The scrapbook is often an item that harks back to the past, and sometimes an added
nostalgia effect can be included by giving your scrapbook an antique look and feel.
This can be achieved in a number of ways, and the best place in which to start is
the choice of paper.
Vellum, a textured and heavy paper, is available in many different shades, and can
be purchased as an antique style paper. The effect of old photographs, or newspaper
cuttings and other artefacts, when placed on an antique vellum style page can be
very impressive indeed, and lends an air of age and importance to the overall look
of the scrapbook.
The use of vellum, or other textured papers - many of which recreate age through
coloring and shading - is a popular method of conveying the antique feel, but there
are additional methods of ‘ageing’ a page that should be considered when planning
the scrapbook.
Adding creases to paper
The simplest way, and one that can be very effective if done well, is to artificially
age the paper by creasing it, or wrinkling it, giving the page the look of having
been handled many times, and with careful manipulation – a few choice creases at
angles to each other – a good aged antique effect can be easily created.
A second method is to change the surface look of the paper by ‘roughening’ it with
sand paper, or an emery board or file. Use a fine sandpaper for a lightly aged effect,
and gently sand the paper so as to give it a distressed appearance, a look that
is very much that of paper that has been around for a long time.
This method works best, and gives the most antique look, when used in conjunction
with paper that is coloured darker, as the aged look and the colour combine to create
a feeling that is reminiscent of an antique book or ledger.
Drops of ink and distressed edges
Using inks is another method of giving the page an antique look; drops of ink, seemingly
at random, can be carefully placed to have the greatest effect and give the look
of age and use, while a background with faded writing in old style script can also
add to the age of the page.
Taking this a step further, distressing the edges of the page – with cuts and tears
– and creasing it with fingertips also has an ageing effect, and helps in the creation
of an antique feel for the scrapbook.
One very effective method of colouring paper to give it age is the use of a teabag.
Boil the bag and leave it to dry, and when it is dry, simply place it on the paper
that you wish to use for the page. The tea stain will seep into the paper, and when
it dries it will crinkle naturally, leaving you with a beautifully stained and antique-look
page that will be very effective when mounted with old photographs.
Tape, layout and the importance of colour
Another way of distressing paper is to apply tape to it, leave it until it is stuck
fast, and then carefully remove the tape once more: the resulting marks that the
tape leaves behind as it takes off the top layer of the paper are good ageing hints.
Other suggestions include running a comb forcefully across the paper, thus creating
parallel lines as an effect, and dropping water onto the paper in various places
so that when it dries it appears stained and old.
In addition, paying attention to the layout of the items on the page – particularly
photographs – can add another element of ageing and help the antique look; mount
photographs slightly askew, or out of line with each other, and the haphazard look
will help create an aged and antique feel.
Remember to use dull colours – browns and greys, or dark blue – for the background
page, as bright colours tend to look modern and alive, rather than aged and antique.
Off-white and cream papers, particularly textured varieties, also add to the aged
look, with a slightly ‘dirty’ added feel achieved by the tea bag or water staining
method.
Whatever the antique look you require, the above methods should give you a good
idea of some to try until you find the look you want.
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