I was determined to bring this bag back! Don't be afraid of trying this on a bag that is so far gone that you plan to ditch it. This is really easy and actually pretty fun to do, and your bag will be completely transformed!
I attacked these ink stains first with rubbing alcohol, then with pure acetone nail polish remover. Remember, leather is skin. Lining and stitching can be delicate, but leather is leather.
After fighting with the ink (which never did leave my bag, btw), I decided, "screw it", and went straight to deglazing. My personal preference is Fiebings leather deglazer. I got to work with an old rag and my leather deglazer, scrubbing the hell out of the bag to remove as much of the "shine" as possible, so that the bag would be able to accept the new dye.
After deglazing and allowing the leather to fully dry, I applied the Fiebings dye in russet brown. This is a penetrating dye. Fiebings sells these dyes with a little dauber to apply it, which work great! Apply this dye in light layers, just enough to coat the bag. You will most likely need to reapply more than twice. Don't panic! Keep applying the dye until you've achieved an at least *almost* uniform color all over the bag.
Now, stuff your bag with something for the shape (newspaper, old towels, etc), and let it sit for about 24 hours.
After it is fully dried, it's time to apply the glaze. I like to use any type of craft paintbrush or sponge brush. Apply it all over the bag. It will bubble and look milky, which is normal. It will dry to a clear, glossy finish.
While sheen is wet:
After it dries:
You're done! You now have a totally redyed leather bag! My bags always come out looking glossy and rustic, and 100 times better than before. Happy dyeing!
