New to wood working and need help

[rjones4914]

I am new to this. I am trying to turn an old table into a new but distressed table. I want to burn or carve some patterns into the top, and have them stick out from the rest of the table. I want them to turn out lighter than the finish I am going to use. Can I burn them in and then go over them with a light paint?

[cut up]

Welcome to the forum rjones4914.
Paint will not bleed across a burn line. Many carvers use this technique to help control colors, keeping paint from mixing with other colors or going where its not wanted. I don't know if a burn line would do the same with stains, but I have used 3 different stains on the same carving with good results. It is the monkey nutcracker in WIP.
If you have a piece of scrap wood available, try and see if your desired results work there, too.
I hope this helps.
Michael