✒️ DIY Tea-Stained Stationery: Brew Up Some Vintage Charm
- Lena S.
- Jul 13
- 2 min read
Who says tea is just for sipping? Honey, it’s also a vibe. Let’s channel those Victorian pen-pal aesthetics and give your paper game a dreamy, antique twist.
Whether you're writing love notes, creating handmade tags for your tea party favors, or sending invitations with a side of old-world elegance—tea-staining paper is an easy (and affordable!) way to make it extra special.
So grab your kettle and let’s steep some stationery magic!
🍵 What You’ll Need:
Black tea or English Breakfast (3–5 bags)
Hot water
A baking tray or shallow pan
White printer paper, cardstock, or tags
Sponge or brush
Optional: oven, candle, twine, stamps, ink, or calligraphy pens
☕ Step-by-Step: Tea-Staining 101
Brew the Magic - Steep 3–5 tea bags in about 2 cups of boiling water. Let it get strong and rich in color—you want depth!
Prep Your Paper - Lay out your paper on a baking tray or in a shallow pan. Crumple it up first for added texture, then smooth it out again for those dreamy crease lines.
Stain It Up - Pour the tea directly over the paper or use a sponge to dab and brush it on. Want darker edges? Add extra tea to the corners or even burn them slightly (carefully!) for that ancient scroll drama.
Let It Dry - Air-dry overnight for a natural look or bake in the oven at 200°F for 5–10 minutes to speed things up. Watch closely—don’t let it crisp into parchment chips!
Style & Embellish - Once dry, add stamps, doodles, calligraphy, or press with a wax seal if you're extra (and we know you are). Tie sets together with twine or ribbon for a gorgeous handmade gift or tea invite.
✨ Ways to Use Your Tea-Stained Masterpieces:
Tea party invitations
Gift tags
Love letters
Recipe cards
Scrapbooking accents
Business packaging (hello, handmade feel!)
🍂 Parting Sips
The best part? No two tea-stained pages are ever alike. It’s messy, fun, and a little bit magical—just like a perfect tea party.
Tag me over on Instagram @whatspoppin_usa with your creations.
I’d love to see how you’re steeping your style into the everyday!
I actually tea-stained pages, about a hundred or so, for making homemade journals!
The process is relatively simple, but it does take a while— especially to separate the fragile pages and hanging them to dry.
I used clothes pins and hung each page on my outdoor shade umbrella to dry.
Easy peasy and worked like a charm!