HOMEWORK HELP: That treasure map, teabag-staining, singeing [sp?] with a candle thing ...?

[roisin]

I'm sure I've seen tips on here before about how best to do this, but I've searched and can't find them.

Can anyone give me some tips or do me a link?

Many thanks

Argggggggggggggggggh! I remember having to do this for Dd the house didn't burn down but it took several attempts. I recall scrunching up paper dabbing it with wet tea bags drying it under the grill then attempting to set fire singe it with candles. No children were harmed in this attemptbut my smoke alarm did go off a couple of times and I do remember wondering if you coud buy pre aged/singed paper -they'd be a market for it I'm sure!

Make up a weak solution of coffee and paint on or drag a used teabag across the paper. THEN write your stuff on - or the liquid may dissolve your work!! While wet, carefully tear some of the edges a bit.
Let it dry on a radiator.

Do your writing then take a match/candle and burn a single hole in an insignificant place.

Good luck!

Make a cup of tea and squeeze as much of the tea out the teabag as possible. Dab it over the paper - don't smear or paint it on.

For the singeing - I tend to use a wooden splint from school (can you get a few of these from your science dept?). Have a flame ready to go (bunsen, cooker or candle), and light the splint, then blow it out so it is glowing, and go around the whole paper with it (you have to keep lighting). Alternatively, set fire to the edge of the paper and immediately stamp it out.

I tear the edges of the paper.

Put some coffee in a baking tray of warm water, drag through. Sun Dry - Outside.

Then hold over a candle, blow out, all round the edges.

Thank you all so much: it's going well.

He's done 3 sheets, so that a crisis at any stage isn't a crisis iyswim! He over-grilled one. He quite liked the idea of a single burned hole, but we couldn't do this at all!

You could also try ironing it -gives a yellowing effect -and perhaps safer than candles!

Thanks for all your help on this.
ds1 came home today with a big bar of chocolate as a prize for this homework

His was the "best geography" there was also a prize for the "best art".