2017 #16 Rust: The Colors of Iron with ESA {by Dounia Large}

2017 Topic 16: Rustification

OK folks, this is one of THOSE posts where you exclaim out lout 'SAY WHAT!???' ...go ahead READ IT!! Professor Dounia is in the house! I can imagine Seth punching the air already!!

Hi everyone, it's Dounia with you today, and I'd like to share with you a different way to use the amazing Rusting Powder from PaperArtsy. It also involves tea and tree leaves...

I always like to use products different ways, make the most of them and I also try to work with natural objects and this is a great technique that combines both! It's also a bit of a cheat in this them, as I didn't actually rust anything...

From my chemistry background, I know that iron is involved in a form or an other in a lot of pigments and dyes. It is particularly reactive to tanins, and what has tanins? Tea! You probably already have heard or practiced tea dying, this is just taking it a step further. After infusing you paper or fabric in a strong tea, you can add Rusting Powder directly in the bath (in a plastic tub!) for a medium color. You can also prepare a iron (IS) solution the day before by mixing the powder with lemon juice. You can dilute and spray it for a darker tone.

The color takes a few minutes to fully develop, it's like magic each time! Of course instead of spraying the paper/fabric directly, you can use stencils!

Stamping is also possible! Either with the Iron Spray on the tea dyed substrate or by spraying tea on the stamp, printing it then using the Iron Spray. Both give slightly cloudy and grungy images that I think pair perfectly with Seth Apter fabulous designs! Here I used ESA05 with its gorgeous collage stamps.

Eclectica³ {Seth Apter} Set 05

Do you now what else contains tanins? Most tree and bush leaves! You can run them through your die-cuting machine to "juice them" them spray with the iron solution. The difference between before and after is striking!

I had a big play session with my tea and iron and used the results in a journal. Here are a few pages.

Hope this inspires you to get a bit messy and use your rusting powder differently!

End signing off with your name, and directly clickable links to your blog and social media hangouts.

Well it is certainly super-handy to have a Chemist blogging for us! I can't believe how those leaves turned out! From henceforth you shall now be known as Prof Dounia on this blog !! You win in the rusty experimentation challenge!! ~Leandra

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The current topic link Topic 16: Rust will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, Nov 12th 2017, and the winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.

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