How To Give The 2 Tones Effect For Fake Gator?

[GoldArmored]

I'd like to know how to achieve the 2 or 3 tones dye technique on gator skins (fake or real)

I love the look of TAN gator and also the turquoise one we often see on western tack today.

I thought I could dye the complete skin with diluted white/beige cova-color opaque dye,

then pour some brown on a paper towel and rub gently on the surface, avoiding pressing too hard so only the 'top' gets colored,

then repeat this last step with a darker brown, and just gently touch the skin so only the very top gets colored

whats the real technique of doing this?

Thank you!

(here are sone pics showing the effect I'd like to achieve, some are real gator (like the boots), some are fake, like the saddle and noseband)

[bison]

First I oil the piece and let it dry for 24 hours. Then I dye the leather the color I'm wanting...tan. light brown, etc. Then I "dry-sponge" the ridges. Put some dye on a sponge and squeeze most of it out, then gently rub flat across the ridges until I get the color I'm looking for. Finally, I seal and antique and then do a final seal. The antique gets into the cracks in the design and adds the finishing touch, I think. Play around with some scraps to get the look you want first.

Good luck!

Dave

[Sylvia]

There's also an old technique that might work for you. Wrap a cloth around a block of wood. Apply your dye to the cloth, blot excess off, then attack your project. The block and blot makes the dye stay on the surface of the piece rather then into the stamping/carving.