Tea Stained Paper for Halloween

If you are looking for last minute ideas for Halloween decor, this is such a quick and easy project. Not to mention, you’re likely to have everything on hand so it makes for a free project too! We are hosting a Halloween trick-or-treat party this year, so I’ve been finding thrify ways to add a bit of Halloween throughout our house. Tea staining was a simple and easy way to give a basic printable an aged, vintage, and slightly spooky appearance.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how I did it:

Materials You’ll Need:

1. Printed Paper: I used Canva to print out a Halloween scene of my choosing. There are so many fun artwork ideas that you could use. Look for haunted houses, ravens, skeletons, ghosts…all things Halloween!
2. Tea Bags: I used green tea bags that I already had on hand.
3. Boiling Water: To steep the tea.
4. A Container: A shallow dish or a baking sheet works well for this.
5. Paper Towels or Rags: For blotting and wiping excess tea.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Workspace: Start by laying out all your materials. You may want to cover your workspace with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect it from tea stains.
2. Brew the Tea: Boil water and steep the tea bags. You really only need about 1/2-1 cup for this project. Allow the tea to steep until it’s quite dark, which usually takes around 5-10 minutes. The longer you steep, the darker the stain.
3. Let the Tea Cool: Allow the tea to cool down slightly.
4. Prepare Your Paper: Lay your printed piece of paper on a clean baking sheet. I personally liked that results that I achieved with basic printer paper vs a higher quality paper.
5. Apply the Tea: Use the tea bag to gently wipe across the paper. Start with light strokes to control the level of staining. For a more aged look, you can focus on the edges and corners of the paper. Dabbing the tea bag in a few different areas of the paper will also give increased saturation in those areas.
6. Blot and Blend: Use a paper towel or rag to blot any excess tea from the paper. You can also use the towel to gently blend the tea stain across the paper for a more even look.
7. Dry the Paper: Allow the stained paper to air dry naturally.
8. Inspect and Repeat (if needed): Once the paper is dry, assess the color. If you want it darker, you can repeat the staining process. Just be mindful not to overdo it.
9. Finish Your Project: After the paper reaches your desired level of staining, simply grab a frame from around the house and hang or incorporate with other Halloween decor.

This tea stained pring could not have been easier to create and added just what I was looking for on our entry table! Next up…staining and hanging a few more down our hallway!