Give your paper an aged look by dyeing it with coffee.
Aged paper adds an antique touch to scrapbooks or artwork. Buying aged paper is usually not an option, and waiting for the elements to age new paper can hold up a project that is otherwise ready to be finished. However, paper can be given an aged look indoors in just a single day.
Instructions
1. Bring 1 cup of water to a full boil in a cooking pot.
2. Mix 1 tbsp. of instant coffee grounds into the boiling water.
3. Pour one-fourth of a cup of the coffee mixture onto a baking sheet. Lay the paper on top of the liquid and pour another one-fourth of a cup on top.
4. Sprinkle more coffee grounds onto the paper for an uneven dyeing pattern. Wait 10 minutes to allow the paper to absorb the liquid, and let the coffee grounds partially dissolve.
5. Rinse the coffee grounds into the sink with low water pressure. Pour off any excess water.
6. Check the color of the paper. Pour the rest of the coffee mixture onto the paper if it is not as dark as desired. Repeat steps 4 and 5 if needed.
7. Pass a hair dryer back and forth over the paper on a high heat setting. Turn the paper over and dry both sides until very little moisture remains. Crumple the paper and spread it back out before completing the drying.
