We love coffee filter crafts around here. They’re so easy and really inexpensive to make! These coffee filter leaves are such a fun autumn craft, perfect for decorating the house for fall, Halloween, or Thanksgiving.
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Helpful Tips:
- Leave the coffee filter leaves as is, or once they’re dry use a thin marker to draw veins on them, just like a real leaf!
- If you don’t have an eye dropper you can also use a spray bottle or a small measuring spoon to drop water on the coffee filters.
- Don’t add too much water to the coffee filter leaves. If they’re soaking wet they’ll take a lot longer to dry.
Where can I find a leaf template?
We have 5 different types of leaf templates available for you in several different sizes! We used the medium leaves to make our coffee filter leaves.
»> Leaf Template «<
Click the link above to find templates for maple, oak, hawthorn, and aspen leaves, as well as a simple leaf shape. Each size and type of leaf is a PDF file that will open in a new window. You can print these templates on 8.5 x 11 inch regular printer paper.
What type of markers should I use?
You need to use washable markers to make these colourful fall leaves. Regular washable Crayola markers work really well, but Mr. Sketch scented markers also work. Don’t use permanent markers like Sharpies because the colours won’t bleed and blend together.
Are there other ways to colour these coffee filter leaves?
Yes, you can also use liquid watercolour paint or food colouring. Simply combine a few drops with water and use an eye dropper or small spoon to add colour to the leaves.
How long do the coffee filters take to dry?
It takes between 2 and 5 hours for the coffee filter leaves to dry on the baking sheet out in the open. If you’d like to speed up the drying time there are a couple of options:
What can I do with my coffee filter leaves?
These coffee filter leaves look pretty sitting on the mantel or Thanksgiving dinner table. You can also tape or tie the stems to a string to make a fun autumn garland! But where these coffee filter leaves really shine (literally!) is taped in the window as a suncatcher. As the sun shines through, these leaves glow and look soooo beautiful! We used small pieces of double sided tape to hang them in our window, but loops of regular tape will work as well.
These coffee filter leaves are such a fun and easy fall craft, perfect for learning about autumn leaves changing colour. Watch the colours spread, mix, and transform as you drop water on the coffee filter leaves. It’s so cool!
Here’s even more leaf craft ideas:
Marbled Fall Leaves
Fall Leaf Chalk Art
Autumn Leaves Kids Craft
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
