Every so often, I find myself thinking about the old days when writing letters, sending postcards, and coming up with creative ways to stay connected was just part of everyday life.

I remember repurposing old Christmas cards—carefully cutting out images and sticking them onto fresh bits of plain card instead of throwing them away. We’d cut up glossy magazines, cereal boxes, even old photos, and turn them into birthday cards, postcards and gift tags too.

One of my favourite memories is making envelopes out of McDonald’s chip packets. Do you remember those? They were the perfect size—nice and sturdy, and easy to fold with a neat space for notes or letters. It’s funny how something so simple can stay with you. Even now, when I buy a large fries from McDonalds, I think of the fun letters I used to send in their packaging.

Lately, I’ve been playing around with the idea of turning photo’s into vintage-style postcards. I’ve been experimenting with cyanotype toning , trying to find a process that feels just right. I’m not quite there yet, but the version I’ve been working on recently gave me a hint of that nostalgic feeling I’ve been chasing (recipe shared below).

Coffee-Toned Cyanotype Recipe
 
Materials needed:
Exposed Cyanotype prints
Coffee (2 tablespoons in about 1 litre of water)
Bleach solution (I used washing soda — about 1 tablespoon in 1 litre of water)
Water for rinsing
Method:
Prepare and Expose your Cyanotype print as usual.
First Coffee Soak 
- Prepare a coffee solution by mixing 2 tablespoons of coffee in roughly 1 litre of water. 
- Soak the print in the solution for 5 minutes.
- After soaking, rinse the print and allow it to dry for a short time until it’s only slightly damp ( I place mine on an old teatowel and gently pat it to remove excess water).
Bleaching
- Prepare a bleach solution and dip the damp print into it until the colour shifts to a soft pinkish tone. This process happens quickly, so keep an eye on it. I usually dip and lift one or two times, rather than leave the print sitting in the solution. 
Rinse well.
Second Coffee Soak 
- Return the wet print to the coffee solution for a longer soak — about 30 minutes this time.
Final Rinse and Dry
- After the second soak, rinse the print again and allow it to dry completely.
Result
The final print should have a warm, vintage feel. In my experience, over the next couple of days, the print will look more aged and take on a darker vintage appearance as it dries completely.  

Let me know if you try this recipe, and if you have one you’re happy to share, I’d love to give it a go.

Until next time, happy experimenting, Jacqui x