I have done both the liquid and the powdered also. I mix it in a wine bottle, seems to work well depending on the color as Grey pointed too. Some need to be diluted less, some more to get the color. You can also mix up some funky stains with the stuff. For black try the analine dyes...then again I havent had my hands on any but have been told its great stuff! The rit dyes are cheap and easy though so its hard to pass it up. Greyghost archery (if I remember right) has the analines in some wild colors. If you cant find him try the leather catalogs.