A quick eco-friendly project to make background paper for your art and craft projects. An easy art technique.

Recycle your old bills and turn them into re-useable art resources! In this case – heritage or vintage background papers.

This page was fashioned with the back of a letter that came with the electricity bill, and a quick trip to the kitchen.

Art Supplies

• A couple of teabags
• Water
• Paper

Method

Steep the teabags in water.

Staining Paper for Arts and Crafts

Squeeze out a little excess liquid and apply to your page with the teabag. Cover the page how you like, try wiping and dabbing.

Tea Stained Background Paper Complete

Let dry and you’re finished!

Tricks and Tips About Using Your Background Paper

• You can do this with coffee too, but tea does not have the bite of aroma that coffee does.
• This paper is wonderful for journal and mail projects. Use for any works that are nostalgic, romantic, vintage or just want that homemade look.
• Once it’s dry scan to your computer for future use.
  Scan at 300 dpi. You can always downsize resize later if you need to.
• Use the original paper in your projects, so there’s no waste.

Draw on Your Background Paper

Tea stained background papers look great when drawn on with black marker. As with the quick lesson on drawing a cartoon face, start with pencil, go over it with black marker and erase the pencil lines.

Happy art making!

Mina