How to Make Parchment Like Paper for Writing

Last Updated: December 17, 2023 Approved

So you've decided that you want to make your paper look like parchment. Maybe you want to spruce up a school project, or maybe you just want to make parchment for fun. Whatever the reason, this article can help you easily create the perfect parchment.

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Make sure you do this far away from flammable objects.
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Put the paper in a pan and turn to medium heat, use a spoon, or chopstick and gently press down on the paper for 30 seconds, this makes the paper have small brown spots.
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Use a fountain pen to write with to make the parchment look old. You can also use it to make a birthday party invitation look fancy. Tie with a leather string or old brown string to make it really resemble a scroll-like letter.

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Question

Can I print successfully on this paper?

Community Answer

For best results, print your document or image first, and then follow these instructions.

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What do I do if I don't have a candle?

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Use a long lighter or a match - but always do it over a metal sink, or outside with water nearby.

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What should I do if it doesn't yellow with the tea method?

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Put in the tea longer, maybe 10 minutes. Or, you could mix some yellow paint with water (1:3 ratio) and paint it on the paper.

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Tips

A quicker method to achieving this result is to use a wet tea bag and sponge it onto the paper. If you squeeze the tea bag, water will come out with a deep coloring from the tea leaves.

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Try not to let it catch on fire as it will eat up a big part of your paper.

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You can use tea or orange juice for a lighter effect.

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Warnings

You may want to do this in the sink as it may catch on fire.

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