How To: Berry Ink

My younger boys are presently studying the U.S. Civil War.  We decided to try our hand at some homemade ink that soldiers during the war might have used in order to write letters home to loved ones. If you want to try too, you'll need some:

berries (raspberries, strawberries or cherries)
        about 1/2 cup (if frozen, thaw out first)
apple cider vinegar - about 4+ tsp
2 bowls
a spoon
a strainer
newspaper
paper (practice stuff & 'the real thing')
quill pen (a calligraphy pen is fine too)

On newspaper, put berries in a bowl & mash them with a spoon.

Add vinegar & stir.

Strain berries over second bowl (so the seeds are not in the ink). 

Add more vinegar if necessary to thin out the ink.

Now dip in your pen & write.  (You might want to check your spelling first!)

And of course, you can always pose with your finished letter once it's dried so that your mother can take a photo of it for her blog your notebook!

Comments

[Kristen]

What a great tutorial - we'll have to give it a try sometime!

[Andrea]

were did you find the scrole paper?

[beth engelman]

Hi,
I am working on a parenting article and would love to include this craft in the article (and give you credit) please let me know if this would be okay. Warmest regards, Beth Engelman
Beth@engelmanriggs.com.

[Helen B. @ Blue Eyed Beauty Blog]

This is such a FUN idea!! Love it! Thanks for sharing the tutorial!

Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog