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Craft Tutorials | Holiday Crafts | Christmas Crafts | Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

Author by on Updated on

5 from 4 votes
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You ever have those days where an idea just pops into your head? Jut out of nowhere? That’s what happened with this Christmas tree craft! I was actually thinking about making some coffee filter angels with these natural coffee filters. That got me thinking about how you use the filter as a dress, and the ruffled look got me thinking about trees, and bam! There was the idea. Love that. :)

I have an entire box of these brown coffee filters, better known as natural coffee filters. I bought them when the store was out of Bunn filters. Regular filters just don’t cut it for a Bunn though, they just aren’t tall enough. I knew I could use them up sometime, so into the craft supplies they went.

I love the vintage look the natural coffee filters give to this tree. You could use old vintage buttons, but I chose red to add a bit of color. I had a couple of white flowers left over from another project, and used white round topped stick pins to use as ornaments as well. For the base, I used a round slice of wood I had left over from the rustic north woods ornaments I made last year.

Want to make one of these trees? You could even use white filters for a pretty white tree, or paint the filters with green water color paints for a green tree. If you paint the filters, they may lose some of their ruffle, so be prepared for that.

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree
designed by Amanda Formaro

You will need

foam cone
regular stick pins
9-10 natural coffee filters
white round topped stick pins
red buttons
2 white flowers glued back to back
scissors
hot glue gun
something flat for the base (optional but adds a little weight)

What you do 

First, fold a few coffee filters in half and cut the center circle out.

Open a filter and place it over the top of the foam cone, like a ring, and bring it all the way down to the base of the cone. Use the stick pins to tack the filter to the cone, pushing the pins in at the top of the filter, not down by the ruffles.

Repeat this step, working your way up the cone.

When you get about half way up the cone you will need to trim a little off the filter ring. Since the cone will naturally get smaller toward the top, you will need less and less filter as you work upward. Just trim off what you don’t need, but set those pieces aside and use them at the top of the tree.

Use one of the center circles that you cut out of the filters to cover the top of the cone, securing with stick pins.

To decorate the tree, push round topped pins into the tree in various places, but don’t push the pin all the way in. This will allow the ruffles to look more natural. If you push the pin in all the way it will flatten the ruffles against the cone. So push the pin in halfway or three quarters of the way, then gently pull the filter toward you to hide the pin section.

Use hot glue to add buttons. I glued the two flowers together, back to back, so that either side of the tree had a flower face. Glue that to the top of the tree. Then just glue it to your base (I used a round slice of wood).

:)

Print Project
5 from 4 votes

Coffee Filter Christmas Tree

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

  • foam cone
  • regular stick pins
  • 9-10 natural coffee filters
  • white round topped stick pins
  • red buttons
  • 2 white flowers glued back to back
  • scissors
  • hot glue gun
  • something flat for the base optional but adds a little weight

Instructions

  • First, fold a few coffee filters in half and cut the center circle out.
  • Open a filter and place it over the top of the foam cone, like a ring, and bring it all the way down to the base of the cone. Use the stick pins to tack the filter to the cone, pushing the pins in at the top of the filter, not down by the ruffles.
  • Repeat this step, working your way up the cone.
  • When you get about half way up the cone you will need to trim a little off the filter ring. Since the cone will naturally get smaller toward the top, you will need less and less filter as you work upward. Just trim off what you don't need, but set those pieces aside and use them at the top of the tree.
  • Use one of the center circles that you cut out of the filters to cover the top of the cone, securing with stick pins.
  • To decorate the tree, push round topped pins into the tree in various places, but don't push the pin all the way in. This will allow the ruffles to look more natural. If you push the pin in all the way it will flatten the ruffles against the cone. So push the pin in halfway or three quarters of the way, then gently pull the filter toward you to hide the pin section.
  • Use hot glue to add buttons. I glued the two flowers together, back to back, so that either side of the tree had a flower face. Glue that to the top of the tree. Then just glue it to your base (I used a round slice of wood).

 

Visit thecsiproject.com

 

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Comments

  1. Sheryl says

    Dang it! I used about 30 white filters for a project a few weeks ago. Using only the centers, I was left with the nicest ruffles. For the life of me, I couldn’t imagine what to do with them so, in a moment of weakness, I tossed them in the trash. Yeah… I don’t know what I was thinking since crafters seldom throw ANYTHING away. Lesson learned! These are so cute I may just have a go at them anyway.

    Reply

  2. Kristy says

    I use the brown filters all the time. I then dump the grounds out and rinse them off and allow them to dry. Then I can use them for crafts.

    Reply

  5. Barbara Johnson says

    I love this idea and would love to print out instructions. Is there a print option I did not see? I have a lot of spools that are cone shaped that yarn came on. I may try to use one of them May be hard to stick pins thru.

    Reply

  7. Coleen Tepper says

    These are absolutely adorable. They don’t look like filters, they look more like a fabric, love the ruffly look, too cute. I’m definitely making these. Keep up the good work, always looking for a new craft to do.

    Reply

  8. Jean Breedlove says

    These are simply adorable! I was searching for a project that some of our Senior Adults might be able to handle, and this is it! I can hardly wait to begin the project. So many possibilities with this one.

    Reply

  9. Lorraine says

    I love that tree you created using coffee filters. How clever and so very pretty. I might get up the nerve to try this. Thanks so much for sharing! ~ lorraine ~

    Reply

  10. LeAnn says

    I love, love, love this idea. I am thinking about using the different colored pearl push pins for a little more color.

    Now tell me how to use the other type of coffee filters – the cone shaped ones. I bought some but they didnt’t fit. I know there has to be a way to “recycle” them

    Reply

    • Amanda Formaro says

      Oh there have to be tons of ways to use those! For Christmas my first thought is with kids, glue an open cone filter on top of a toilet tube. Then use water color paints to add color and make Christmas trees!

      Reply

  13. Amanda says

    dnicolle – I just love how the white one looks, so classy! And the darker one for your sister is gorgeous too! Thanks so much for the shout out, so glad you liked the project. Merry Christmas! :)

    Renee thank you so much, and thanks everyone!!

    Reply

  15. Renee @ where the grass is greener says

    So funny, I saw this on another blog and wanted to click, but forgot and I looked and looked and then it appeared on Transformation Thursday! So, happy because I definitely want to do this … lots of unused brown filters.

    Reply

  17. maggy, red ted art says

    Oh wow, very festive and pretty. To think you made those out of coffee filters!!

    Thank you for linking up to Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

    Reply

  18. Throw Open the Windows says

    So cute!! Thanks for sharing your inspiration and a tutorial. Visiting from The CSI Project. Rebecca

    Reply

  22. Shauna {SK Studios} says

    saw you on The CSI Project… oh my goodness, i HAVE to try this now!!! such a creative idea- i love it!!! the stick pins and buttons just make the whole tree too :) thanks for the inspiration :D

    Reply

  26. Michelle @Shellsshabbyshack says

    I love the ruffled look! Such a cute twist on the coffee filter tree! I made one, too, but I'm going to give this a try. Love it! I'm addicted to making wreaths and trees w/ coffee filters.

    Happy Holidays!
    Michelle

    Reply

  30. Stephanie says

    What a fun and cute idea! And half the work is already done for you with the coffee filters being ruffled. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tutorial.

    Reply

  38. Alison says

    GENIUS!! I love the natural ruffled look. I've seen so many styrofoam trees out there, but this has got to be one of my fav's!

    Reply

  40. Beverly @ FlamingoToes.com says

    Amanda this is so cute!! I love it – and the pins and little buttuns look just adorable. :)

    Reply

  42. Melissa says

    Oh, these are cute…I know my girls would enjoy making these (along with the twenty-million other things on my list).

    I really like the natural look of them.

    Reply

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