talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

There's certainly a couple of threads similar to this, but specificaly, I want to age a small note book, so it looks like I've been working in it for a few years... anyone got any tips? (it'll then live in a nice wooden box, along with my Carnie Tarot and Decranom)

Cheers,

Chris

What kind of notebook? Paper or Leather Binding?

Has it been exposed to the elements? Hidden in a nook for a few decades?

Do you need the paper to be supple, brittle, or crinkled?

There are many ways of doing this but you need to be more specific as to the level of aging and what you're aging, including the kind of paper you are using; regular notebook paper such as most of us are used to don't age as fast as the stuff used prior to the 1950s; pulpy paper likewise ages differently, frequently become dried out and brittle.

You could use Tea to stain the pages of the book but that technique frequently results in very stiff and wrinkled pages. There is a spray available through Artist Supply stores, I don't have the name off hand, but it was developed for the sake of antiquing paper & card stock. I think it retails for around $12.00 a for 8 ounces and depending on how aged & stressed you want your paper, you may want to dilute it. . . for a more even coloring I'd use an airbrush and not the pump it comes with (it sputters and makes things blotchy).

Take a look at items made of the materials you plan on using that are the approximate age you plan on going with. Fact of the matter is, if it is something 5-10 years old, you really needn't do much of anything but make the book look well worn... a few weeks in the hip pocket as you go through your daily routine should prove sufficient.

Thanks Craig!

I think I was trying to over complicate things. The book only needs to looks 5-10 yrs old, so in the pocket it goes.

The rest of the advice I'm sure will prove valuable for other projects

Check the books in your local library, some of the paperbacks get 5 year's worth of aging very quickly. Leaflets and pamphlets in second hand bookshops might give you some ideas about how your book could look after a period of time.

Wet & dry paper can be used to gently round off edges and corners, graphite shavings from a pencil can be used sparingly to add 'grime' where the book would have been frequently handled.

Thanks Mandrake, I shall do just that!

The graphite shavings are an excellent idea! I think that if I dab my fingers in them and smear it around it could look very convincing

Start with very little and build up the effect gradually. You can also rub sand on the cover of the book to age it a little.

If my daughter is anything to go by, you could give it to a teenager and ask them to take good care of it for you for a couple of days.

any decent craft shop will sell a range of distressing ink pads. they cost about a fiver, and last for ever.