How to Create a Parchment Paper Look With Paint

Using walnut ink or cold tea can also stain paper to make it appear older.

Actual dated, antique parchment paper can be very hard to come by and may be too valuable for you to use for a project. If a scrapbooking, art or school project requires antiquing of new paper, consider methods of aging new paper that are not time consuming. Apply texture and color for new paper to resemble dated parchment.

Things You'll Need

• Paint (brown and/or orange)
• Walnut ink
• Water
• Cold tea
• Paint brush
• Match or lighter

Instructions

1. Dip a piece of regular or heavy stock paper, such as card stock, into water. Crumple it up, then unfurl and let dry for a few minutes. Note the fine wrinkles this makes in the document.

2. Use brown paint diluted in water and paint a thin first layer over the document. Also use diluted orange paint on random small portions of the paper to recreate stains. Use walnut ink, found in art supply stores or online dealers, on the document. Dilute the solution in water and paint onto the paper. The walnut ink will add more shading and definition to the creases. Also, use walnut ink in a spray bottle to lightly add more shading. Dip the edges in the walnut ink to brown the edges.

3. Apply cold tea to different parts of the document to give it an uneven finish. Make small tears along the edges to further the worn-out, tattered look.

4. Use a lighter or light a match. Burn or singe the edges of the document. Write on it with India ink or with calligraphy ink and pens.

5. Use a computer graphics program such as Microsoft Paint or Adobe Photoshop if paint is not readily available. Print out the document. It may have an all-white border. Use some of the steps above to camouflage the borders and the back of the paper.

References

• The Scrapbook Store: Walnut Ink Crystals