CK Summer Camp 2011: Sunrise Hike

Hello CK summer campers!

Cindy Tobey here, to guide you on your sunrise hike. Are you ready? Okay, let’s go! Hike to your kitchen, retrieve some coffee filters and hike from there to your creative space. Not a coffee drinker? No worries. Call on your neighbor for a few coffee filters, or better yet, pick some up at the grocery store. They’re quite inexpensive and after today’s craft you’re sure to be brimming with ideas for crafting with them! Today I’m going to walk you through two fun and easy techniques using coffee filters. We’re going to create ruffles and a flower just like the ones on my layout below.

Loves to Splash by Cindy Tobey. Supplies: Cardstock, badge, and chipboard: American Crafts; Patterned paper: Colorbok and October Afternoon; Tags: October Afternoon; Stickers: American Crafts and October Afternoon; Die cuts: Fancy Pants Designs; Twine: Martha Stewart Crafts; Rhinestones: Doodlebug Design; Spray ink: Studio Calico and Tattered Angels; Font: Times New Roman; Adhesive: American Crafts and Glue Dots International; Other: Coffee filters.

First up, ruffles!

Because of their pleated edges, coffee filters are a cinch to turn into ruffles!

1. If you haven’t already hiked to your kitchen to get coffee filters, do that now.
2. Fold a coffee filter in half.
3. Cut the bottom out of the coffee filter so you are left with just the pleated sides.
4. Cut through side of coffee filter as shown and spray with ink (I used spray ink), brush with paint, or color with markers. Let dry. (Repeat steps 2 – 4 to get desired number of ruffles.)
5. Lightly trace lines onto your layout the length that you want your ruffle. (The ruffles on my layout are 6 inches long.) Apply adhesive to page along traced line. (I used a tape runner.) Adhere center of coffee filter strip to center of traced line. Adhere ends of the filter to the ends of your line.
6. Use both hands to scrunch filter together and press down onto adhesive. Repeat with other half of filter strip. This method produces more even pleating and ensures you use the full length of your filter. Continue in this manner until you have as many ruffles as you’d like.

Next up, the flower!

1. Spray two coffee filters with different colors.
2. Fold filter in half three times. Freehand cut a scalloped edge with micro-tip scissors.
3. Unfold filter and pinch in the center from the bottom.
4. Scrunch filter and twist into short stem as shown.
5. Fold stem over and adhere to bottom of flower. (I used liquid adhesive.)
6. Fold second filter in half three times. Freehand cut a wavy edge.
7. Cut straight lines from top edge inward to create long fringe.
8. Repeat steps 3 – 5. Glue fringed bloom to scalloped bloom.

That’s it! Your ruffles and flower are complete. Here are a few more ideas for you to try.

Ruffles:

• Cut edge of strip with decorative scissors before adding to your page.
• Cut filter strips in half lengthwise to make narrower ruffles.
• Cut filter strips to create fringe border.
• Add ruffles to your page along a curved line or in the shape of a circle.
• Create a ruffled frame for your main photo.

Flowers:

• Layer several filters for a loftier bloom.
• Create dark edged petals by running a marker in a darker color along the edge of your filters.
• Blend several colors on a filter for a multicolored flower.
• Add blooms to wire with tape to create a bouquet of lovely flowers.

And if you’d like some layout sketches perfect for adding these flowers to, download these free CK Summer Camp 2011 sketches. Use them to help you take the coffee filter challenge on Club CK. 

Cindy Tobey, contributing writer

P.S. Don’t forget Free Font Friday today! Download CK Grapevine!