How To Easily Make Junk Journal Paper Look Old
How To Easily Make Junk Journal Paper Look Old: Deidre’s Quick Hack 🧓📜
Ever stared at your junk journal, wishing the pages had that perfect vintage vibe? 🤔
Tired of spending hours trying to age your paper?
Wondering if there’s a quicker way to get that antique look?
Well, I’ve got a treat for you! 🎉
I stumbled upon this amazing video by Deidre from Our Upcycled Life, and let me tell you, it’s a game-changer!
She’s got a super quick hack to make your paper look antique in minutes.
Yes, you heard that right – minutes! 🕒
Let’s dive into Deidre’s secret technique and transform your junk journal pages! 🏊♀️
What You’ll Need 🧰
Before we jump in, let’s gather our supplies:
- Plain paper (or printed with laser jet)
- Water
- Scissors
- Instant coffee
- Paper towel
- Spoon
- Small dish
- Heat gun (or hair dryer)
Nothing fancy, right?
You probably have most of these lying around your craft room already!
Step 1: Create That Vintage Edge ✂️
First things first, let’s rough up those edges!
Here’s how Deidre does it:
- Grab a small dish of water
- Rub it along the edge of your paper
- Wait for it to soak through (it’ll start to lighten up)
- Take your scissors and run them along the wet edge
- Voila! You’ve got a ragged, vintage-looking edge
Repeat this on all four sides of your paper.
Easy peasy! 😎
Deidre mentions that you could just rip the edges, but it’s hard to be consistent that way.
The scissors method gives you more control and a more uniform look.
Step 2: Coffee Time! ☕
Now, let’s get that beautiful aged color.
Deidre’s hack?
Instant coffee!
Here’s the process:
- Take a heaping teaspoon of instant coffee
- Scrunch it up in a paper towel
- Place it in a small dish of water
- Let it soak for a minute
Deidre points out that she’s done tutorials before using all kinds of different products to age paper – coffee, tea, lemon juice, soy sauce, vanilla.
They all work great, but they usually involve drying in the oven, which takes time.
This method?
It’s all about speed!
Step 3: The Magic Begins
Time to transform that plain paper:
- Blot the coffee-soaked paper towel randomly on your paper
- Don’t worry about patterns – it’s all about creating different textures
- Dip back in the water when it dries out
- Make sure to get the edges nice and dark
- Cover the whole piece of paper
Pro tip: Those little coffee bubbles?
They’ll create an awesome texture when dry! 👌
Deidre mentions that this can be a bit messy, so make sure you’re working in an area that’s easy to clean up.
She does it right on her craft table because it’s easy to wipe down afterwards.
Step 4: Dry It Up 💨
Now, let’s speed things up:
- Grab your heat gun (or hair dryer on low setting)
- Dry your paper – it won’t take long!
- Flip it over and repeat the coffee process on the back
Need more coffee?
Just add another scoop to your paper towel and re-wet it.
Easy!
Deidre uses a heat gun, but she says a hair dryer works too.
Just be careful because a hair dryer blows out more air and might blow your paper around.
If you’re using a hair dryer, put it on the lowest setting.
Bonus Tip: Add Some Wrinkles 👵
Want even more vintage vibes? Try this:
- Before coffee staining, scrunch your paper into a ball
- Unfold it
- Then start the coffee dyeing process
It’ll give your paper that extra wrinkled, old-timey look!
Deidre demonstrates this technique in the video, and the results are amazing.
It really adds that extra layer of authenticity to your aged paper.
A Word of Caution ⚠️
If you’re using printed paper, make sure it’s from a laser jet printer.
Inkjet prints might run when wet.
If that’s all you have, age the paper first, then print on it after.
Problem solved! 👍
Deidre mentions this important point in her video.
She used a laser jet printer for her examples, which is why the ink didn’t run when she applied the coffee.
The Possibilities Are Endless! 🌈
Now that you’ve got this quick aging technique down, what can you do with your newly antique-looking paper?
Deidre has some great suggestions:
- Use it for decoupage projects
- Print on it and frame it for instant vintage art
- Leave it blank and write a little note on it
- Mail a letter to someone for that old-fashioned correspondence feel
- Use it in your scrapbooking projects
- Add it to your art journal for an instant vintage page
The sky’s the limit!
Let your creativity run wild with your new old paper. 😉
Why This Method Rocks 🎸
Deidre’s quick aging hack has so many benefits:
- It’s super fast – no more waiting around for paper to dry in the oven
- It’s easy – even beginners can master this technique
- It’s low-mess – just toss the used paper towel when you’re done
- It smells great – who doesn’t love the scent of coffee?
- It’s customizable – adjust the intensity of the aging by adding more or less coffee
- It’s cost-effective – no need for expensive aging products
And There You Have It! 🎉
In just a few minutes, you’ve transformed plain paper into beautiful, antique-looking pages for your junk journal.
No more waiting around for oven-dried methods.
This quick hack gets you back to crafting in no time!
Remember, practice makes perfect.
Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t exactly what you envisioned.
Play around with the technique, adjust the amount of coffee, try different drying times.
Soon, you’ll be a pro at creating perfectly aged paper for all your vintage-inspired projects.
So, what are you waiting for?
Grab that coffee and get aging!
Your junk journal is about to get a serious glow-up. 😍
Have you tried this quick aging technique before?
Or do you have your own favorite method for aging paper?
Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear how it worked for you and any tips or tricks you’ve discovered along the way.
It’s always inspiring to see what other crafters are creating!
Happy crafting, journal lovers!
May your pages always look perfectly aged and your creativity never run dry. 🖊️📔
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to age some paper for my next junk journal spread.
Check out more junk journal tips and tutorials here:
