How To Get An Outline Around Alphabet Letters?

[celticakes]

Hi

I am struggling with my alphabet stamps,when dyeing i cant get a good outline around each letter can anyone advise how this is achieved? As i want the outline & main body different colours as in this example.

[BillB]

The best I have been able to do is to use a very fine artist's brush that ends in a point of only one or two hairs when doing the outline. I would do the inside of the letter and the areas around the letter first, then do the very fine outline. I would use dye for the areas and a paint for the outline. That way the paint would overlay the outline. Even so, any shaking of the hand or going to quickly resulted in errors, so follow the practice mantra and the patience mantra.

BillB

[celticakes]

The best I have been able to do is to use a very fine artist's brush that ends in a point of only one or two hairs when doing the outline. I would do the inside of the letter and the areas around the letter first, then do the very fine outline. I would use dye for the areas and a paint for the outline. That way the paint would overlay the outline. Even so, any shaking of the hand or going to quickly resulted in errors, so follow the practice mantra and the patience mantra.

BillB

Hi BillB

thanks for your help, i thought there might be a quicker way using resist n block dyeing. Looks like i will have to master the virtue of Patience!

[HARVEY]

Hi

I am struggling with my alphabet stamps,when dyeing i cant get a good outline around each letter can anyone advise how this is achieved? As i want the outline & main body different colours as in this example.

With oil dye I use a strong set of magnifiers so I can see the leather perfectly. Using that pointy brush, I start wide and let the dye bleed its way to the edge of the letter. Plenty of good direct lighting and strong glasses/magnifiers will make the job much easier.

Harvey

Los Angeles

[drphil]

I know this is probably not what you are looking for, but I use the alphabet stamps. The stamps impress the leather with the letters. Hence, the letters are formed by depressing the outline of the letter. The smaller letters collect the dye/stain in the depression and so it is dark around them. For bigger letters, I use a ball point pen. I just run it inside the depression and then I get a nice letter that stands out. I have used resist techniques to keep the letter natural color and then use the pen for the outline. It always ends up looking really nice. If you want the outline of the letter to be natural then you will just have to be good. Like they are saying above.

Edited April 11, 2011 by drphil

[MADMAX22]

I would have to look at my letter stamps but the outline portion your looking at is the pressed in portion from the stamp correct? If it is you can easily dye the letter itself then use white antique to fill in the outline. There are some other color antiques that will work but not entirely sure of how verse the antique color palett is.