Using a Coffee Filter For More Than Just Coffee!

There are so many card challenges out there that help us get our creative juices flowing. I made the decision that the time had come for me to try some different things. About a year ago, I participated in several Saturday Cinema Creative Challenges. I don't really know why, but I got away from doing them. It is a fun and well run challenge and it is definitely worth checking out the talented papercrafters. Each week, a new movie is highlighted and you must come up with a card inspired by that movie. There is usually a fun little twist added to the challenge too! The other day, I checked the blog and an idea for this weeks challenge popped immediately into my mind.

This weeks challenge is based on a movie called "Dear Frankie." It is a story about a boy who's Father "travels" around the world. The youngster keeps track of his fathers whereabouts by placing pins on a map every time he gets a long awaited letter. There are assorted plot twists all making for a lovely story. The card challenge was to complete a card that included a map.

YIKES!!!.....I don't have any map paper so what do I do???? Here is what I came up with... I named the card "You Are In My Heart."

I "made" the map using a coffee filter! I've used this technique before but realized that it could be used for embellishments and not just backgrounds.

Here is how I made the map:

1. Collect up your supplies....you will need re-inkers (for this case....Crystal Blue, Twilight, Desert Sand and Bamboo), water, a bowl, and embossing pen, embossing powder, a heat gun and the most important thing, an ordinary coffee filter.


2. Add a few drops of re-inker in Crystal Blue and Twilight into the bowl. Spritz with water.

3. Dip 1/2 of the coffee filter into the mixture. Make sure that you do not mix the colors. You want the swirled colors of Twilight and Crystal Blue. The coffee filter will absorb the color.

4. Wipe the bowl clean, and repeat the process for the other 1/2 of the coffee filter using the Bamboo and Desert Sand re-inker.

5, This is messy, so wear rubber gloves if you like...twist the coffee filter so that it is rumpled. This will cause wrinkles that make the filter look vintage. Make sure that you don't mix the blue and the brown colors together.

6. Unfold the filter and lay flat to dry. It should take around 15 minutes depending upon temperature and humidity in your room.


7. This is what it should look like once the filter is dry.

8. Find the "natural" coast line and using your embossing pen, draw a line. Also, you can follow crease lines to form "mountains." This is how you will apply the embossing powder here.

9. Using a heat gun, set the powder.

10. The finished filter can be cut and decorated any way you chose. In keeping with the theme of "Dear Frankie" I used my Cricut to fashion a silhouette heart that would act as a mat for the "map. Using the "Tiny Typewriter" My Acrylix stamp set, I stamped "You Are Here" right on the filter. The heart is from the "Childhood Portrait" set and was heat embossed in Cranberry and cut out.

This was a really fun card to make! Now, for more about the card....it is made on a 6 x 6 inch base and loosely follows a sketch that can be found in the "Wishes" Card Confidence book by Close To My Heart. The pattern paper is from a paper pack called "Notebook." It is an oldish set and I thought it worked perfect for the vintage look I was trying to achieve. The dark paper is Cocoa Textured Card Stock. Close To My Heart card stock has a white core. I love it. It is perfect for tearing! Hollyhock and Crystal Blue card stock was used for accents. Each element was sponged for texture and I added the Twill, Hemp and the Filigree Brads for a further nautical theme. Lastly, the "XOXO..." is from the Ms. Sweetheart set. I thought the X's would carry the theme of the vintage look card.

Don't forget to check out the Saturday Cinema Creative Challenge. It is well run and a great deal of fun! For Now, Happy Crafting!