

would be so pretty...

and for sure the new buttercup & 

sky blue would be cool too...

I like when products 

can be used more than one way...

use your archival reinkers 

to ink your archival pads 

or use them to...

make (altered home decor) art!

wendy