Home >> Hobbies >> Antiquing

How to Make Antique Looking Paste Labels

Library and rare book store patrons may notice labels in older volumes indicating the book̵7;s previous owner or the original bookseller. These labels add historical and visual interest to books and help librarians date and appraise them. Create your own aged paste labels to carry on the quaint bookplate tradition. For an authentic antique effect, age the paper with coffee and make your own bookbinder̵7;s paste to stick the label inside a book.

Things You'll Need

Card stock or Bristol board
Calligraphy pen
Ruler or lettering guide
Glue
Old photographs or advertisements
Pen
India ink
Scanner or copy machine
Light blue or light yellow printer paper
Strong black coffee
Cookie sheet
Fork
Wheat flour
Double boiler
Paintbrush

Instructions

Designing the Label
- 1
  Type or use a calligraphy pen to hand-write the label̵7;s logo in an old-fashioned style. If hand writing, write the logo directly onto a piece of card stock or Bristol board with pencil, and use a ruler or lettering guide to center the text and keep it straight. When satisfied with the lettering, go over it with a calligraphy pen. If you choose to type, use an old font such as ̶0;Old Newspaper Types,̶1; ̶0;Parchment̶1; or ̶0;Book Antiqua.̶1; Cut out the typed lettering and paste it onto the card stock or Bristol board.
- 2
  Locate an attractive piece of old-fashioned clip art or a black-and-white picture of an old bookstore or library. You can find vintage, public-domain advertisement art and photos in academic library bound journals and microfilm. Print out or copy a photo or piece of art and center it onto the card stock or Bristol board underneath the lettering. If you are artistically inclined, take your own photograph or draw your own old-fashioned illustration with a pen and India ink.
- 3
  Scan or copy the card stock or Bristol board label and print it out onto a piece of light blue or yellow printer paper. For the best antique look, increase the image contrast to get a stark, inky effect common in old-fashioned printing.
Aging the Label
- 4
  Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 5
  Place the label face up in a cookie sheet after the ink dries completely.
- 6
  Pour strong coffee over the label. For darker age spots, sprinkle coffee grounds on random areas of the paper, let them sit for five minutes, and remove them.
- 7
  Place the cookie sheet in the oven for five minutes or until the paper dries.
- 8
  Gently remove the label using a fork.
Making Paste
- 9
  Mix 2/3 cup water and 2 tablespoons wheat flour in the top of a double boiler.
- 10
  Cook the mixture over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. The paste is ready when it is the consistency of glue.
- 11
  Spread a thin layer of paste on the back of a label with a paintbrush once you are ready to affix it.
- 12
  Store the rest of the paste in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week.

Antiquing