Transforming Paper: The Coffee Method

A guide to lending the appearance of medieval parchment to ordinary copy paper using coffee and a few other household items. Part of Mead Bowen's "Medieval Paper and Its Place in History."

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• parchment
• how-to
• paper
• old
• coffee
• mead-bowen

[PearlyKinetic]

will it ruin papaers with writing on it

[edwardmbowen]

@PearlyKinetic It might. It depends on the ink -- printer ink usually won't run, but calligraphy ink may.

[BloodMagicTwilight]

can u use the microwave instead of the oven?



[edwardmbowen]

@BloodMagicTwilight No -- the microwave might set it aflame.

[laZOETje]

rofl, lighters don't work for me either.. How do you get the edges to darken as in more aged not burned. (was that the lighter?)

[edwardmbowen]

@laZOETje I usually let the coffee drain off various sides of the paper to stain the edges a darker color before I pop it in the oven.

[Spottedwingriver]

still I love the costume. Makes the tutorial all the more fun!

[edwardmbowen]

@Spottedwingriver I have my moments. ;)

[Spottedwingriver]

LOL! The reaction to the lighter is hilarious!!!!!!!

[edwardmbowen]

@akastukibitch Hey, great! Glad I could be of help. :)