Guest Author - Lisa Shea

Tea staining has been used for fabrics and papers ever since tea was drunk by the Chinese. It gives a nice, delicate tan color to the items it interacts with.

It's funny why tea staining is so popular. People would have tea with meals and for afternoon relaxation, usually with linen on the table. The tea would, of course, spill on the white cloth. The easy solution was to stain the *entire* cloth with the tea, so that the color was uniform and so that future parties would not be any problem at all.

Tea staining is also very easy and cheap. There are numerous teas out there on the market, so your color range is pretty wide. You can find tea just about anywhere, and it's usually pretty inexpensive.

To stain a fabric or piece of paper, first you decide on what color will suit your needs. Play with a few tea styles and tiny bits of paper or fabric to see how the color turns out. When you're satisfied with a color, set up a bowl or tray with the liquid. Gently put the entire piece into the liquid and let it soak until you get the right amount of color. Then lay it out to air dry.

If you're looking for a more artistic look, try different approaches with how you apply the stain. Try getting different types of sponges and dab the color on. Try using a paintbrush and putting gradients of color onto the surface. Have some fun!