Coffee-inspired Crafts

Are you a coffee lover? If you are or know someone who is, here is a round-up of coffee-inspired crafts that may just be as exciting as a jolt of caffeine: 

1. Sketchbook Pages 

I have a regular sketchbook practice. My intention is that if I use it often, I can improve my drawing and painting. 

I use the blank pages of my sketchbook just to play.  

I get my inspiration from everyday objects like these to-go cups from different coffee shops I visit.

I try to capture the to-go cups as best as I could using watercolor and colored pencils...TADA!

2. Reusing Cardboard Coffee Sleeves

Those cardboard sleeves that come with coffee to-go cups...make sure to save them! They are a blank canvas that's fun to decorate:

Here, I used collage and die-cuts to dress up the cardboard sleeve. I used it to "wrap" a gift (reusable coffee cup)...TADA! 

This cardboard coffee sleeve is given a new look with brush lettering. I used it to "wrap" a beer (a thoughtful gift for Dad)...TADA!

3. Coffee-stained Papers 

These are various kinds of paper like kraft paper, copy paper, and pages from an old book that I stained with coffee (I took the wet coffee grounds from the coffee maker and let it sit on the paper for a few hours). The coffee ages the paper with a warm sepia tone and I especially like how the degree of staining varies from dark to light.

I experimented with other papers like notebook paper, graph paper, construction paper, and security envelopes. The patina from the coffee gives them a lot of character.

I trimmed my coffee-stained paper into uniform squares and added more elements like rubber stamps, coffee shop stickers and labels, confetti and hand-stitching...TADA! 

I like to use the coffee-stained papers for scrapbooking, making greeting cards, and junk journals...TADA! 

4. Coffee-stained Fabric 

If you have a stash of fabric remnants, why not give them a new look by staining them with coffee? 

The fabric on the left is the original color (white) and the one on the right was soaked in coffee (liquid) for a few hours. I rinsed the latter with some detergent and warm water then let it dry. 

I took a coffee-themed stamp (this is a bag of coffee beans) and an ink pad and pressed on some repeating patterns on the coffee-stained fabric. I can use it to sew small pouches...TADA!

5. Coffee grounds

Most households have spent coffee grounds. Another crafting idea is to use it to make a coffee scrub or coffee soap. It's also a good idea to compost your coffee.

I hope you liked these coffee-inspired crafts and may they inspire you to turn blah to TADA!

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