Q&A for How to Make Paper Look Old

Hold a flame to the edges of the paper and singe them. Keep the fire moving around the paper, not letting it linger in one spot, which might set the paper on fire. Be careful to only burn the edges.

Besides using tea and coffee, you can crumple the paper up and singe the edges to make it look old.

Mix one cup of water and one tablespoon of coffee and use a cotton ball to stain it. Let it dry and you are done.

Write on it after, as the water might smudge the ink. It will also help make it look more authentic.

It's probably best to write afterward, as the coffee can smudge the ink or lighten the lead on the paper.

It all depends on which method you use and if it will run smoothly through a printer. If the paper is too wrinkled or torn at all it might get stuck in your printer.

Yes, but the color and creases will most likely be lighter than you really want.

There will be no smell if you oven bake it for long enough. All aromatic compounds are volatile, especially the stronger scent ones which works in our favor. However I do not know what effect baking paper(without combustion) for extended periods would look like as it would depend on how the paper was made etc. I do think highly fibrous paper would work best

You can tea stain paper with crayon on it, but it will not go through the crayon. It will probably also have a hard time going through the graphite from a pencil.

Coffee turns the paper brown. For yellow, I recommend taking a cup of water and mixing brown and yellow paint into it. Brush this solution onto the paper using a paint brush. Let it dry. This will probably have a better "yellowing" effect than using coffee.

Once your paper has dried after completing the steps in the guide, it should be fine to write on without fear of bleeding.

You could find some soil, add a bit of water so that it is moist (not so wet that is mud) and smear it evenly across your page. Then, wipe away the excess debris and wait for it to dry. After it has dried, crumple it.

Yes, you may print on the paper if it is dry.

Try to put coffee (maybe 1/2 fl. oz.) and paint it onto the newspaper. Spread it out well to not smudge any ink. Let it cook above a toaster.

You should blow dry your paper until the edges are curled and the paper is dry to the touch.

Yes. You can pour a mixture of food coloring and water and then dry it. For example; a little bit of red food coloring and water can make the paper pink.

Write afterwards to avoid making the ink bleed.

Yes, you can still use the techniques listed above.

It depends on the paper you use. Construction paper will fade if you crumble it up and then flatten it out with a ruler (you will have to repeat this many times). You can also try leaving the paper out in the sun for several days.

It depends on what type of ink is on it and how long it has been there. It won't smear if you don't add a liquid to it.

If the ink has properly and fully dried, it should be safe to continue with the tea process.

You could just sprinkle the water/liquid over the paper with your hands or dab it on gently with a paintbrush.

You should bake your paper for seven to eight minutes, or until the ends start to curl and it changes color.

Hot tea would be best for a darker stain. I think iced tea would be too light.

Yes, you are just drying the paper in the oven. As long as you watch the paper and take it out when it begins to curl, there should be no problem.

The more you leave it on the darker it gets, just make sure you don't leave it for too long are else the paper will disintegrate.

Yes, if desired. But, you will be trading quality for speed, as using the methods in the article will make it look much more authentic.

If you crunch the paper in a ball and soak it in a cup of tea, the writing will smudge, but if you only spray or paint the tea/coffee on, it could work.

Yes, folding the paper will do no harm, as long as you allow it to dry before you fold.

You can trace over it in pen or in pencil. Tracing over it in a ballpoint pen would be better.