Making Tea Paper for Maps, Journals and More

Use tea bags on white paper to make paper look old and worn. Great for designing pirate maps, pioneer journals, old posters and more!

  1. Ages: 3 - 11

  2. <30 minutes

  3. Messy

  4. Grownup needed

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Materials you'll need

Step-by-step tutorial

  • Step 1

    Heat up a cup of water in the microwave or in a pot. Add a tea bag and allow it to steep for at least 10 minutes.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 1

  • Step 2

    Take your paper and tear around the edges to make it look worn.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 2

  • Step 3

    Allow tea bag to cool enough so it is safe (and comfortable) to handle. Do not ring out too much tea from the bag, but enough so you do not over saturate the paper. Use the tea bag as a paint brush and cover the entire piece of paper.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 3

  • Step 4

    If desired, allow the first coat to dry and repeat for a darker color.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 4

  • Step 5

    You can also create the tea paper on paper that has not been torn along the edges. Here the student is creating tea paper to use to make a old-fashioned circus poster!

    Photo reference of how to complete step 5

  • Step 6

    Once the paper is dry, use it to make a map.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 6

  • Final result!

    Or to create a poster that looks weathered by time.

    Photo reference of how to complete step 7

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