Antique paper adds a classic style to your DIY projects. You can use it to give that special touch to poems, invitations, journals or school projects. It is possible to give the look of parchment to most of the paper by using tea. Sometimes this practice is called 'staining' and is used to create an old look. If you want to antique the paper, you can do it in an hour with some ingredients easily available at home. This article tells you how to do it using tea.
Steps
Step 1. Choose your card
You can use any paper, from thin journal paper to photocopy paper. If it is very thick, it may take longer to stain.
Step 2. Write or print before antiquing
The process will make the paper uneven and wrinkled and the ink will not distribute well.
Step 3. Ball up your paper then smooth it again
You will add some creases that will make it look like parchment or vellum. This step should not be skipped if you want the card to remain very flat.
Step 4. Place the paper on a cookie sheet with a raised edge
Place the pan on a flat surface or the tea will form puddles in the corners.
Step 5. Place the grill in the center of the oven
Preheat it to low, about 93 °.
Step 6. Boil two cups of hot water in the microwave or kettle
Pour it into a bowl.
Step 7. Place 3-5 black tea bags in it
The more sachets you infuse, the darker the stains will be. Wait 5 to 20 minutes to take them off and start working.
The hotter the tea, the more orange it will appear. Many old scrolls have a slight burnt orange tinge. Even an orange flavored tea can help you give this shade
Step 8. Apply the stains in one of the following three methods:
- Paint with a sponge. Apply the tea irregularly to give the paper a very old look.
- Apply the tea with one of the tea bags. Make sure it's not too hot before using it. Pass it on the paper, moistening some spots more than others. This way you will give an antique and irregular look. If the sachet starts to break, throw it away and use another one.
- Pour the tea directly onto the paper. Do it slowly and stop when you start to have too much. Make sure you don't get the paper wet. Move the pan so that all the paper comes into contact with the tea. This is the best way to make a few sheets at a time, because you can put the pieces of paper on top of each other and let the liquid absorb.
Step 9. Lift the edge of the paper to check if the tea has soaked the underside as well
If not, apply more with one of the methods of your choice.
Step 10. Leave the paper in contact with the tea for 5 minutes
Blot areas where there is too much liquid. In that case a hole could form.
Step 11. Scrub the outer edges
This way the paper will have a used look. If you want to make holes, you can also scrub other areas.
Step 12. Place the pan in the oven on top of the rack
Let it go for 5-6 minutes. Remove as soon as the paper begins to curl slightly.
Step 13. Remove the paper from the oven
Lift the edges off the pan with a fork or spatula while it is still hot. Place it on another flat surface to cool.
You can also let it air dry. In that case it will take 45 minutes for one sheet. Make sure you stop the edges with rocks or tools or the paper will crumple
Step 14. Finished
Method 1 of 1: Alternative Method
Step 1. Take a certain number of sleeves, depending on how much card you have
The rule is one sachet per sheet.
Step 2. Fill a cup of water as if you were making tea to drink
Do not fill it too much so as not to prevent the sachets from floating.
Step 3. Place the sachets in the cup
Step 4. Take the cup and place it in the microwave for one minute
Step 5. Once the water is hot, let the sachets rest for one minute then remove them, placing them on a saucer to cool (about 10 minutes)
The sachet must be cool enough to touch without burning.
Step 6. Now arrange the paper on a plate (you can always crumple it first to make it look older)
Step 7. Take the sachet and squeeze it lightly by dropping some tea on the paper
Step 8. Color the paper until the tea you poured is completely gone
Step 9. Repeat until all paper is smudged
Step 10. Let it dry before touching it
Advice
- If the dry paper has crumpled too much, place it between two large books for one night.
- You can substitute tea for coffee if you want a darker color. Follow the same process.
- If the paper you want to antique is part of a journal, separate the pages with wax paper. Try to contain the tea and remove all the excess with a piece of kitchen paper.
- To create the effect of time stains, sprinkle instant coffee crystals around the paper after applying the tea. Leave on for 2 minutes and clean with Scottex.
