Artificially aging fabric or paper or even wood is mostly the product of experimentation. I use a variety of techniques and ingredients depending on the medium I'm working with and the end look I want to achieve. I've stumbled across dozens of recipes and techniques over the years and while I have settled on a few tried and true techniques that work for me - I'm always willing to try something new or different. Ingredients Include: coffee, tea, cinnamon, salt, molasses, vanilla, rit dyes, wood stains, acrylic stains, walnut ink, shoe polish, wax, glue, starch and more.

Here are a few tips:

Cinnamon is listed as optional because it leaves a gritty residue on most surfaces. A gritty residue on paper can make it difficult to apply paint or glue or stamping inks. For more control on fabric, apply (shake or sprinkle) cinnamon over area that needs grunging and rub it in.

Coffee and tea can be hard on the skin and especially cuticles. Consider wearing disposable gloves while working with this medium.

Drying racks made from wooden dowels work well for air drying indoors.

Use sand paper to create wear on fabric and paper. This works particularly well on painted muslin or canvas. Sanding before staining will allow worn spots to absorb more dye. Sanding after will give the piece a rubbed, worn look.

For better saturation and fewer splotches, rinse or dampen fabric or piece before staining. If stain is too dark or to keep fabric from becoming too stiff, rinse in cold water after soaking.

Dissolve instant coffee in warm water. Add vanilla. Add cinnamon (optional). Mix well. Soak entire fabric or paper piece or apply stain with a spray bottle or sponge brush. Air dry fabrics if possible. Oven dry paper or fabric on lowest temperature setting. Use parchment covered cookie sheets. Please do not leave fabric or paper unattended in an oven. Paper has to be turned often (every 3-5 minutes) so it will not burn.

Using a jar or shaker container. Dissolve molasses in warm water. Add vanilla and salt, shake well. Of course the solution can be darkened by adding more molasses or diluted by adding more water.

For fabric: In large bowl or dish pan , add approx 1 cup of dye to 1 cup of warm water. Slightly dampen fabric piece, then soak in solution for several minutes. The longer the soak, the darker the piece. If piece looks too dark, rinse in cold water. Squeeze fabric (or wring out) excess solution and air dry completely. Wringing will add wrinkles. If fabric is too stiff, rinse and tumble dry with an old towel.

For paper: Sponge brush mixture on both sides, air dry or oven dry on low temp. Use parchment covered cookie sheets. Please do not leave fabric or paper unattended in an oven. Paper has to be turned often (every 3-5 minutes) so it will not burn.

Apply dye to fabric or piece with spray bottle or sponge. Air dry fabric if possible. Air dry or oven dry paper on low temp. Use parchment covered cookie sheets. Please do not leave fabric or paper unattended in an oven. Paper has to be turned often (every 3-5 minutes) so it will not burn.