QUICK AND EASY AGING BOOK TEXT THROUGH COFFEE STAINING

Hi again everyone!

I'm working on a project that I will be sharing with you in the near future.  But for now, I wanted to share with you one of the steps I am doing in preparation for this project ... 

aging paper.

There are several Youtube videos about this topic but I figured why not just post a couple of pictures and some brief descriptions so you don't have to look it up.

A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO "AGE" PAPER BY COFFEE STAINING IT

Supplies You Will Need For This Technique

• Some sort of paper
• Trays with a deeper side to allow you to pour coffee into the tray
• Instant or brewed coffee
• Wax paper, freezer paper or some protective covering for your counter top to lay drying paper
• 200 degree oven - use oven mitts to work with trays in oven

Begin with your book text ... or any paper for that matter. I needed 8 1/4" x 5 1/4" pages so I used a kraft knife to cut them from a hard back book. I will save the book cover and use it to make some sort of junk journal or altered book in the future.  Next ...

Use instant or brewed coffee for this step.  I used brewed coffee (made a bit strong) and poured it into a tray with at least a 1" side.  Put enough coffee into the tray to cover your paper.  I also like to add some coffee grounds that help make the coffee mix stronger as you are using it.  Place papers in the tray and be sure they are covered with coffee.  I usually put up to six pages at a time.  Let soak for 8-10 minutes.  (You might want to turn the papers over about half way through but that is optional).

Hold the papers up over the coffee and let the excess drain off of them.  Lay them on a different cookie sheet or tray.  Do not overlap them.

Place them in a preheated oven of 200 degrees.  Let them "dry"in the oven for 8-10 minutes.  My papers on the lower rack dried first.  Repeat this process until all of your papers have been stained and dried.

*Watch the papers to see how quickly they dry.  Everyone's oven heats differently.

  

Once the papers are dry from the oven, place them on a piece of wax paper or a counter to totally dry.  If you have any coffee grounds remaining on them, they will easily just brush right off.  Once the papers are completely dry, you can stack them for later use.

And here is my stack of papers; ready for my project!  Fun and easy to do!

Have fun with this technique.  It's easy and really not a big mess at all!