How to Tea Stain Paper So It Looks Old

Plus, other easy tricks to make your paper look even older

Co-authored by Nicole Bolin and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 11, 2024 Fact Checked

Whether you’re journaling, scrapbooking, or drawing, aging your paper can make for an awesome vintage effect! Aging or staining paper is easy and only requires a couple of tea bags and some creativity. In this article, we’ll teach you how to age paper with tea and make it look old. So, gather your supplies, and let’s get crafty!

Tea Stained Paper: Quick Steps

Brew a strong cup of tea with 1-2 tea bags.
Place your paper on a baking sheet with a raised rim.
Pour or dab the steeped tea on the paper.
Let the paper air-dry for 24 hours, or bake it on low heat in the oven for 5 minutes.
Crumple the paper and/or burn the edges with a lighter to make it look even older!

1

Brew 1 to 2 black tea bags.

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The amount and strength of tea you brew depends on whether you want to dye your paper a lot or a little. If you’re trying to get a very dark color, use 2 tea bags in the mug at the same time. If you want a lighter color, 1 bag will be fine.
- Aim to make at least 1 cup (240 mL) or enough to soak the paper entirely.
Tip: Any type of tea will work, but black tea is a common option for this project. However, you might want to avoid using green tea or tea infused with red herbs, as this will produce a different color effect, and the paper might not look aged.

2

Print or write whatever you want on the paper.

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Once you stain the paper, it won't accept ink evenly, so anything you try to write or print on it will look messy. It's best to write, print, or draw whatever you'd like on the paper before you do anything else. Let the ink dry completely before staining.^{[1]
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- Any paper will work for this, from plain white copy paper to heavier paper used for painting. Thicker papers might produce a lighter result that takes longer to dry.
- Some inks are more likely to run when they're wet, especially if you write with a washable marker or print your design on an inkjet printer. If you can, use a laser printer or waterproof ink. If you can't, try not to rub the paper when you add the tea to help minimize smudging.
- If you like, you can lightly crumple the paper and smooth it out. This helps make the paper look like it's been shuffled around for a number of years.^{[2]
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- To make the paper look even more worn, like for an old treasure map, tear off the edges.

3

Lay the paper on a baking sheet.

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A baking sheet with a raised rim will keep the tea from spilling over the sides as you're working. The baking sheet should be a little bigger than the paper you use. For instance, if you're using an 8.5 in × 11 in (22 cm × 28 cm) sheet of paper, a 9 in × 13 in (23 cm × 33 cm) baking sheet would be perfect.^{[3]
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- Tea can stain your countertop or table, so protect your work surface with paper towels or old rags.
- If you don't have a baking sheet, lay trash bags flat on your work surface instead.

4

Submerge the paper in tea for at least 5 minutes. (Option 1)

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If you want to dye the entire page of paper, gently pour or brush the tea onto the page. Let the paper soak up the tea, adding more if and when you feel it’s necessary, for 5 to 10 minutes.^{[4]
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- The longer the paper soaks, the darker the stain will be.
- If you’re staining more than one sheet of paper, feel free to layer them on top of each other—paper, tea, paper, tea, paper, tea.

5

Alternatively, dab one of the tea bags over the paper. (Option 2)

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Holding the tea bag by the top, blot it down onto the paper. Continue doing this until you've covered as much of the paper as you want. If the tea bag starts to dry out, dip it in the mug of tea to wet it again.^{[5]
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- It's up to you whether you want to cover the whole page or just a few areas. Either way, don't worry about getting a perfect application. The paper will look more authentic if the yellowing is a little uneven.
- Experiment with ways to get the tea on the paper. Try using a paintbrush dipped in the brewed tea, a straw, or your fingers to create different effects.^{[6]
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- Once one side is stained, flip the paper over and stain the other side.^{[7]
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6

Sprinkle the page with turmeric or coffee grounds.

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While this step isn't necessary, adding a light coating of turmeric spice or coffee grounds can help age the paper even more. Simply sprinkle a bit of one or both ingredients over the wet paper.^{[8]
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- Have fun with where and how much you sprinkle onto the page! Turmeric will give a more aged, yellow look, while coffee grounds produce a burnt or “dirty” effect.
- Keep in mind that turmeric can stain skin, surfaces, and fabrics, so use it with caution.
- Loose tea leaves can also create this effect, but it may not be as dramatic or strong.

7

Dab away excess tea with paper towels.

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Make sure there isn't any water pooled on the page itself or on the baking sheet. This ensures the page dries evenly, which helps prevent the paper from curling too much while drying.^{[9]
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8

Dry your paper outside or in the oven.

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Allow the paper to air-dry for 24 hours or bake in the oven for 5 minutes. If you have the time, consider setting it on a paper towel and putting it in the sun for a day to dry.^{[10]
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- If you used too much liquid or the paper is very thick, you might need more time to dry.
- The paper is dry when the edges start to curl up.
Tip: On most ovens, this is about 200 °F (93 °C). If you have a "Warm" setting, use that.

9

Brush away any residue with a soft paintbrush.

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If you added spices or coffee grounds to your paper, brush away any excess that didn’t absorb into the paper. This helps give your paper a more natural staining effect.

Tip: If you don't have a paintbrush, try using a soft, dry cloth instead.

10

Roughen up the paper to make it look older.

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Depending on your project, just yellowing the paper might not give it the authentic look you're going for. If you need it to look like it's been damaged, try crumpling the paper, singeing it with a flame, or adding another layer of stains.^{[13]
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- For instance, if you're making an old treasure map, you might want to crumple it up and carefully burn the edges so it will look old and worn.
- If you want to create holes in the paper, crumple the sheet and spritz it with a little water, then use your fingernails to make small tears. Allow the paper to air dry.
- If you use a lighter to singe the edges, blow out the flame as soon as the paper catches. Otherwise, the paper may quickly burn up.

Expert Q&A

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How do you make paper look old without tea?

Nicole Bolin
Crafts & DIY Specialist
Nicole Bolin is a Crafting Specialist and the CEO of Stencil, a DIY Craft Studio in Phoenix, Arizona. Nicole specializes in interior design and various craft and DIY projects. Nicole holds a Certificate in Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. She opened Stencil in 2017 to teach others to create DIY projects that fit their home and lifestyle.

Nicole Bolin

Crafts & DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

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.

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Can I use a pencil and stain it with tea without the pencil mark fading?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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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.

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Can I age colored paper without ruining the printed words on it?

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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.

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Tips

If the dried paper curls too much, place it between two large, heavy books overnight.

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Tea bags will work best for this project. However, if all you have is loose-leaf tea, you can brew it the same way you would a tea bag, then use a sponge or a paintbrush to apply the tea to the paper. Since you're not drinking the tea, there's no need to strain out the loose tea leaves.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you use watercolor paper, you must soak it for a longer period (a half hour or so). Once it's dry, you can use it like regular paper. This is especially important if you plan to use a laser printer.
Make sure you do this outside or in a controlled area to avoid a mess.

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