Making card look old

[viviennejane]

I wonder if anyone can help me. I am doing an Egyptian LO and I have put the title on card in an Egyptian font, but I want to make it look like old paper. I know that I can use tea, but not sure how to do it. Any other techniques that you also know I could try, would be really helpful.

Thanks

[InspireSpirit]

I use distress inks. There is one called 'old paper' which is fab. I use it on heritage layouts all the time and also stamp music notes on it to make it look like old music paper.

[bramblepie]

just goin to say teabag I just use to lighty run a used teabag over paper/card bit heavier if you want it deeper Distress ink pads too are good up to you just play

[Debbie R 61]

i scrumple my paper up lots then smooth it out then ink it, the ink clings to the creases, also use an edge distresser and sand paper to distress it even more :)

[viviennejane]

That sounds really good and I will invest in some at Olympia when I go. Unfortunately, I need to do it tonight and I don't have any distress inks. Any other ideas?

[viviennejane]

I did the tea lightly and scrunched it up and it worked. Thankyou ladies for all your good ideas - I will definitely get some distress inks though.

[Mole]

I know it's too late for now but another technique i have used to good effect is painting paper with cold tea or coffe. While the paper is still wet, scatter a few random grains of coffee on to it and leave for a while. When you shake off the granules, they leave splodgy 'foxing' (I think that's what they called age marks on the paper). It is veyr effective if used sparingly.

Also, if you want the crispy / burnt edge look I used to smear the edge of the paper with margarine and then singe the same edges in a candle flame! Just take care not to burn the whole craft room down if you try this!

[dawnl]

if you try the flame technique then have a some dry play sand next to you to stop the smoldering otherwise you'll find that blowing it just encourages it to burn and you end up with nothing left!
You could always try using a flat felt-tip pen if you don't have an inkpad.

[NoAddedSugar]

You can also use any brown or beigy ink pad just dab a cosmetic sponge or dry foam on it and then rub in circular motion around the edges to give that "aged" patina kinda of look then burnish with a gold or copper ink pad lightly.

Another technique is just to hold the card on the palm of one hand and use the ink pad in a swiping motion all around the edges. Dawn Bibby does this a lot. You might be able to find a video online.

[Mole]

Nah, I never needed sand to extinguish my blazes!

[RosieMac]

Lots of helpful ideas, thanks. Has anyone used distressed embossing powders ? what effect do they give ?

[Alibri]

They're like sandpaper, not smooth like normal embossing inks. :)

[wombat]

Lots of helpful ideas, thanks. Has anyone used distressed embossing powders ? what effect do they give ?

Remind me to bring some to the crop to show you..