Coffee Filter Flowers are a fun patriotic kid’s craft and a great addition to your 4th of July picnic table centerpiece! So easy to make with materials you probably have lying around the house!
Why these are so fun to make
First of all, kids love making crafts that are simple. It creates a sense of accomplishment in a short period of time. These coffee filter flowers are not just for fun though! They’re useful as a holiday centerpiece and great for your picnic table.
You can mix and match the watercolor flowers to fit the theme of different parties or your everyday home decor. See a different color scheme idea in our coffee filter butterfly post for inspiration!
Supplies you will need
You can find the full printable instructions and supply list at the end of this post.
Crafting Tips
- Watercolor paint makes these super easy, but you could substitute food coloring if that’s what you have on hand.
- You can use any color pipe cleaners. We suggest patriotic colors like red, white, blue, silver, or gold.
- Have younger kids wear smocks or an oversized t-shirt, just in case!
How to make Coffee Filter Flowers
- Place one of the coffee filters onto the paper plate and flatten it out.
- Paint the coffee filter with watercolor paint. Paint some solid red, some solid blue, and others a combination of blue and red, leaving some areas unpainted.
- Move the coffee filter to the towel and lay flat to dry. Repeat with the second coffee filter.
- Leaving the center of the filter intact, cut the coffee filter in strips, working your way around the circle.
- Cut a 1.5″ piece off of one end of a pipe cleaner and set aside.
- Take the longer piece of the pipe cleaner and poke it through the center of the coffee filter. There should be about 2″ of pipe cleaner poked through.
- Turn the entire thing upside down and grasp the filter with your fingers.
- Gather it around the pipe cleaner and secure it by wrapping the extra piece of stem that you cut off in an earlier step. Twist it around the part you are holding and turn the flower back upright.
- Manipulate with your finger until strips are spread out and it looks the way you want it to.
This fun 4th of July craft is great for all age levels from kids to adults alike! Place them in jars to use as centerpieces or tie them to strings and hang them from trees, on the ceiling, or over a food table for parties.
More fun patriotic crafts
- Patriotic Parade Stick
- Recycled Utensil Holder
- Cardboard Tube Eagle
- Magazine Mosaic Flag
- Patriotic Slime
- Patriotic Pinwheels
Coffee Filter Flowers
Supplies
- basket coffee filters
- pipe cleaners red, white, blue, gold and/or silver
- red and blue watercolor paint
- paintbrush
- scissors
- 2 pieces of paper towel or a kitchen towel
Instructions
- Place one of the coffee filters onto the paper plate and flatten out.
- Paint the coffee filter with watercolor paint. Paint some solid red, some solid blue, and others a combination of blue and red, leaving some areas unpainted.
- Move the coffee filter to the towel and lay flat to dry. Repeat with the second coffee filter.
- Leaving the center of the filter intact, cut the coffee filter in strips, working you way around the circle.
- Cut a 1.5″ piece off of one end of a chenille stem and set aside.
- Take the longer piece of chenille and poke it through the center of the coffee filter. There should be about 2″ of chenille poked through.
- Turn the entire thing upside down and grasp the filter with your fingers.
- Gather it around the chenille and secure it by wrapping the extra piece of chenille stem that you cut off in an earlier step. Twist it around the part you are holding and turn the flower back upright.
- Manipulate with your finger until strips are spread out and it looks the way you want it to.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Watercolor paint makes these super easy, but you could substitute food coloring if that’s what you have on hand.
- You can use any color pipe cleaners. We suggest patriotic colors like red, white, blue, silver, or gold.
- Have younger kids wear smocks or an oversized t-shirt, just in case!
This post originally appeared here on Jun 27, 2010.
- Mason Jar Aquarium - May 23, 2025
- Make Bracelets from Recycled T-shirts - May 20, 2025
- Spring Scavenger Hunt - May 9, 2025
Joan Toplicar says
We did these today and used them as a centerpiece for the kitchen island. We includes grandma, grandpa, and three grandchildren who are 8, 6, and almost 4. It’s been a long slog since March, and we appreciate good ideas. Thank you n
Amanda Formaro says
Awesome, sounds like a fun family time!
Debby says
#BestIdeaEver
Going to present these to the craft group to make for the seniors on 4th of July. Thinking of putting them on pencils so they will be a practical gift.
Amanda Formaro says
Love the pencil idea!
Brenda B says
I send your posts to my friends at an Adult day Care Center for Seniors..Thsnk you for your posts!!!!
Amanda Formaro says
That’s great Brenda, thank you so much!
Amy says
Hi! I just featured these on my blog! You can check it out at http://sittingatourkitchentable.blogspot.com/2011/06/me-likey-monday.html
Have a great week!
Amy
Jerri says
Really cute! And a great centerpiece idea!
Thanks for linking up with me for Friday Favorites!
Threeundertwo says
Great idea! I love these. Thanks for linking up to Finished for Friday.
Fawnda says
SUPER CUTE! I love it!
I featured your here:
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/2010/07/last-minute-4th-of-july-projects-from.html
Room to Inspire says
What a fabulous project – these are great for the 4th! Thanks so much for sharing.
Chelsea
Amanda says
Thanks for your great comments everyone!
sportzmom says
very cute!
Colleen @ MuralMaker&More says
Too cute! Talk about 'bank for your buck'!
would love for you to stop by Thursday and link them up to Fab Finds for the 4th!
Rory from Tools Are For Women Too! says
What a great way to keep kids busy this summer and prepare for 4th festivities! Thanks for showing it to us on Modern Craftswoman Monday! Rory
SewSara says
these are so cute … thanks for sharing! :)
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Now this is a gorgeous bouquets! You are amazingly talented!
Thrifty Chic says
These are adorable I love them!
Staci J says
How cute and fun are these! I would love to try this with my kids… Visiting from making the world cuter.
justsewsassy.com
Maria@BubblegumandDuctTape says
these are a great idea for center pieces and inexpensive too, I like that.