Learn how to make the cutest coffee filter bats for Halloween! These are so easy, budget friendly, and FUN to make for kids of all ages.
Skills Required: None. Even if your children have never crafted before (or you haven’t), you’ll be able to do this craft. You’ll be bleeding markers (easy), painting, and gluing.
I distinctly remember the first time I saw a bat in real life. I was nine years old, and we lived in New Fairfield, Connecticut. We had just moved there from the Pacific Northwest.
The back of our house backed up to some wooded property, which to me seemed like a huge forest. There was also a brook that went through the back that I trudged through all the time in rubber boots.
And there were bats.
I’d see them flying overhead on occasion like in Indiana Jones Temple of Doom, but I couldn’t judge the size. I was just a kid.
I finally got a good look when, for whatever reason, a bat decided to attach itself to one of our window screens – and not leave for days. And no, he (she?) was not being held hostage.
The cool thing about the experience was that I got to see a bat close up for the first time, and he was so little! An itty bitty bat with a little pig nose! Nothing like the bats of my imagination, with wings like a pterodactyl and teeth like a vampire.
I almost wanted to keep him as a pet. BUT alas, he flew back to his tree – or nest – or wherever he lived. It was a pretty cool experience.
And this year, I decided to make some coffee filter bats in remembrance of my little buddy. Not only for that reason, but also because they are a really cute Halloween kids’ craft. And super fun to make!
It doesn’t take much to make these bats. I had some coffee filters left over from the wreath I made; actually quite a few of them. Then I also had clothespins left over from some clothespin crafts. You’re starting to see how this project came together.
The coffee filters and clothespins were from the dollar store, which makes this a really inexpensive project that you can make with kids – even a group of kids like in a classroom – for a very, very low price. Gotta love that!
I tried these coffee filter bats with my nieces, and given their ages (2 and 4) I think this is a really fun Halloween craft for toddlers. The littles get to dye the coffee filters with markers, and they just love watching the colors spread!
If you’re ready to give this cute holiday craft idea a try, you can get the tutorial below. Here’s what you need to make them.
Gather These Supplies
- Coffee filters – 1 per bat
- Clothespins – 1 per bat
- Washable markers – Halloween-ish colors (black, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green for fun)
- Craft paint – black
- Craft glue
- Googly eyes
- Craft foam or felt – black
- Pom poms – 4 small black, 1 mini purple (per bat)
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Small spray bottle of water
- Hair dryer (optional)
Tips and Thoughts for This Project:
- If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can drop water (single drops) on various areas of the filter, or use a toothbrush to fling water onto the filter. It might be a bit messier but it gets the job done.
- Don’t add too much water when you spray the filter. You want to barely saturate the filter, otherwise all the water will drip off the filter and take the color with it.
- You can let the coffee filter dry naturally. It might take a few hours. Other options are to use a hairdryer, or place in the oven for a few minutes at the lowest heat. If you use the oven, use a baking sheet and watch the whole time so nothing catches fire.
- It’s easier to paint clothespins if they are attached to something else like a piece of cardboard or even the end of another paintbrush. Give it a try!
- Felt, foam, construction paper, or cardstock can be used for the body parts. I love working with craft foam, but if you don’t have any, there are lots of other options.
- Wouldn’t these make cute Halloween place cards? Or closures for trick or treat or party favor bags? You could also turn them into magnets!
These cuties can stand up by themselves! My nieces squealed when I showed them. If you’re ready to get crafty for the holiday, check out the how to card below.
PS – we also made some coffee filter turkeys for Thanksgiving and coffee filter snowflakes – so you need to check those out too.
Coffee Filter Bats
Equipment
- Hair dryer optional
Materials
- 2 Coffee filters
- 2 Clothespins
- Washable markers black, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green for fun
- Acrylic paint black
- Craft glue
- Googly eye(s)
- Craft foam or felt black
- 5 Pom poms 4 small black, 1 mini purple per bat
- Small spray bottle of water
- Wax paper optional
Instructions
- You're going to start with cutting the wings, so you'll need a coffee filter and pair of scissors.
- Fold the coffee filter in half, then fold in half again.
- Use the scissors to scallop the outside edge of the folded coffee filter. You don't want to cut on any folds. You'll cut scallops into the edge, starting at the bottom.
- Unfold the wings on your work surface.
- Choose 4-5 colors that you would like to use for your bat wings. Picking a variety of colors that are different shades (light and dark) makes for the best results. Start with a black or similar dark shade of marker. Draw lines on the coffee filter. Then fill in areas with various colors.
- Place the coffee filter down on a washable work surface. You can use a craft mat, silicone mat, or wax paper. Mist the paper with 4 – 5 sprays of water and you will start to see the markers bleed. This is what you want.
- If the markers didn’t bleed enough, add additional sprays of water. Don’t add too much water. You want to barely saturate the filter, otherwise all the water will drip off the filter and take the color with it.
- Leave the coffee filter on your work surface to dry. Additionally, you can take a hairdryer and dry the filter, or place in the oven for a few minutes at the lowest heat (watching the entire time).
- Place the coffee filter to the side for the moment and paint a clothespin with black acrylic paint. Paint the entire clothespin with a few coats for coverage and let dry.
- Cut small bat ears out of black foam (you can also use felt). Glue the googly eyes, foam ears, and pom poms to the front of the clothespin. Let dry.
- Clip the coffee filter into the clothespin, pinching in the middle and creating the bat wings. Adjust as necessary and your coffee filter bat is complete. Make another one if desired.
If you enjoyed this cute bat craft, you’re going to love these other fun Halloween ideas: