Frugal Finds- Coffee Filters

Starting today, we're looking at having a monthly feature using items we've picked up at the local dollar store, hardware store or thrift shop. If you want to play along, feel free to show us what you created with the same items!

I picked up a package of 100 basket type filters at the dollar store one day to see what I could do with them, and I extended the challenge to Kerri and Christine. Ideas for me were slow at first, but they seem to keep coming, so don't be surprised if you see another feature on these soon! Try using ink and mists on them, folding, cutting, punching, embossing, stamping, layering and crumpling! I'm also waiting to try making pleated/ruffled style borders with them by sewing them into gathers...

 Practical Scrapper Erin

For this layout, I folded basket filters into ( 3 times) a wedge, trimmed them into the shapes you see, misted them, and once dry, stamped them using Staz On inks.

Practical Scrapper Kerri

On this crisp fall layout, Kerri misted her filters with Tattered Angels Sugar Maple Glimmer Mist, inked with Distress Ink, then embossed all 4 layers while wet using her Cuttlebug. Once dry, she applied ink again and then cut into a circle to make her flower center.

Christine's Card is Going to be published in the December 2011 Cards Magazine...look for it there!

On this adorable card, Christine folded her filters in half and then half again, and then started layering them.  She added pink pearls to help break up all the white.

Practical Scrapper Erin

Here I used a fun technique of stamping and cutting to make "diecut" looking shapes. Really fun, and really easy! ( Let me know if you're looking for a tutorial).

 Practical Scrapper Kerri

Kerri used a coffee filter here to create her butterfly. She cut the filter into a 3 inch circle using her CM cutting system, then inked it with Tim Holtz "worn lipstick " distress ink and misted with water. Once dried with her heat gun, she added bling.

 Practical Scrapper Kerri

Kerri used her Fiskars Threading Water punch around the edges of her coffee filter, then inked it with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distressing ink. She gathered the circle and created some folds until it took a shape that she liked.

 Cone filters also offer great creative opportunities! Check out the card Kerri created:

Practical Scrapper Kerri

Why stop there? here are a couple of examples of effects I got while playing with the basket filters:

Misted, folded and hand cut. I used both punches on my crop-a-dile to make the holes.

 More examples of the lace edges using a crop-a-dile. I used a mask to create the white area on the pink one.

Playing around with pigment and permanent inks with Glimmer mists. Each has it's own look.

I'll leave you with a reader layout who's theme and technique just seemed to fit with today's post.

Audrey Yeager

So if you're looking for a fun and inexpensive product to experiment with, let me suggest coffee filters! At a penny a piece, you just can't go wrong, and if you've got some left over after you're done crafting, you could always use them in your coffee machine.