Antiquing
You can combine painting and staining in a technique known as “antiquing”. This process highlights the raised areas of your project to give it a rich, aged look. It's especially effective on intricately carved or turned surfaces.

Paint your project as you would, preferably with a light-colored paint. Allow time for the paint to dry completely. If you use latex paint, finish up with a coat of shellac.

Prepare an antiquing stain by mixing 4 ounces of artist's oil pigment (your choice), 4 ounces of linseed oil, 2 tablespoons of turpentine and a teaspoon of drier. Apply this to your painted surface with a stiff brush. Wipe it on evenly, but not excessively.

As you finish each section, go back and wipe off as much of the stain as desired with a clean cloth. Remove more stain from the center of a section than around its edges. Then, go back over each section with a clean brush, “tipping” the stain and removing any harsh lines that may have been left when you wiped.

When you're finished, the stain should remain in the groves and crevices, showing off the contours of the project. Flat areas should be light in the center, then progressively darker toward the edges. Don't worry if you don't get the effect you desire after the first try. The antiquing stain dries slowly, and you can easily wipe it all off and start over, if you like.