How to Use an Aging Technique in Primitive Crafting

Aging primitive crafts requires a few items many already have in the home.

Primitive crafts celebrate simple American folk art pieces. They are usually aged to represent the eras of the past. Aging primitive pieces is possible with items you may already have in your pantry such as coffee and tea. Sandpaper or a sander ages wooden primitive crafts, and wood glaze will add stain or subtle color to wooden items. Use a glaze over a painted wooden piece to add color complexity.

Things You'll Need

• Black tea bags (at least four)
• Tray or cookie sheet
• Sponge
• Glass plate (optional)
• Fork
• 120-grit sandpaper
• Lint-free cloth
• Paint brushes
• Dark-colored paint
• Light-colored paint
• Paint glaze in desired color (optional)

Instructions

Fabric Aging

1. Soak your fabric in plain water until completely saturated. Wring it out completely and set the fabric aside.

2. Combine four black tea bags with 4 qts. of water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then let sit for a few minutes. Remove the tea bags from the water to prevent dark stains where it comes into contact with the fabric.

3. Add the fabric and submerge completely in the tea mixture. Stir the fabric with a wooden spoon until your preferred darkness is achieved. The fabric will appear darker when wet.

Paper Aging

1. Steep the tea. Place three tea bags in 2 cups of warm water and let steep for five minutes.

2. Stain the paper. Place the paper in a tray or cookie sheet. Take one tea bag and drag it across the paper, allowing small tea bits to collect on the paper. Follow with the other tea bags if the stain color desired has not been obtained.

3. Roughen the edges. Pull at the edges of the paper with a fork to create a rough edge. The paper must be wet for this step to work, so do not wait until it is dry.

4. Sponge away moisture. Using a sponge, blot the paper to absorb most of the moisture.

5. Allow the paper to dry flat in the tray for eight to 12 hours. Gently lift the paper from the tray with a fork to remove. Optionally, apply a piece of glass the size of the paper to flatten paper as it drys. Stack books on the glass for additional weight. Remove the glass after eight to 12 hours and lift the paper from the tray with a fork.

Wood Aging

1. Sand the wooden piece with 120-grit sandpaper or a sander and wipe down the wooden piece with a lint-free cloth.

2. Paint the piece. First paint one coat of the dark-colored paint. Let it dry completely and apply one coat of the light-colored paint. Follow this coat with a second coat of the light-colored paint once the first has dried.

3. Add the glaze following the manufacturer's instructions carefully and using an appropriately sized brush for your project. Let the glaze dry completely and apply another coat if the aging color has not yet been achieved.

4. Sand the edges and areas that would show wear over the years lightly. Wipe the wooden item down with a lint-free towel.

References

• Craft at Home: Tea Staining Paper
• Craft at Home: Tea Staining Fabric
• "Room by Room, Kitchens: Distressed Faux Painting Technique"; Lillian Hayes Martin et al.; 2008

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish