How to grow old paper with text?

The effect of paper aging (distressing) is one of the most striking and stylish effects used in decoupage , scrapbooking and many other kinds of arts and crafts and creativity.

The purpose of artificial aging paper is to obtain a characteristic color and texture, sometimes to enhance the effect of the edge of the paper specially torn, rastrepyvayutsya or burned.

There are three ways to get old paper: wait until the sheet grows old naturally, buy ready-made sheets of old or aged paper or make such paper at home. In this article we will tell you how to artificially make paper (tea or coffee).

How to make paper with coffee?

First of all, prepare the paper that you plan to grow old. If you want the text to be printed on paper, print it out in advance - it's not always possible to print the text on an already aged sheet (printer ink does not stick to aged paper). In addition to paper, we need coffee (soluble or a mixture of soluble and ground), paper towels, sponge (or soft brush) and hot water.

In half a cup of boiling water, dissolve two to three tablespoons of coffee powder. Stir thoroughly and cool fluid. Put the paper in the container (the baking tray is suitable) and pour the solution. Spread the coffee on the surface of the paper with a brush or a sponge. If desired, you can sprinkle paper with dry granules of coffee and leave them for a short while (this will create the effect of variegated spots, uneven coloring of the sheet). Leave the paper in water for 5-15 minutes (depending on the paper weight), and then remove excess moisture with a paper towel. After that, dry the paper in a preheated oven to 200 ° C for several minutes

How to make paper old tea?

For aging paper tea we will need several sachets of black tea, hot water, a sponge (or a paper towel) and, of course, the paper itself, which we will grow old.

Tea should be brewed first in boiling water (at a concentration of about 3-4 packets per 0.5 liters of water - the stronger the tea is brewed, the more saturated the color on the paper) and insist for one hour. Then we remove the packets from the cooled infusion and start using them to put tea on paper. Tea can be applied with stains, stripes, sometimes it can be rubbed with a sachet sheet (this will enhance the weariness effect). When the paper is completely soaked with tea, remove the excess liquid with a paper towel (or sponge). After that, the paper should be dried in a preheated oven (just a few minutes at 180-200 ° C).

How to grow old paper edges?

The naturally aged paper most often has uneven edges. To recreate such an effect artificially, you can patting them with their hands, rubbing with sandpaper or a hard sponge, tearing in several places or singing over fire. However, it should be observed that the edges look worn, but neat.

To enhance the effect of aging paper (regardless of the aging method), you can crumple the sheet into a ball before painting, and then spread it out. If during the coloring rice (or other cereal) is added to the solution, leaves, pieces of grass or other small objects of this kind, an interesting uneven pattern is formed on the sheet. Paper can also be rubbed with a wax candle or a drop of wax (paraffin) on its surface in several places.