D2 Tutrorial #5 - Boydstun

How to create an "old Paper" texture in Illustrator.

Using the rectangle tool crate a rectangle with a tan fill color

Create Gradient Mesh

with 4 rows and 4 columns

Using the direct select tool select all of the bordering points of the rectangle

Now change the fill color to a darker brown or tan

Create another rectangle with a black stroke and no fill inside of the original rectangle.

then click to Effect > Distort & Transform > Roughen 

Size: 1

relative

detail: 6

points: smooth

Now you should have an edge that looks about like this.

now with the new smaller rectangle selected go to Object > Expand Appearance

Now the shape is a stroke

With the two rectangles selected

go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make

Now you have the shape of your "old paper"

For the final step select the shape and go to Effect > Texture > Texturize

Make sure the Texture is set to Sandstone and adjust the settings till you achieve the look you want.

now you have (what is supposed to be) old paper.