Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
With only a few supplies you can create this adorable Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft! Your kids will have so much fun making this butterfly craft and it’s so quick and easy with minimal prep and cleanup.
Not only is this Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft pretty, but it’s super easy to make with household supplies. All you need is coffee filters, pipe cleaners, markers, a tray or pan and spray bottle!
Color the coffee filters, mist with water then let them dry. After they are dry twist a pipe cleaner around them to create butterfly antennas and spread the wings apart.
That’s it!
The hardest part up this easy kids craft is waiting for the coffee filters to dry. It’s perfect anytime of the year, but especially cute to make as a spring craft just like this easy Toilet Paper Roll Frog.
Every butterfly you make with the coffee filters will be as unique as each child because they will draw different designs and use different colors!
Supplies Needed
- Coffee filters – We used an 8 cup coffee filter.
- Pipe cleaners – Glittery pipe cleaners are fun for this project, but any pipe cleaner will work. We like to match the pipe cleaner to the colors we use on the coffee filter.
- Washable markers – We love these tropical colors to create a fun palette, but any marker color will work!
- Spray bottle of water – Head to the dollar store to grab inexpensive spray bottles.
- Tray – Any tray or even a pan will work for this craft.
Decorate your coffee filter!
The first step to making this craft is to arrange two coffee filters on top of each other.
Then grab your favorite color of marker and have fun coloring your coffee filter and making your design.
After you have colored the coffee filter you will want to take the spray bottle and mist the coffee filter until the color starts to blend.
You do not want to make these sopping wet because they will take longer to dry. Just get them wet enough to start to blend the colors.
After they have been misted and the colors blend separate the filters and set them aside to dry. We like to put them on paper towels so they dry faster.
Make your butterfly!
Once your coffee filters are completely dry you will want to fold them up accordion-style.
To fold them up accordion-style simply make a fold about a quarter inch big. Then flip the filter over and fold again. You will repeat this process until you reach the end of the coffee filter.
Place two filters together (the ones that were colored together) on top of each other and wrap a pipe cleaner around the center, twisting tightly to keep them together.
Then curl the tops of the pipe cleaner to make them look like butterfly antennas.
Carefully open the filters and adjust them to make them look like wings.
FAQs!
This is not necessary, but it gives these butterflies a uniform color to them. The color runs onto the second filter as you spray the coffee filters.
After spraying them down, I move them to a counter lined with paper towels. If you’re in a hurry, you can place them onto a cooling rack to help airflow. I also dry them out by blotting them with paper towels after the colors have blended.
You will make a fold about a quarter-inch thick, then flip the filter over and fold it again the same thickness. You will keep flipping it over after each fold until you reach the end.
I find it would be best to gently grab both ends of the coffee filter and gently pull them apart. Some of the creases might get crushed down, but that’s okay.
More Easy Kids Crafts!
- Make a cute butterfly our of a toilet paper roll! These cute Toilet Paper Roll Butterflies are so cute and easy!
- If you need a super easy craft idea this Rainbow Sun Craft is quick and easy to make and will brighten up the refrigerator when your kids proudly display it.
- There’s nothing more precious than a craft made with a kids handprint. That’s why we adore these easy Handprint Butterflies!
- Decorate your windows with these Heart Suncatchers! So easy to make and pretty to display.
If you take a picture of your coffee filter butterflies and share them on Instagram make sure to #kidsactivityzone or tag us @kidsactivityzoneblog so we can see them!
Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
Equipment
Instructions
- Arrange two coffee filters on top of each other.
- Color the coffee filter with your favorite colors in the design of your choice.
- Spray the coffee filters with the water until the colors start to blend. Separate the filters and allow them to dry.
- Fold your coffee filters in an accordion-style fold. Place the filters together, then wrap a pipe cleaner
around the center, twisting it tightly to keep them together. Curl the tops of the pipe cleaners to look like butterfly antennas. - Open the filters and adjust them to make them look like wings.
Notes
This is not necessary, but it gives these butterflies a uniform color to them. The color runs onto the second filter as you spray the coffee filters. Is there a way to get these to dry faster?
After spraying them down, I move them to a counter lined with paper towels. If you’re in a hurry, you can place them onto a cooling rack to help airflow. I also dry them out by blotting them with paper towels after the colors have blended. How do I do an accordion fold?
You will make a fold about a quarter-inch thick, then flip the filter over and fold it again the same thickness. You will keep flipping it over after each fold until you reach the end. How do I fluff the wings without crushing their wings?
I find it would be best to gently grab both ends of the coffee filter and gently pull them apart. Some of the creases might get crushed down, but that’s okay.
