How to make paper look old?

Question

Hi,
I'm doing a history project and need to make a piece of copying paper old and worn looking. I have read a few other things, and I'm not sure if I should use the coffee or tea idea because the ink (I typed the project) might get too smeared. Do you have any ideas that are easy enough for a kid to do (preferably not with fire)? Thank you!

What kind of tea should I use? Can I use green tea???

Answer 1

The coffee/tea idea really does work best. I suggest getting a copy of your paper (not printed off of your inkjet at home). They're different inks and the copy machines will not smear. Once you've done this, crumple up your paper a few times until you get some good old fashioned looking wrinkles. Make some hot tea on the stove, water it down/add more from the teabag the darker you want your paper. Dip your paper in and out a couple of times while it's wadded up. Lay it flat on some paper towels to dry for as long it needs. (Sorry it's been a while since I've done this) You can use a blowdryer to dry it if you want to give it a crispy effect.

If this all sounds like too much you can always go to your local craft store like Michael's, JoAnns or Hobby Lobby and spend $1 or less on some paper that looks old fashioned.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Trust me, this will make it authentic.

1. Put lemon juice around the outside. (this goes browner when in the oven).

2.Make a cup of tea without milk or sugar. Use the tea bag and the tea to stain.

3. Put in the oven for ten minutes.

4. take out and burn the edges after damping down the middle part so it doesn't catch alight.

5. Put in the oven again for five minutes

You now have an old document.

Answer 3

I've used tea and it doesn't smear the ink when I've typed it up. Like, use a casserole dish, fill it with tea, and leave it under for a few seconds, and bring the page back up. You can always put the paper back under again, so don't be afraid to keep checking on it!

Answer 4

A tea bag that is not wet but just damp would work best as long as the print is dry it shouldnt smear. blot the paper with the old tea bag, for darker spots leave the bag on one spot for a few minutes.

Answer 5

tea dye paper , dry, iron if you have to, to smooth it out. If you want the edges ragged, while its wet from the tea, use your finger nail (thumb) to scrape the edges, as much or as little as you want....then when it's dry, type your paper. Although it might look really good to print it in Olde English on your computer. You could also go over the edges with a darker brown (wet) crayon marker (or black) to make it look like it's burned, while the paper is still wet..before you dry it...

Answer 6

Been there done that... First you wad up a piece of paper then straighten it out, you need to crinkling effect. Then either coffee or tea will work doesn't matter which one. Then after you've done that AND LET IT DRY you burn the edges slightly (or get an adult to help you with this part) AFTER YOU'VE DONE THESE THINGS THEN YOU TYPE YOUR PAPER....

Answer 7

crumple up paper into a ball and uncruple it several times like 20 or so then crumple it into a ball one last time, uncrumple and use a damp sponge with tea to dab it lightly really though it would have been better to make it look old first however.

hmm...
oh you can also rub it with colored pencils after crumpling it up this will make the folds more apparent. hope that was some help

Answer 8

Make some tea using boiling water and a few tea bags fold the paper and plce it in the tea (after tea has brewed) for a minuet. unfold and place ot flat to dry.

Answer 9

-crumple it up repeatedly, over a 100 times, until it becomes really soft.
-burn the edges
-bake it a little while in the oven, be really carful
-test the coffee on a practice sheet of typed up paper and see if it smears

Answer 10

put some termites on it to let the paper have a torn feeling
and
dig the ground upto a considerable distance and put it in it and take it out after a few days