soaking paper in tea to make it look old

[DimpledThighs]

am doing an ambitious project with my ds and we are soaking paper in tea to make it look old and it is downstairs. How long do I leave it? I can leave it overnight but am worried it will turn into paper maiche.

Just a quickie - but a depserate one for you crafty types!

just dip it in and out. It doesn't need to soak.

i think it's easier to paint it on as a stain but haven't really made any

the only problem with painting it on, is it's very easy to get brush strokes and not so easy to get rid of them.

Mine did this quite recently.

No need to soak it - they dabbed a wet teabag on the paper both sides and left to dry for a while. Doesn't take that long tbh.

another fun method is matches or candles

or in the oven on low. v satisfyingly yellow and crackly.

grains of sugar melted on make fly spots

can also make spots with a few grains of instant coffee sprinkled on when still damp

just make tea solution very strong,not much water.

i leave mine in an hour or so, then i lie it on cling film to dry, ot use a hairdrier. i've done 10 or so in one bowl.

thanks everyone - it really worked a treat. We made strong tea in a large shallow dish and laid the papers in it. I came up and posted this mail, read a few replies and ran down to fish it out before it disintegrated.

It looks fab - ds is thrilled.

Thanks again - one of the (many) reasons I LOVE mumsnet.