I wanted to make some antique/old looking paper for my label holders that I rusted for my refurbished dresser. I decided to stain a bunch of paper so that I could use the extra for projects in the future. For this project, I used regular ol’ white printer paper.
I boiled some water and poured it into this glass bowl with 12 teabags. I only had flavored tea on hand, so I guess you could say that my paper might smell a little bit like a gingerbread cookie. Any type of tea can be used…just note, the darker the tea, the darker the paper.
After about 10 minutes of adding the first 12 tea bags, I decided to add four more. I let the tea sit for 30-40 minutes total.
I crumpled about 10 sheets of paper from the stack that I was antiquing. I was hoping that this would give different textures and character throughout all of the paper.
I placed the paper in a glass dish that I had, that was large enough for the paper to lie flat. I then poured the tea over the paper, placing small stacks of the paper into the dish, and pouring the tea over each stack, until all of the papers were stacked on top of each other.
I opened some of the tea bags and sprinkled the spices throughout the papers, lifting part of the stack a little at a time to get the spices to sit on more than just the top paper.
Some of the edges did end up tearing on a few of the papers, which was ok with me. I felt that it would just add more character and make the paper look even more aged. I split the paper into two stacks and placed it on a cookie sheet.
I had preheated the oven to 200 degrees prior making the tea…into the oven the papers went. I have never done this method where I antique a whole stack of paper at once, so I was excited to try it and see how it turned out.
I initially left the paper in the oven (all of the paper in two stacks) for 30 minutes, which wasn’t a smart idea. It wasn’t drying well and it was getting really hot in the middle of the stacks of paper.
I took the paper out of the oven and split it up into many small stacks.
I took it outside and put the stacks on my sidewalk to start the drying process. In the meantime, I realized that it only took 2 minutes to dry each paper, if they were separated, in the 200 degrees oven. I took each smaller stack of paper and placed it in the oven for 2 minutes on 200 degrees. Leaving the small stack in there for 2 minutes, allowed me to be able to peel apart each stack without tearing the paper.
I then laid one piece of paper, side by side, on a cookie sheet and dried each one for 2 minutes. I have a double oven, which helped speed up the process. It was so easy and went so quickly! Make sure to set a timer for 2 minutes each time. It helps to not loose track of time and forget that the papers are in the oven. I needed the timer!
I can’t even express my excitement with how they turned out! They are absolutely amazing!
Each one has it’s own character and shade of it’s own. The crinkle sound of the dry, tea stained paper is just as satisfying as the look of it all!
I was actually surprised at how fast the process actually went. Once I realized that each paper only took two minutes to dry, it was smooth sailing from there on out.
I placed one of the tea stained papers next to a piece of printer paper that was not tea stained, and it shows the gorgeous “after” even better!
Stacking the paper in the beginning, during the pouring on of the tea process, gives the paper so many different color variations throughout.
I’m glad that I have lots of paper for all of my future projects. It’s going to go a long way!
I would say that the whole total process took me around 3 hours to finish. I was so busy moving the paper in and out of the oven the whole time that it seemed like it only took 30 minutes.
Another Chester approved project! I love how each one turned out! I would love to hear if you have ever tried this process before! It really is so much fun!
What are your plans for all that tea stained paper?….????
I’m not sure exactly yet, but I’m excited to come up with some things to use it for!
Loved that DIY project!
I love this! How do you print on them?
I’ve seen where some have placed a towel on top and bottom of the paper and used an iron to flatten them to print.
I blow dry mine!
Looks great – oven would be a recipe for disaster for me!
Blow drying is great too! I would just be way to impatient for that.
Very cool ???? how it turned out. Have you ever made paper? When you crumbled the tea onto the paper that reminded me of using a blender to make pulp (out of all types of scrap paper) and adding flowers, leaves, anything from nature. My son made a box and screen for me to push the pulp through. It was really a great project. Love how you just do it !!!!
I haven’t done that, but it sounds fun!
Beautiful! I used to do this often for homemade water painted cards and kids’ school project when they needed to make old-looking documents or maps.
Awesome! So much fun to make!
It turned out so good! I can’t wait to see what you make with them!
Thank you, Hannah! I’m excited to use them for lots of things!
They came out looking really cool! You have qay more patients then me!
Lori
I love the way they turned out! It’s been a long time since I’ve tea stained paper. I can’t wait to see what you end up doing with them!
Wow! I’ve tea dyed paper for the past couple of years but I’ve never stacked it like you did. I’ll have to try that. I soak my paper 3-4 sheets at a time for about 5 minutes. Then bake them on cookie sheets one layer thick for 7 minutes for card stock, and 5 minutes for copy paper. Then I iron my paper. I found it doesn’t jam in the printer if I iron some wrinkles out. I use a lot for making journals.
I have always used black coffee for staining my paper. But tea worked great as well. I even coffee stain books that I tear off the cover and they look real vintage. But your papers turned out great.
I love that you did a tutorial on this, Natalie. I’ve done this before also years ago and made labels. Now you’ve got me excited to do it again. You are the bomb girl!
Natalie, What a great idea, I think they look so cool. I have aged paper using brown chalk before, but this is a completely different look.
Haha I just watched your story about the DMs…well Natalie, I mean, my finger is pretty tired from scrolling through this blog. It’s a lot of work, hahaha! ????Seriously, cool project and I’m so happy you do what you do and share your life with us. Have a great rest of your day.
Wow!! You did it again!! I love it!! ????
Great job, I never thought of the stacking method.
I have tried staining with Raspberry Tea teabags and the paper came out Pink!
I have several Bibles, some are very old, what is your opinion when it comes to using some of the pages?
I’m just not sure if it’s appropriate?
Natalie, thank you for sharing all your awesome secrets to the look you get. This is a keeper.
I have done this many times on fabric. I love the look. I’m so happy you have a blog & tutorials. I’m going to try to make your hearts for Valentines Day.
It’s so fun to watch you and your family. Thank you for being here. Praying for your health
First time to your blog and I have subscribed and Pinned. I’m excited to learn all the things you do. Thank you. I have a booth at an antique shop so this is going to help my business. Keep the DIY’s coming.