Leather looks best as it seems old with lines and cracks. New leather items — a belt or a jacket — stand out and smack of a recent purchase or finished leather craft project. However, if you would like to give your leather items an antique appearance, you’ve got many ways to go. You can apply a store-bought antiqued blot — filled with chemicals — or create your own. It helps to distress the leather item a bit before adding the antiquing stain and the finish coats.
Distress that the Leather
Dampen the finished surface of the leather to begin the distressing process that helps to age it. Soak a sponge with water, however, wring it out so that does not drip water. Wipe the leather item together with the damp sponge.
Hit the leather item randomly with a bit of string, or use a rock to embed marks into the surface of the leather in various locations.
Put the leather item face down to any rough surface to distress it. Press it into the surface by walking on it or applying pressure with your palms. The target is to include modest scratches, scrapes or abrasions to the surface of the leather to make it look used.
Make an Antique Leather Stain
Add a piece of fresh, fine steel wool into a jar after fluffing it out and making sure it includes no oils.
Fill the jar with 2 cups of white vinegar, cover, and shake until the mixture turns a muddy red. Put the jar in a dark location with the lid askew overnight to allow gases escape. Periodically close the lid and shake.
Strain the mixture through cloth or cheesecloth into a new jar and then discard any solid chunks. Add your favourite leather dye color to the mix and completely shake, utilizing an amount of dye that makes the color you would like to your leather. Apply the dye needed for your leather items. If the leather already has a blot, jump into Section 3.
Employ the Finishing Touches
Lay the surface of the leather along with your preferred leather end product — the brand does not matter — to coat and protect the leather. Thoroughly apply the item to the leather item enough to fill in the open pores on the leather item without overdoing it. Let this dry until the surface stiffens.
Twist the leather item into different shapes. Fold, bend or twist until several cracks appear from the hardened end.
Employ neatsfoot oil — again, the brand does not matter — into the surface of your now-cracked leather item. The neatsfoot oil should darken all the cracked areas on the leather. Let it dry until it hardens.
Rub leather balm into the top layer of the leather item, rubbing in small circles until the leather takes on a mellow, aged appearance.