Use tea or coffee staining on the pages
Lightly crumple and flatten the paper
Rub the edges with sandpaper
Burnish or darken the corners with a dry sponge
Tear a few page edges slightly
Add uneven ink marks and blotches
Write with faded or sepia-toned ink
Distress the cover with gentle scuffs and scratches
Add water stains or ring marks sparingly
Fold some pages and leave them creased
Use an aged-looking font or handwriting style
Bind the journal with worn-looking thread or twine
Store it in a dry, dark place for a weathered look
Apply a thin wash of diluted brown paint to the cover
Smudge the pages lightly with charcoal or graphite