Learn how to make the cutest coffee filter snowflakes for Christmas and winter! 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), folding, and cutting.
I think it’s probably somewhere around first grade when kids are taught that snowflakes aren’t just small lumps of snow flitting through the sky down to the ground.
It was about the age of seven or so, and in class I was shown the images you always see of snowflakes “under a microscope.” They quickly go from lumps of snow to amazing crystal structures. Consider my tiny little mind blown.
I also remember making snowflakes in class during that lesson, by folding up paper and then cutting little notches and curves with mini scissors. Unfold it and WOAH! Mind blown for the second time.
I always liked a good science lesson that had a craft to go with it.
If you do too, I’m excited to share these coffee filter snowflakes with you! They’re a fun craft to do with preschoolers together – and elementary age children can play along too.
You’re not going to believe how easy they are to make, and you only need a few simple supplies. Before we dive in, let me answer a few questions about this project!
What kind of projects can be made with the snowflakes?
There are a wide variety of things you can do with the finished flakes. Here are just a few ideas:
- Attach to windows with double stick tape or contact paper
- Use Glue Dots to tape the snowflakes to paper for thank you holiday cards
- String through twine in two areas (using the more round flakes as opposed to the stars) and hang as a garland
- Use spray adhesive and attach them to a painted canvas
- Make a ton of them in a cool color palette and craft a coffee filter wreath
How do you stiffen coffee filter snowflakes?
These are meant to be delicate, but you can do a few things. You can spray them with hairspray, or fabric stiffener. You can also brush them with a little bit of liquid starch. It will make them just a little bit stiffer though. You can’t expect them to be hard given how thin the filters are.
Are you ready to try this winter activity? Learn how to make snowflakes out of coffee filters below!
Gather These Supplies
- Coffee filters – 1 per snowflake
- Washable markers – colors of your choice (pinks, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green or orange for fun)
- Scissors
- Small spray bottle of water
- Hair dryer (optional)
Tips and Thoughts for This Project:
- The best color variety comes from picking two lights and two darks that are different. If the colors are too similar, you won’t get the “tie dye effect” you’re looking for.
- 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 just 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.
- If you want some unique snowflake cut patterns, go here.
- You’ll want to use a glue stick or Glue Dots or spray adhesive to attach the snowflakes to things. The washable markers will start to bleed again if you use Mod Podge or another waterbased product (other liquid glues) on them.
I’m really pleased with how colorful they turned out! It’s raining coffee filters around here!
Get the printable coffee filter snowflake craft how-to card below.
Coffee Filter Snowflakes
Equipment
- Small spray bottle of water
- Hair dryer (optional)
Materials
- Coffee filters 1 per snowflake
- Washable markers colors of your choice: pinks, blues, purples, and maybe a dark green or orange for fun
Instructions
- Choose four colors that you would like to use for your snowflake. Picking a variety of colors that are different shades (light and dark) makes for the best results.
- Start with a green or similar dark shade of marker. Draw a circle around the edge of the coffee filter and then draw some circles and blue lines in an "X" across the middle.
- Take a contrasting color marker and draw some dots and lines within each quadrant on the coffee filter.
- With the remaining marker(s), add additional lines, squares, and squiggles on the coffee filter. No need to add too many lines or shapes. They will bleed into each other.
- 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 just 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).
- To turn the filter into a snowflake, you'll cut it for folding. Fold in half, and then into thirds. Then fold in half once again.
- On the folded filter, you're going to cut notches out on both sides and then the top. Make small cuts, both triangular and round. The more detailed the cuts, the more detailed the results.
- Completely unfold the filter to reveal your finished snowflake.
Video
If you enjoyed this cute snowflake craft idea, I’d love for you to check out these other ideas as well!