DIY Faux Parchment Paper —The Summer Craft For Pirates!

Every summer crafting experience should include making some faux parchment paper, don't you think? And we're here to help you! We, meaning me, the photographer, and my almost 11 year old daughter, the crafter!

See this roll of parchment paper,that may very well contain the map directing us to the buried treasure? Well, guess what, my daughter actually made this paper all by herself, with just a few simple supplies. And let me tell you the results are truly stunning and its hard to believe that it's not the real thing! 

While we have yet to do anything with our faux parchment, I keep imagining beautiful stencils, or if I could draw, then gorgeous illustrations in white or pastel colors. For kids, well one could certainly make maps and secret messages, or how about cutting letters out of magazines, painting them with some tea to age them, and pasting them on to the paper to make a mysterious letter of some kind? I do think you could keep the kids busy for hours with this one. And while they're at it, it might be wise to make a whole bunch to have on hand, you never know when you're going to need to write a top secret letter that needs to look like it's been around for years and years!

• letter sized white laser printer paper
• powdered coffee, or crushed granulated coffee if that's what you have on hand
• water 
• a paint brush or cotton balls

Step 1: Crunch your letter sized laser printer paper into a little ball, and then smooth out flat on your working surface.

Step 2: Using a paint brush or cotton balls, apply water to the paper, being careful not to over-saturate the paper. 

Step 3: Lightly sprinkle powdered coffee over the entire surface, and don't worry if the distribution is not equal, the more inconsistent the better.

Step 4: Your paper should look something like this. 

Step 5: Apply water to the paper using either a paint brush or a cotton ball. 

Step 6: Continue painting with water until your entire page is covered in splotchy coffee "paint."

Step 7: Put in the sun to dry.

Step 8: Repeat steps 2 through 6 on opposite side.

Step 9: Do a good job of covering the second side, and don't panic if it looks too dark, it will lighten up considerably in the sun, and this will be outside of the parment paper letter, which should look darker!

Step 10: Place in the sun to dry, for a second time, and ta-da, faux parchment paper is born!

Note: There's one important step that we forgot to do this time, which does help it look even more authentic, that is to tear the edges. You can do this in step 2 when the paper is slightly wet. Enjoy!