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.
Step 2
Take your paper and tear around the edges to make it look worn.
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.
Step 4
If desired, allow the first coat to dry and repeat for a darker color.
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!
Step 6
Once the paper is dry, use it to make a map.
Final result!
Or to create a poster that looks weathered by time.