painting 3-D Letters

[fredk]

All dyeing is done before.

Stamping - dyeing - sealing - colouring in - more sealing - polish if necessary

[Mattsbagger]

1 hour ago, fredk said:

All dyeing is done before.

Stamping - dyeing - sealing - colouring in - more sealing - polish if necessary

Cool thanks. Do you have any pics of work done like this?

Edited January 21, 2017 by Mattsbagger

[fredk]

I've been looking for some but so far I can't find anything much.

The only thing I have to hand is this gaming board.

The pattern was drawn on with a pointed scriber; effectively pressing the pattern into the leather, almost as deep as a stamping would do. Even with 'antique-ing' it didn't stand out, so I went along the scribed line with a gold gel-ink pen. When it was well and truly dry I went over it with the Pledge, then it got Fiebling's clear Resolene on top of that then buffed up a bit with a bee'swax polish mixture I make.

You have to be careful with the gel-ink tho; its water soluble so until its lacquered over to seal it it can 'run' if it gets too wet, and when you put the sealer over it don't wet it too much or drag the brush/sponge as that'll smear it too [don't ask me how I know..... ]

I've done a knife scabbard for a friend with a stamped pattern all over it, then used a silver gel-ink pen in the low groves of the pattern to make the pattern stand out  [or 'pop' as some US speakers would say] I've done single letters, small patterns......

But I rarely keep photos of these things and the items are all with their owners or passed on.

Gel-ink pens are available just about anywhere. The metallic ones are just a bit harder to get but not much harder. And I believe you can get 'glitter' gel-ink pens in many colours as well.

[fredk]

Extra; I found another photo. Here's a part of it.

Craftool 3-D stamp; Fleur de Lys # 8613-00 used, lined with silver gel-ink

[Barkster39]

I use a very fine point paint brush and Angelous acrylic leather paint. I sometimes add a tiny bit of water so it will follow the grooves better. 

[BJP]

I use "Golden" brand acrylic paints in the tubes.   Expensive but u don't need much.  

Also use very fine natural hair brushes.   AND.. if needed instead of water, use Goldens  "Paint Retarder" which will thin the thick acrylic gel-type paint properly.  

Go for many litely painted layers and build up the colour you want ( dry well between each layer)  rather than just paint on thick paint for color bc it won't last.