Coffee talk and paper?

Two of the most asked questions on Junk Journal Junkies are; "How do I coffee stain my papers?" and "How do I bake my papers?"  Today, we'll discuss some techniques on how to get some great staining on your papers.

The first thing is what type of paper to use.  Regular copy paper is perfect for staining and baking papers, however, you will want to purchase either 24 lb. or 28 lb. paper.  The regular 21 lb. paper doesn't hold up that well and will tear when you're trying to remove it from the coffee.  Once you have your paper, the next step is making your coffee mixture.  I use instant coffee that I purchase at my local Walmart.  I use about 1/4 cup of coffee mix with about 10 cups of boiling water.  This is always adjustable, you can decide after you soak your papers if you want a stronger solution.  You can also add some vanilla to your coffee mixture, it minimizes the strong smell on your papers.

Once your coffee mixture has cooled, you can layer your copy papers in the mixture and soak for about 3-5 minutes.  Pre-heat your oven to about 350 degrees F, the temperature of your oven is your own personal preference, I've set mine to 180 degrees F, and also 350 degrees.   You can use a cookie sheet to bake your papers.  Also, a pizza pan with the holes will give a fabulous polka dot stain on your papers.  You can also lay your papers directly onto the oven rack, you will get a beautiful lined look.  You can also layer some soaked paper doilies on top of your paper, it will leave a stunning imprint of the doily.  You must keep a close eye on your papers when baking, I would advise a timer of some sorts as a reminder.  If you don't feel comfortable using your oven, you can let your papers air dry.  I have a large table and I line it with a plastic tablecloth that I purchased from my local dollar tree.  I follow the same process but instead of baking I lay them out onto the tablecloth to dry.  The only difference is the baked papers are more crisp, and crinkly.  I have linked a tutorial that I did last year on how I coffee stain and bake my papers (here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYVl7fTqNSc

I hope this helps answer some questions and concerns you have about coffee staining your papers.  Happy Crafting!!!