Antique-looking paper adds a classic touch to your craft projects. You can use this vintage paper to write poems, invitations, scrapbook projects, or school assignments. You can use tea on almost any type of paper to give it a parchment look. This method is called tea staining and can also be used to give clothes a worn look. You can age paper in no time using homemade ingredients. This article will guide you to give paper an antique look using tea.
Step
Step 1. Select the type of paper used
You can use almost any type of paper, from scrapbook paper to white HVS paper. If your paper is a bit thick, the process will also take longer.
Step 2. Print or write on paper before aging
The aging process will make the paper rough and uneven. Therefore, the ink will not absorb well on the page.
Step 3. Squeeze your paper into a ball and flatten it again
This will give the paper a parchment or velum appearance. Don't crumple the paper if you want to keep the paper flat for your project.
Step 4. Place the paper on the cake tray
Place the tray on a flat surface so the tea doesn't collect in one corner of the tray.
Step 5. Place the tray in the center of the oven
Preheat the oven to the lowest setting, about 93.3 degrees Celsius.
Step 6. Bring 2 cups (473 ml) of water to a boil in a microwave, kettle, or water heater
Pour hot water into a bowl.
Step 7. Place 3 to 5 black tea bags in the water
The more tea you brew, the darker the color will be. Wait for 5-20 minutes before removing the tea bag and starting to color the paper.
The hotter your tea, the more orange the final result will be. Many of the old parchments had orange spots that looked like they were slightly charred. Black tea mixed with orange juice will also produce a warm orange color
Step 8. Give the tea using one of the following three ways:
- Rub the tea with a sponge brush. Wet the paper unevenly to give it an aged look.
- Wipe the paper with one of the tea bags. Make sure your tea bag is cool before using it. Rub the tea bag on the paper unevenly. Thus, the outdated look will be more realistic. If the tea bag starts to tear, throw it away and get another tea bag.
- Pour the tea directly onto the paper. Pour the tea slowly and stop when the tea starts to boil. Don't pour too much. Tilt the baking tray so that all areas of the paper touch the tea. This is the best method if you want to wet several papers at once. Your papers can be stacked and the tea water will be absorbed into all the paper.
Step 9. Lift the edge of the paper to check if the tea has soaked the reverse side
If not, give the tea back in the way you choose.
Step 10. Soak the paper for at least five minutes
Absorb the tea in areas that are too stagnant. The paper may perforate during use if any part of the tea gets too wet during the soaking process.
Step 11. Rub the edges of the tea soaked paper
This will make the edges of the paper look worn. You can rub other parts if you want to make holes in the paper.
Step 12. Place the baking tray on the oven rack
Bake the paper for 5-6 minutes. Remove the paper when it appears to be starting to curl.
Step 13. Take the paper out of the oven
Remove the edges of the paper from the cake tray using a fork or spoon while it is still warm. Lay the paper on a flat surface until it cools.
You can also air dry the paper. Usually, HVS paper will dry after 45 minutes of air drying. Make sure you hold the edges of the paper so they don't curl
Step 14. Done
Method 1 of 1: Alternative Way
Step 1. Prepare a number of tea bags, depending on the amount of paper
Usually a sheet of paper will require a tea bag.
Step 2. Fill a cup of water as if you were making hot tea
This means don't fill the water almost to the brim, or so little that the tea bag doesn't float.
Step 3. Put the tea bag in the cup
Step 4. Take a tea cup and put it in the microwave for one minute
Step 5. Once your cup is hot, let the tea bag sit in the water for one minute
Once done, take the tea bag out of the cup and place it on a plate and let it sit for 10 minutes, or until the tea bag has cooled. The tea bag should be cool enough to be safe to touch.
Step 6. Now, place the paper on the plate (crumple the paper first so that it looks old)
Step 7. Take a tea bag and squeeze it a little so that the tea water falls onto the paper
Step 8. Rub the tea bag on the paper until all the tea water is absorbed by the paper
Step 9. Repeat until all of your paper is covered with tea
Step 10. Allow the paper to dry completely
Tips
- If the dry paper is too curly, overlap the paper between two ledgers and leave it overnight.
- You can replace the tea with brewed coffee for a darker stain. Follow the process according to the guide above.
- To create a worn-out stain effect, sprinkle instant coffee grounds on the paper once it's soaked in the tea. Let stand for 2 minutes then wipe with a tissue.
- If the page you want to innovate is a journal section, separate the pages using wax paper. Make sure to hold as much tea as possible and wipe off any excess tea with a tissue.
- If you're writing with ink, make sure the ink doesn't seep when it hits the water.
- Spread old newsprint where you work. Don't let your house be littered with tea!
- Don't over-wet the paper with the tea so it doesn't have holes.
