Q&A for How to Age Paper Using Tea

If you don't have tea, you can use coffee to age paper in a similar manner. You can also crumple the paper up to give it an aged look.

It will probably fade some, but if you sharpen the pencil so it writes really dark, you might still be able to read it afterward.

That depends more on the type of ink that was used to print on the paper, rather than the color of the paper itself. If it was printed on a laser printer, it should be fine, but if it was an inkjet printer, it will fade.

It probably will smear, since that particular marker is made to be washable.

If you don't rub the paper, pencil marks shouldn't run or smudge too much. However, the water might cause it to fade a little.

Black tea contains tannic acid, so no, your paper won't be archival-quality if you use this method.

Yes, but it might not write as well on the treated, wrinkled surface of the paper.

The ink might smear when you add the tea, so it's best to use a permanent marker with a pen tip.

A waterproof pen is a good idea because it won't smudge when you add the tea. However, any kind of black pen will work. Just try to make your writing look as antique as possible!

Any tea that isn't herbal or fruity, a black tea like English Breakfast or Earl Grey will work best.

When the tea begins to pool in certain areas, use a tissue/paper towel to blot the splodge of tea. The tissue will absorb some, leaving an even spread of tea behind.

It would be risky, as the texture of the soaked paper might not be able to go through the printer right. Generally, it's best to print before aging the paper.

Yes, if you're careful, and the paper is thick enough. Make sure it is completely dry before attempting to use it, however, or it will be more likely to tear.

You must not do this. The wax from the crayon or pencil crayon will make it crumble after you bake it.

You need to use waterproof inks. Anything printed with an ink-jet printer will run when water touches the ink. Laser printers and copiers should work better and stand up to the water in the tea.

Baking the paper will reduce drying time as well as enhancing the old, rugged and rustic look that you are trying to obtain. It is not necessarily to bake the paper, but it is highly recommended.

That would not be ideal, as the ink from the marker will run. You could stain it and then put marker on it.

It would normally take about 2-3 hours to dry fully. However, the first method in the article discusses placing the paper in the oven for 5-6 minutes at its lowest temperature setting. After this, it should be dry.

While you can use other materials such as coffee (which will be a little darker), paint will change the color, not age the paper. See further, https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Coffee-Stained-Paper.

If you want your water to be hotter, yes - or use a kettle instead of a microwave.

Yes. Just be sure to use a waterproof ink pen or pencil.

You can using just normal A4 printer paper with no problems at all.

Just really be careful when you put the tea on the paper. You should test it on some other paper first with some random writing to see if it works.

Yes, but make sure it's fully dry before rolling it up or it might rip.

You can, but it would be better to use a printer as permanent marker is likely to bleed when wet.

You can use any type of paper, but the thicker the paper is, the longer it will take to dry.

Yes, but the existing pencil marks might affect the coloring or quality of the stain.

Earlier in the document, the author stated that rubbing the edges would make the document look worn out/used. You could also tear the edges, just be careful.

Not necessarily. The oven is just to speed up the drying time, but it also has a neat effect of making the edges curl and turn brown. If you don't need that extra detail, you can use a hair dryer, a fan, or just let it air-dry.

No, it won't result in the same curling and it'll just heat it up a bit. A microwave doesn't work in the same way an oven does.