There's no need to wait 100 years just for paper to look old.
Making paper age faster than it would on its own may be easier than you might think. If creating an old-looking treasure map or other craft item that requires paper to appear aged before its time, you can make it look older using some commonly available household supplies. This technique will give a weathered and worn appearance to otherwise new, fresh, white paper. Try these steps on a scrap piece of paper before attempting them on a valuable piece.
Instructions
1. Preheat your electric oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure the cookie sheet is clean and grease-free.
2. Ensure any writing you want on the paper is completed and dried before attempting any of the further steps.
3. Mix some tea with warm water to make strong, regular black tea. Place the sheet of paper you wish to age on the cookie sheet, then gently pour some tea onto it until it is completely saturated. Pour any excess tea off the sheet. Rub the wet paper with your fingers to create spots or holes in the paper wherever you like.
4. Sprinkle some coffee grounds onto the paper and let them sit for a few minutes before wiping them off. This will create uneven dark spots that are often found on older paper documents. Insert the cookie sheet and paper into the oven and remove after about 6 to 8 minutes.
5. Take the paper out of the oven and allow to cool. Crumple the paper if you wish it to look excessively worn, then place the paper in a plastic bag with some mothballs to get rid of the coffee and tea smell and to give it an authentic "old" smell.
