Life as a Pepin: January 2012

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Coffee Filter Backdrop

The bride (my now SISTER in law!!!!!) wanted a fun backdrop for behind the cake table and we chose this pin as inspiration:

{seen here & the Pinterest Board Mark & Sandy}

Because knowing that fabric can sometimes be expensive, I chose to do something a little different.....I dyed coffee filters and hung them from a tree branch "frame" :) It was funky, neon, and one of my favorite projects!

If you're interested in how I made this, I've included a quick tutorial:

Supplies:

*Dyed Coffee Filters (6 packs)

Fishing line

Plastic Straws (3 boxes)

Scissors

Needle
Metal Washers (15)
Large Crimp Beads (1 pack)
Pliers
*Backdrop Frame

*I had previously dyed the coffee filters with regular & neon food coloring. It's not too hard to do- I mixed up different color combinations according to the back of the box :) Then, I broke up the coffee filters into large sections, folded them into quarters, dyed them together at one time, and then separated them filter by filter to dry (underneath wax paper and paper towels).
*My husband made the backdrop frame using 3 tree branches.
*The only things I bought were the coffee filters & crimp beads :) This project was under $8

My mama-in-law and friend Allison slaving away :)

Can you see the tree branch frame?

Instructions:

1. You will need to cut your fishing line at least a foot longer than your backdrop stand's height. My stand was 6 ft tall, so I cut each of my lines 7ft in length.

2. Cut your straws into 5-6 pieces each and place in a bowl. I liked using straws that were the same color as my filters :)

3. Tie a washer to one end of the fishing line. This will act as a weight to keep the strings in place.

4. Using your needle, poke a hole in the center of each filter. I used a large thick needle and did a stack of 10-20 filters at a time.

5. Alternate back and forth with a straw piece and coffee filter, stringing them along your fishing line. I did each line with the same color.

6. Once all your lines are complete and you've used up all your filters, have a friend help you hang them!! Standing on a chair (if you're short like me), loop the string around the branch, pull the line until it's hanging where you want it, then have your friend hold the two strands together. Using your crimp bead, make sure the two strands are inside the indention and squeeze together with your pliers. I did two beads on each line just to be secure.

7. Repeat step 6 until you're done! Then, crinkle all the coffee filters from top to bottom (so you can't see the straws) like they're a flower. Please ignore the one I didn't finish-OOPS!

8. Stand back & enjoy your handiwork! This project would be a lot of fun for a birthday party!

{Here are some photos of the Coffee Filter Backdrop at the wedding reception}