How to Make Homemade Walnut Ink 

Thank you, Julie. That is good to know about the hands. I know from doing this for yonks that we often see mistakes that no one else would notice, but I have also had the odd snarky comment when I do make blunders so I guess I just panicked. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Me either!!

Thank you, Lynn. Everyone has been very understanding so maybe it's just me. But - I have had (a very few) troll-y comments and I try to delete and be thick-skinned about it but I also hope to head these off at the pass by not giving anyone an excuse. Although trolls do not need excuses, do they. Anyway, thank you for the vote of confidence! Kelly

Hello and welcome, Laurie. You know, either you live around or lots of walnuts or none. I got lucky and found a bunch in a corner of a parking lot and I knew what I had to do. 😺

Hi Shannon. Thank you for this vote of confidence. I almost didn't post the video I was so freaked out by the glitches so I am glad it was just me overreacting. 😺

Hi Gilly. Yeah, the first time I made this, back in the day, I left the walnuts in a shopping bag on the deck and two days later it was VERY squirrel-nibbled. But they only took the nuts and left the husks so it was a win-win for all of us. 😎

I just thought the same - either there weren't any problem or I didn't notice. The colour of the ink is simply great!

Thank you so much. It still looks very off to me so I appreciate hearing that I did not make a fool of myself. 😺

Thank you, dear Tavane. I occasionally get comments saying WHY DID YOU DO THAT and got a little paranoid about the glitches. Oops. 😺

Thank you so, Regina. Now, did your beet ink hold its colour? I love that shade but have read that it is not really fast. Maybe with a mordant? Keep me posted! Kelly

@@BookandPaperArts I use the beet dye with a drop of lemon juice to dye paper, and so far it’s held up

Is there such a thing as 'ice ink'?? I'd watch THAT tutorial! lol

@@armandaberlin2156Sign me up for that one, too! Kelly

Hi there, Tora. Yeah, that don't grow everywhere. But please stay tuned as I have more botanical ink recipes coming up soon with common kitchen items. 😺Kelly

Hi, Ninnian. Not shown in the video is me frantically wiping up ink from all available surfaces before it could stain the hard wood everything in this cute place. Baskets? Do you make them or buy them and then dye them?

@@BookandPaperArts I make them and then dye them. I used to sell them years ago.

@@ninniank9650 Got tutorials?😁

Thank you, dear Alexandra. I usually take two days (at least) to make a video so you do not see all of the mistakes I edit out and how I try for a really professional look. This is why I was unhappy with the mistakes in this one but THANK YOU for being so supportive. But supermarket walnuts will not work! It is the outside husk or hull that gives the colour. I don't know what you have in Portugal but I find mine when I am walking in the wood or park. Look under trees! Let me know if you find some. Kelly

Susan, you should try it. A little goes a long way and it is terrific for mark making. Keep me posted! Kelly

Thank you so, Katie. Really, I was scaring myself witless. 🙄Maybe I need to take a chill pill. Thanks, again!

@@BookandPaperArts yes, chill my dear! We watch for the content (and your great sense of humor!), not to see where your hands are positioned at any given time or whether you’re in your studio or at a kitchen table in France (we are all jealous of that!). So no worries!!

@@katiehanrahan5293 agreed!!

Thank you, Lynn. That is truly nice to hear. Kelly

Hi Theresa. Well, this is my real job and I love my job even when I am on holiday. It is also true that I meant to make walnut ink and we do not have walnuts at home and that meant either make it here or lug a bag of mushy walnuts home in my suitcase - I knew what I had to do. What dyes have you made?

@@BookandPaperArts I also was wondering about taking the nuts from France back home, in the US they would take them from us at customs and if you try to take the ink back it may also get confiscated. I guess that isn't and issue where you are and what your transportation is. I made beet dye, berry dyes, flowers and leaves. Some that didn't work were tomatoes, grapes, hibiscus they color just never would concentrate.

Why thank you, Rose. That is truly nice (and a relief😮) to hear! Kelly

Thanks bunches, Deb.

Yes, completely agree. At home I use cheesecloth for my second straining as it removes a LOT of the tiny sludge before a final fine strain. Thanks for the idea! Kelly

Thanks for touching base, Diane. It is my real pleasure! Kelly

Thank you so, Donna. Not even kidding, I cried when I saw the clips, then screamed. THEN went for a long walk and pulled myself together. Maybe I am smidgen too fussy??? 😮Kelly

Hi Ninnia, what a good idea to pre-filter with stockings. Thanks for the tip and for touching base! 🐾🐾 Kelly

Hiya Ocher V. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have found (the hardish way) that the best way to head off trolls - and there are craft and art video trolls 🙄is to beat them to it. But thanks the kind words. As to walnuts, it is the raw husk that gives the colour so don't go buy a bunch of pricey perfect nuts at the store. It depends on where you live - I found bags of them in the woods in NC but none here is Wales. Try taking a walk in the woods or park and keep your eyes on the ground. Ask around. In some places in the states you can look on Craigslist and people give them away. You want to ask for whole walnut hulls or husks. If not, I have more botanical inks coming soon! Kelly

Yeah, that is the thing. I find them on walks, in parks and forests, but nothing around where I live. Seems that they are either around or they aren't.

I have thousands of them.

Welcome! Now I haven't tried poke berries but I have read that the colour fades quickly. Maybe with a mordant it will be more fast? Keep me posted, Pam.

@@BookandPaperArts mordant? Sounds like something dead! Hahahaha

Hello and welcome, Susan. No, there is not really a smell. And the funny thing is that yes, you either have zero walnuts or you have gazillions. I have occasionally had to wrestle a squirrel who was after my stash. Thanks for touching base!D Kelly

Sandy, I would definitely try pecans, maybe with some extra tannin such as rusty bits thrown in with the water. Can't guarantee but I have made cool ink from acorns, so.....Keep me posted!

HI Barry. Apologies for the late response. Yes, definitely put it back on the stove on a LOW heat and watch it as it cooks down. You only need a few spoons of ink so do not be afraid to let it cook right down. You can check it with a paper strip to test the colour and when it is almost a syrup it will be a gorgeous, rich colour. Let me know how it turns out! Kelly

Cool! I will definitely try putting it back on the stove. Thank you

Thanks, Susan. Maybe I am crazy because it STILL looks so wonky I almost deleted. Thank you for the vote of confidence.😎Kelly

Thank you, Donna. I hate to be unprofessional but everyone is being so kind, I am really grateful. The best way to find them might to be to ask around. We do NOT have them where I live in Wales but one day here I was just taking long walks and boom, there they were. Do you live near a park or forest?

@@BookandPaperArts I live in the desert, but I did find I can order just husks from Amazon. I should own stock in that company. 😂😂

I have thousands of black walnuts. I could make a business of them.

Oh I have been there, Sis. Some places you can't even give them away but where I live they don't exist. It was only while I was on holiday in a strange place that I found tons of them while hiking. So keep your eyes open if you visit friends or family, or even ask them if they know of any walnut trees in the neighbourhoods and maybe they can send you a few. Happy making!

Hi Armanda. The rule usually is about ten drops per small jar (approximately 30 ml) but it super inexact and I wouldn't worry about it too much. For eight ounces I would use a lot more, maybe one or two teaspoons. Experiment with one to start and then try the ink. If you like it, it's the right amount. If you want it a little more viscous, add more. Let me know how it works!

you rock! thank you!@@BookandPaperArts

Hi Marlene. My apologies for the late response. Yes, indeed, it is a common use for it! I've even heard of being used to disguise scratches. Try it on something that doesn't show first until you get the shade you like. Keep me posted!