How to create old-looking texture paper?

Ideas for Halloween!

I created this burnt old looking paper to make a spooky sign for a Halloween party at work.

The whole process takes longer than I thought; however it is easier that I thought it would be. It is just time consuming, but I am sure you will be satisfied with the result!

1. Make a really strong cup of coffee. Pour coffee into a shallow container, such as cookie sheet or baking pan.

2. Using a spoon to help covering entire paper with coffee both bottom and top. Let it sit for couple of minutes.

3. To create starches, using your fingernails or spoon to create lines/ starches lightly on paper while it is still sitting in the coffee. Make holes if prefers.

4. Dry paper by hanging on a hanger or placing it on another baking pan, using hair dryer to blow dry if you don't have time; or dry over night.

 

(Tips: To create lumps or folds, before the paper is completely dried,  place the paper in a way that you desire to create the design you want; such as folding up a corners, tearing the edges of paper etc.)

5. Once paper is completely dried. Create burnt edges by placing paper on lit of fire back and forth until black burn spot is created. Be careful using fire.



*I used normal white paper here, and I assume that this method will work on any other kinds of paper, however, keep in mind that using thick papers will achieve better results and texture. Thin papers are hard to handle when wet, papers that are too thick takes more time to absorb coffee for strong/ solid  colour.  Whichever kinds will achieve different results, bring out your creativity, it is a fun activity for kids and an good decor idea on Halloween.

Easy Chocolate Mousse for Beginner

Make 4 servings

Preparation time: 5 mins

Cooking time:  10 mins


Ingredients

Whipping cream 35%                          1 Cup
Milk chocolate (over 75% choco)        100 g
Vanilla extract                                      1tsp
Icing sugar                                           2 Tbsp


Methods

1) Chilled bowl and whisk for 15 minutes to ease beating cream.

2) Chopped chocolate into small pieces.

3) Filled water half full in a small pot, and boiled, placed a bowl on the pot, sitting right on the edge.

4) Put chocolate in bowl, stirred until smooth and melted. Set aside.

5) Using chilled bowl and whisk, beat cream until soft peak.

6) Added in vanilla and sugar, beat until stiff peak.

7) Folded in 1/4 of the cream into chocolate mixture, fold mixture from the bottom to the surface, repeated until blended in.

8) Folded back chocolate mixture in to rest of the cream using same folding technique.

9) Once mixture is well combined, serve immediately or refrigerate for later use.

Black forest fudge cake

 

Make two 4" round cake                                               Preparation time: 10 mins

                                                                                     Baking time: 30 mins

Ingredients

250g eating milk chocolate, chopped

125g butter, chopped

2/3 C icing sugar

2/3C self-rising flour

4 Eggs

Methods

1) Preheat oven to 180C, sprayed baking pan with oil, cut and placed baking paper on baking pan. (* traced the edge of the pan on baking paper with a pen, cut paper extending 5 cm above sides)

2) Boiled a pot of water, placed a glass/ ceramic bowl in the pot.

3) Put chopped chocolate and butter in bowl, using spatula to stir ingredients till melted.

 (* Be extra careful not have the chocolate mixture contact with water, and do not have glass bowl touching the bottom of the pot; the concept here is to use the heat/ stream to melt the chocolate and butter, NOT to boil them)

4) In a big bowl, put sugar, flour and beaten eggs, mixed well with electrical mixer or whisk.

5) Once mixture is well mixed, slowly poured chocolate mixture into big bowl, using electrical mixer in low speed to mix mixture for 3 minutes, (Do not over-mix, you may see some bubbles when mixing, we do not want to over-mix which would destroy the bubbles and the structure of the cake)

6)Poured mixture into pan until skewer comes out clear when inserted.

7) Melted chocolate and made whatever shapes to want to decorate your cake when it is cool!