I often use antique gold or antique silver plated findings in my work, but occasionally there's a piece that's only available in raw brass.To give a brass finding like this bird (used in my Nostalgic NeedleART Crazy Quilt Block) more dimension and an older look, use acrylic paint and a sponge to quickly "antique" the piece.
· It's easy to get a fine film of paint if you use a soft cosmetic sponge. These are sold at drug and grocery stores. I buy the ones that are cut into triangular wedges. Wet a cosmetic sponge, then squeeze most of the water out. You'll want the sponge to be damp, but not dripping wet.
· Squeeze a drop of dark gray acrylic paint onto a saucer. Dark gray paint, rather than black, gives the highlights a softer look. Dip one corner of the sponge into the paint. You don't need to use much. Squeeze the sponge a few times to distribute the paint throughout the sponge.
· Brush a fine wash of paint over the finding with the sponge. Set it aside to let the paint dry. Wipe off the excess paint with an old washcloth when the paint is dry. If needed, apply another wash of paint, and repeat the process. I never seal the findings when they're dry because I like the tarnished look, buth they can be sealed with an acrylic sealer if you prefer.
Enjoy your beautiful findings...
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