How to Age Paper

Here is my quick and easy method of giving paper that aged vintage look.

Supplies:

• Sheet music (laser or toner printed on plain white copy paper) You can print the same music I used by downloading the attached file.
• Boiling water
• Tea bag (regular/black tea)
• Coffee mug
• Small plate
• Old hand towel
• Clipboard (optional)
• Drying Rack (optional)

Step 1: Brew Tea

Boil water in your teapot/ on stove top/ in coffee pot/ in microwave. Fill your mug about half way with boiling water and add 1 tea bag. Let it sit for about 1 minute.

Step 2: Get Ready to Tea Stain

Remove the string and tag from the tea bag. Transfer the tea bag to a small plate, and pour a little bit of liquid from the mug onto the plate. Place your sheet music page on the clipboard (or flat on a clean counter/tabletop). Wait until the liquid and tea bag are cool to the touch before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Stain Your Paper

Using the tea bag like a paint brush, use long overlapping strokes from top to bottom to coat the page in a thin layer of liquid from the plate. Dab the tea bag in the liquid about half way across the page or as needed to keep it wet. Be sure not to miss any spots.

Once the page is covered, take your towel and wipe the paper to absorb the extra liquid that did not soak in. Flip the paper over and repeat the staining process on the back if desired.

Move your paper to a rack (or set it on a clean dry counter or tabletop) to dry.

(If you want your paper perfectly flat - once dry, iron it with your iron on the lowest setting.)

Step 4: Use Your Stained Paper to Make Something Awesome!

There are many crafts in which you can use this paper - Jewelry, card making, scrapbooking, decorating, and more! Check out this cool paper bead bracelet I made :)

See my instructable on how to make the bracelet HERE.