Cooked paper!

Since I just know you all are dying to know how to cook paper (yeah, all 4 of you reading this ;)), I decided I would inform you just how to do it. You see, even if no one is reading this, I use it as a reference tool to look back on, review and track some of my projects and ideas. :)

For Kid's Klub we have been talking about Jesus and His teaching and miracles while on earth and the fact that we should be storing up treasures in heaven. So my craft idea became a treasure map. A treasure map with eternal locations written/drawn on it - verses from God's Word.

In order to create a treasure map, you have to have 'real' treasure map paper and that's exactly what I made Tuesday evening.

Here's what you do:

Start with 8 1/2 x 11 white sheets of paper. Tear the edges and then crumble each one into a ball and spread out flat.

Spread onto a cookie sheet.

Pour on dye (tea). Don't make the tea too strong or you'll have dark treasure map paper that's too dark on which to see what you've drawn.

Spread the dye all around until the paper is soaked. (Be sure not to pick up the paper at this point or you'll end up ripping more sheets!) ;)

Place in oven and cook until done (dry). Do not place directly over burner for too long or you'll have crisp, burnt treasure maps. :)

And the result - cooked paper!

Or treasure map paper!

Or tea-stained paper!

Or whatever else you want to call it!

Scripture treasure map!

Oh, and then my other idea which didn't work out quite so well - invisible ink. You see, the majority of my ideas are trial and error, so while the cooked paper worked, the invisible ink needs a little more experimenting. Perhaps that will be a future craft project. :)