You can make a paper look old in several ways, and each method provides different results. Tea or coffee gives a brownish antique look, whereas vinegar aging provides a yellowish tint. But the look and result you need will depend on how you want to use the aged paper. So, in this article, we discussed how to age paper following 5 tried and tested methods and ways of combining them to get 8 different aged paper effects.
Hello Craftaholics, As you probably know, I have been crafting for over 25 years, and in all those years I have had to create aged paper for many of my projects. I have been using tea or coffee stains for years as it is the best way to make paper look old. But sometimes I need a specific look that can’t be achieved by applying tea or coffee.
So, I gathered the 5 best possible methods to make a paper look old, analyzed the color effect it provides, and created a list of when to use which method. Here is the list (I also provided the process)
| Method | Outcome/Effect | Coloring Effect | Suitable Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea or Coffee Staining | Creates a vintage, aged appearance. | Light brown tint | Antique craft making, historical document replication, vintage-themed projects |
| Ink Aging | Enhances text or illustrations, and adds character. | Darkened appearance | Handwritten letters, artistic projects, maps or illustrations |
| Burn the Edges | Emphasizes a weathered, aged look. | Darkened edges | Scrolls or ancient manuscripts, pirate maps |
| Vinegar Aging | Adds a subtle discoloration, yellowing effect. | Yellowish tint | Historical document replication, vintage-themed artwork |
| Baking | Achieves an antique, parchment-like look. | Beige or light tan | Historical manuscripts, vintage-themed invitations, theatrical props |
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By applying these methods, you can get the aged paper look you want, but sometimes following a specific process does not provide the desired look. Therefore, we also provide tips for combining different methods so you can achieve the look you want. Let’s get started.
Effect: Creates a vintage, aged appearance | Color: Light brown tint.
As you already know, this is my go-to method and the most popular method of making paper look old. This method involves using brewed tea or coffee to stain paper, giving it an aged appearance. The natural compounds in tea or coffee interact with the paper, creating a vintage look.
Tea stains and coffee stains will give slightly different shades to papers. The stronger the tea or coffee the darker the stain will be. Bring water to boil and then pour a cup of water. Add 2 tsp of coffee or 2 tea bags for better staining.
Select a plastic box (big enough to fit the selected paper) with at least an inch of depth. Place a paper on the inner, bottom surface of the box.
Slowly add the brewed tea or coffee into the box. Adding the whole cup won’t be necessary; just add enough to soak the paper evenly on all parts.
Coloring/Effect: Adds a subtle discoloration, and yellowing effect.
If you are looking for a way to make paper look old without using tea or coffee, then this method is perfect for you. The yellowing effect of vinegar-aged paper will allow you to create the necessary atmosphere for projects replicating historical documents or works of art with vintage themes.
Tips: Use dark and concentrated vinegar, as clear vinegar won’t be very helpful in aging paper. For optimal results, we recommend using balsamic vinegar.
Select the plastic tray or box big enough to fit the paper selected for this method. Place the paper inside the plastic box.
You can add the vinegar directly from the bottle. Just add enough vinegar to soak the paper evenly on all parts. Leave the paper in the box and allow it to soak evenly and nicely.
Coloring/Effect: Enhances text or illustrations, and adds character.
Sometimes, we need to give a paper a darkened appearance to give it character, especially when creating things like old maps or any artistic project that requires a specific look. In such situations, ink aging is a great option.
But remember, Ink aging is relatively tricky compared to tea staining paper, coffee staining paper or even vinegar aging methods.
Tips: Use brown or dark brown ink for a vintage look. Or you can just use black ink. Lighter inks will leave lighter stains and darker inks will leave darker stains.
The tray and paper selecting steps are the same as the previous methods. Select the ink of your choice; we’re using black ink. You will need a cup of water as well. Add enough water to soak the paper neatly. The paper shouldn’t soak the whole amount of water, there should be enough water to add ink to it.
You can use a thick paint brush or a dropper or a sponge to add the ink to the soaked paper. You can add the ink randomly to the paper or you can start from a side or an edge.
Taking out and drying the paper is the same as the previous ones.
Coloring/Effect: Imparts a faded, delicate appearance.
It’s another tricky method to make paper look old for advanced craftsmen. Also, this method involves flames. So be sure to take safety precautions or don’t use this method if you are not confident enough.
If you want to achieve a faded aged look without using a flame, you can use a heat gun. Using a candle is a relatively safe option compared to other tools.
Prepare the box by placing the paper inside it. Prepare a cup of lemon juice. You can cut out a piece of lemon and squeeze it directly on the paper.
You can either dab the edges of the paper with lemon juice or you can soak the whole paper. The lemon juice added parts of the paper will look aged after the next step.
Use a heat gun, or candle or lighter to heat the lemon juice dapped parts of the paper. The longer you heat the paper, the darker the paper will become. You can dry the paper with the heat.
Taking out and drying the paper is the same as the previous ones. This method will slightly discolor the paper but won’t give a string vintage or old look like the tea/coffee or vinegar stains.
Coloring/Effect: Achieves an antique, parchment-like look.
The fastest and easiest way to make paper look old is to bake it in the oven. However, this method may not always give you the aged effect you are looking for. In that case, you can combine it with the previous ones. Here we combined baking with tea staining.
Preheat the oven at the lowest, for 5 minutes or so. Select your paper and place it on the baking tray. You crumple the paper beforehand.
Sponge or dab the paper with brewed tea or coffee until you’re happy with the stain marks.
The baking step dries the paper. In the baking method, the paper turns out sturdier than the other methods.
The five methods for making paper look will give you five different aged effects. But you can combine them in countless different ways and use a little imagination to create different effects. Here are three simple sub methods that you can apply with the top 5 methods and generate different styles.
Update Info:
The blog post went live in July 2021. After receiving numerous requests from our readers for step-by-step tutorials on different paper aging methods, we decided to update the article.
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