Tired of those overflowing coffee filter boxes taking up precious space? Let’s turn those paper circles into something beautiful! We’ll show you how to make coffee filter crafts that are easy, fun, and perfect for all ages, turning those mundane filters into stunning decorations and creative masterpieces.
15+ Easy & Creative Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids
Coffee filter crafts are a fun and easy way to get creative with your kids. They are a great way to use up those old coffee filters and provide hours of fun for kids of all ages. Plus, they’re super affordable and use simple materials you likely already have at home.
Before You Begin
Before you start making coffee filter crafts, gather your supplies. You’ll need:
- Coffee filters (various sizes and colors)
- Watercolors, food coloring, or markers
- Water
- Spray bottle
- A bowl
- Optional: pipe cleaners, glitter, glue, yarn, buttons, or other embellishments
Let’s get crafting!
1. Coffee Filter Flowers
These are a classic coffee filter craft that’s super easy for even the littlest hands. You can make them in all sorts of colors and patterns, and the kids can have fun decorating them with glitter, sequins, or other embellishments.
How to make coffee filter flowers:
- Coloring: Dip your coffee filters into watercolors or food coloring, or color them with markers.
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter into a cone shape.
- Fluffing: Carefully open up the folds to create a flower shape.
- Adding stems: Attach a pipe cleaner or a stick as a stem.
2. Coffee Filter Butterflies
These colorful and whimsical butterflies are a great way to learn about symmetry. Kids can create their own patterns and designs, and they’re sure to be a hit in any garden or on a bulletin board.
How to make coffee filter butterflies:
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Cutting: Carefully cut out wing shapes from the open edge of the triangle.
- Opening: Open up the folded filter to reveal the butterfly wings.
- Embellishments: Add details like antennae, eyes, and patterns with markers or paint.
3. Coffee Filter Suncatchers
These are a beautiful and easy way to add some color to your windows. They’re also a great way to teach kids about light and refraction.
How to make coffee filter suncatchers:
- Coloring: Dip the coffee filters in watercolors or food coloring, or use markers to create a colorful design.
- Drying: Let the filters dry completely.
- Layering: Layer several colored filters on top of each other.
- Gluing: Glue the layers together around the edges, leaving a small opening.
- Hanging: Thread yarn or ribbon through the opening and hang the suncatcher in a sunny window.
4. Coffee Filter Garland
This is a fun and festive decoration that can be used for any occasion. You can make it with different colored coffee filters to create a variety of looks.
How to make a coffee filter garland:
- Coloring: Color the coffee filters with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Folding: Fold each filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Gluing: Glue the folded filters together, overlapping the edges.
- Stringing: Once dry, string the garland on a piece of yarn or ribbon.
5. Coffee Filter Mobiles
These are a fun and whimsical way to add some movement and color to your home. Kids can create their own unique designs and use a variety of materials to embellish them.
How to make a coffee filter mobile:
- Creating shapes: Shape the coffee filters into different shapes, like circles, squares, or stars.
- Coloring: Color the shapes with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Hanging: Use yarn or string to hang the shapes from a hanger or a piece of dowel.
6. Coffee Filter Painting
This is a fun and easy way for kids to experiment with color and create unique designs. They can learn about color mixing and blending while creating beautiful and abstract art.
How to make coffee filter painting:
- Coloring: Dip the coffee filter in watercolors or food coloring.
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Unfolding: Unfold the filter and let the colors bleed into each other.
- Adding details: Add details with markers or paint.
7. Coffee Filter Animals
This is a fun way to make cute animal friends, from playful puppies to majestic lions. Kids can use their imagination to create any animal they can dream up.
How to make coffee filter animals:
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Cutting: Cut out different shapes from the open edge of the triangle to form the animal’s body and limbs.
- Opening: Unfold the folded filter.
- Adding details: Add details like eyes, nose, ears, and fur with markers or paint.
8. Coffee Filter Masks
These are a fun and creative way to dress up for a party or play pretend. Kids can choose their favorite animal or character and create their own unique mask.
How to make coffee filter masks:
- Folding: Fold a large coffee filter in half.
- Decorating: Decorate the filter with markers, paint, or cut-out shapes.
- Cutting: Cut out eye holes in the center of the filter.
- Attaching: Attach a string or ribbon to the sides of the mask for tying on.
9. Coffee Filter Lanterns
These are a beautiful and whimsical way to light up your home. Kids can create lanterns in different shapes and sizes, and decorate them with lights, glitter, or other embellishments.
How to make coffee filter lanterns:
- Coloring: Color the coffee filters with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Folding: Fold the coffee filters in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Gluing: Glue the folded filters together, overlapping the edges.
- Adding a light: Attach a battery-operated tea light or a string of LED lights to the inside of the lantern.
10. Coffee Filter Coasters
These are a stylish and practical way to protect your furniture from spills. Kids can create coasters in a variety of patterns and colors.
How to make coffee filter coasters:
- Coloring: Color the filters with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Stacking: Stack several colored filters on top of each other.
- Gluing: Glue the layers together around the edges.
- Drying: Let the coasters dry completely before using them.
11. Coffee Filter Ornaments
These are a festive and decorative way to add some color and whimsy to your holiday tree. Kids can create a variety of ornaments in different shapes, such as stars, snowflakes, or even their favorite animals.
How to make coffee filter ornaments:
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Cutting: Cut out different shapes from the open edge of the triangle to form the ornament.
- Opening: Unfold the folded filter.
- Adding details: Add details like glitter, beads, or ribbon with glue.
- Hanging: Attach a string or ribbon for hanging.
12. Coffee Filter Bookmarks
These are a fun and functional way to keep track of your place in a book. Kids can create bookmarks in all sorts of colors and designs, and they can even add their own personal touches with glitter, markers, or stickers.
How to make coffee filter bookmarks:
- Coloring: Color the coffee filter with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half.
- Adding details: Add details like glitter, beads, or stickers.
- Lamination: Laminate the bookmark for durability.
13. Coffee Filter Puppets
These are a fun and engaging way for kids to use their imagination and create their own characters. They can use their puppets for storytelling, role-playing, or acting out their favorite scenes from books or movies.
How to make coffee filter puppets:
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half.
- Cutting: Cut out the shape of the puppet’s head.
- Decorating: Decorate the puppet with markers, paint, or cut-out shapes.
- Attaching: Attach a stick or a pipe cleaner to the back of the puppet for holding.
14. Coffee Filter Wall Art
This is a fun and easy way to add some personality to your walls. Kids can create unique and beautiful art pieces by combining different colors, textures, and shapes.
How to make coffee filter wall art:
- Coloring: Color the coffee filter with markers, paints, or food coloring.
- Folding: Fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Unfolding: Unfold the filter and let the colors bleed into each other.
- Gluing: Glue the filters together around the edges, leaving a small opening.
- Hanging: Hang the artwork on your wall using yarn or ribbon.
15. Coffee Filter Snowflakes
These are a fun and festive way to decorate your home for the holidays. Kids can create snowflakes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they can even add their own personal touches with glitter or other embellishments.
How to make coffee filter snowflakes:
- Folding: Fold a coffee filter in half, then in half again to create a triangle.
- Cutting: Cut different shapes from the edges of the triangle to form snowflake patterns.
- Opening: Unfold the folded coffee filter carefully.
The Bridge
Coffee filter crafts are a great way to unleash your child’s creativity and make beautiful, unique items. The possibilities are endless, and you can adapt these ideas to fit any occasion or theme. So, the next time you’re looking for a fun and easy craft project for your kids, grab some coffee filters and get creative!
After Crafting
As you wind down from your crafting session, be sure to encourage your children to share their creations and tell you about their process. This helps them build confidence and appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of their work.
Remember, coffee filter crafts are not only about the finished product, but also about the journey of making them. So enjoy the process and let your kids’ imaginations run wild!
