Introduction: Beantribute

About: I'm an aspiring entrepreneur, currently working on renewable and environmentally friendly building materials project. A designer at heart, just unleashing my creativity on Instructables for the time being.

Hi Guys

This instructable features a form of illustrative art using the world's most popular bean. I will walk you through the creation of what I call "Beantribute'', meant to be a tribute to this magical bean, adding flavor to our world and keeps us going through the day.

Supplies

  • Double-sided (Sticky) paper (Print on the backside (The side you would remove and discard.)
  • Stencil knife/Razor blade
  • Pin
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Blender
  • Hard work surface
  • Fine point tweezers
  • Coffee beans
  • Strainer
  • Picture Frame
  • Clean Plate

Now let's get started!

Step 1: Preparing Coffee Beans

For this project, I used both roasted and unroasted coffee beans. Mainly for the diversity of color. When doing your design, you can use as many layer colors as you need. I blended both sets of beans down to a fine powder. (Note: If you are using unroasted beans, you may want to shell them before blending which will allow you to skip the sieving step later on.) Once blended to a fine powder you may need to sieve both sets, particularly the unroasted beans. Once sieving you are ready for the next step, let's go!

Step 2: Outlining Image

For this step, you will use the ruler and razor blade/stencil knife to cut on the straight lines. You can use to knife to cut on the outline of the entire image if you choose. You will draw slowly to ensure you are cutting on the outline of the image. Lightly apply pressure for 3-5 passes of that section. Applying too much pressure will cause you to cut through the opposite side of the sticky paper. Use the pinpoint to poke tiny holes along curved lines, making 2-3 passes. Once you are feeling confident in your outline, we are ready to move on to the next step.

Step 3: Removing Top Layer

To remove the top payer of paper from outlined images, you will use the pin-point to gently lift along the areas that you have cut along. Once you have a millimeter or two of lift, you can use the tweezer to hold the area that has been lifted and work your wat around the outline, lifting slowly and carefully. If there are any areas you find that arent lifting off freely, use your blade to cut along the outline where you previously made the cuts on the outline while slowly lifting with the tweezer. Once the top layer has been completely remover, check along the outline to ensure any lifted edges and pressed back down onto the adhesive side of the paper. Now let's get to the fun part in the next step.

Step 4: Adding Color

Now its time to fill in the colors. Take the color you would like to fill into the shape you've just cut out. Gently sprinkle the powder onto the adhesive area. Once fully covered, shake off excess onto a clean plate.

Step 5: Rinse and Repeat

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for any other shapes you have that need to be outlined and colored. Work outward from the center to avoid rubbing your hands or tools against the areas you have already done. We are halfway there, let's move on to the next step.

Step 6: The Fun Part

I cut uneven lines into the table below the coffee mug to fill in the wood grain. This is more of steps 2,3 and 4. Cutting along the sines, lifting with the tweezer and cutting along the outline for any areas that are stubborn. Adding color as I go along. Note that you can mix two different powders to get a lighter or darker shade of each.

Step 7: Removing Excess Top Layer

Once you have outlined, removed and colored all the images in your illustration, its time to remove any excess top layer in your project. Pulling from either of the 4 ends with your tweezer, gently pull up on excess and cut away as you go along to keep the size small as to not make it more difficult to deal with and avoid dropping powder on areas you have already worked on. Now it's almost time to celebrate, let's move to the next step.

Step 8: You Did Well

Now, you're basically done. You can add your piece of art to a frame, hanging proudly for everyone to admire your masterpiece. You did well, go enjoy a hot cup of coffee, you know you want to.

Have a great day, guys

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