If you’re a crafter and a tea lover, this article is for you.
A long time ago, I discovered how precious tea bag paper can be for crafting. Oddly enough, it wasn’t during paper crafting—it happened while I was working with clay. I was trying to make an ancient-looking plate for home decoration and needed something to create a moldy, aged texture. And there it was: my cup of tea, bag still inside (I like it strong and a little bitter), sitting in front of me.
Later, when I received an order for a vintage-style wedding invitation set, my first question to the future bride was, “Do you mind if I use tea bag paper along with lace and cardstock?”
Funny thing—we were sitting in a coffee shop, I was drinking cappuccino, and she had a cup of tea. I didn’t even make the connection at first. But when she answered, “Yes, absolutely! My fiancé and I are avid tea lovers,” everything fell into place. And as someone would say: the rest is history.
This sweet couple collected lots of tea bags for their invitations. I added some from my own stash and even asked my tea-loving friends to help. It was hilarious—I’d receive ziplock bags filled with small brown pouches, and people around us would stare like we were involved in something suspicious.
“Are they dealing something?”
Love those memories. They add color to the past and remind me why I adore crafting so much.
The Tea Bag Paper is an Amazing Craft Material
You can see how many different shades you can get! And these are just a few—only from teas my husband and I drink regularly. Try turmeric or forest fruit tea, and you’ll find even more vibrant and unusual tones.
You can also use the tea bag paper before it’s been steeped. If I need something light, I tear open a few “virgin” tea bags and make loose tea from the leaves. Once you realize how versatile this material is, you’ll want to experiment.
Here are a few tricks I love:
- Color the paper with beetroot or berry juice
- Use watercolors
- Boil it with onion peels
- Press it between spinach leaves
These are just my favorites—but the possibilities are endless.
How I Use Tea Paper the Most
I mostly use tea paper in my junk journal pages and in the vintage scrapbooking sets I sell. It still amazes me how much valuable crafting material we throw away every day—things that can be reused, saved, and even sold.
If this is a topic that speaks to you, click on the banner below to read my article about how I reuse my Cricut leftovers.
So, how do I use it?
I mainly apply tea bag paper over glossy magazine and brochure images to give them a more vintage, matte finish. What works well in a magazine is often too bright and modern for scrapbooking.
Here’s my process:
I take the image I want to use, brush a thin layer of PVA glue over it,
Then I lay a piece of tea paper over the top and gently press it with my hand. You can also use baking paper as a barrier—but I’m a messy crafter, and my hands are usually sticky with glue anyway.
For an even older, more distressed look, I tear the edges after the glue has dried.
This works beautifully even on already vintage-looking images—like this little porcelain figurine. On one side you can see the original, and on the other, the softened, aged version.
To finish it off, I often ink the edges using one of my oldest ink pads. The more dried-out, the better—it gives a soft, delicate shadow instead of bold lines. So here’s another tip: never throw out a barely-working brown inkpad. It still has value.
Stamping on Tea Bag Paper – What a Joy
If you love stamps, try using them directly on tea bag paper. Even on its own, it’s a lovely effect—and makes a beautiful base for a journal page or a handmade card.
And here’s what happens when you add a stamped tea bag paper over a plain brochure photo:
The bright, modern image becomes moody and timeless. It suddenly feels like it has a story.
I still don’t understand how people pay for mass-produced “junk” journal ephemera—wait for delivery, and end up with something thousands of other crafters already own.
Instead, we can all create our own, personal, unique ephemera—pieces that reflect our artistic vision. And that’s what makes the final creation so much more powerful.
If you haven’t tried tea bag paper yet, I hope this article caught your attention. It’s free. It’s beautiful. And the results can be magical—especially if you’re after that nostalgic, timeworn feel.
I’d love to hear about your own tea bag paper projects—don’t hesitate to share.
Until then, enjoy your craft time!
Are you curious for more paper-related crafts? DIY your own elegant paper anemones with my easy (beginner-friendly) step-by-step crepe paper flower tutorial.
