Turn ordinary coffee filters into beautiful, colourful angels with this easy coffee filter angels craft! These pretty little angels have delicate, pleated wings and flowing dresses, with gorgeous watercolour colours that make each one unique. They’re so simple to make, but look absolutely magical hanging on the Christmas tree!
This fun angel craft is a wonderful Christmas activity for kids and adults alike! All you need are a few inexpensive craft supplies, including coffee filters, markers, and wooden beads. Have fun experimenting with different colour combinations, then turn your creations into adorable DIY angel ornaments to hang on the tree, give as handmade gifts, or add to your holiday decorations!
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How to Make Coffee Filter Angels
Materials:
Equipment:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Colour the coffee filters
- Make a stack of 2 coffee filters. Flatten them onto a baking sheet or other protected surface.
- Gather 3 to 5 different colours or shades of washable marker.
- Choose your first colour and draw random scribbles on the top coffee filter.
- Repeat with the different colours of marker, filling the coffee filter.Leave a bit of white space between colours if you want a really light, pastel look for your angel.
Step 3: Blend the marker
- Use an eyedropper to drip water onto the coffee filters.
- Repeat until the coffee filters are saturated. Allow to dry.
- Here’s what the 2 coffee filters look like after they’ve dried.
Step 4: Fold the coffee filters
- While holding the 2 coffee filters together, fold up one side about 1/4 inch.
- Flip the coffee filters over and fold up again, lining up the bottom of the coffee filter with the fold.
- At this point we find it helpful to separate the 2 coffee filters.Doing the first couple of folds together ensures the folds will be virtually identical, but it’s a lot easier to make clean folds when you’re doing 1 at a time.
- Continue creating accordion folds on the coffee filter until you reach the other end.
- Repeat with the second coffee filter.
Step 5: Make the angel’s head
- Cut an 8 to 10 inch piece of twine.
- Fold it in half and tie it into an ornament hanger, leaving about 1-1/2 inches below the knot.
- Slide the wooden bead over the loop so it sits by the knot.
- Add a bit of glue inside the bead to keep it in place.
Step 6: Form the angel shape
- Fold 1/3 of one coffee filter down.
- Line up the other coffee filter and fold it in the opposite direction, so they form a “T” shape.
- Cut off 1 inch from each end. You can cut 1 at a time and then hold them together so the cuts are the in the same place, or cut through both coffee filters at once.
- Add hot glue below the short fold, just enough to attach the twine tails.
- Place the twine into the glue so the angel head sits just above the coffee filter. Hold it in place until the glue dries.
- Then add glue all the way down the side of the coffee filter. Line up the other coffee filter and connect them.
- Once the glue is dry pull out the accordion folds so the dress and wings are fanned out.
- Your coffee filter angel is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Add a halo: Give your coffee filter angel an extra heavenly touch by making a small halo from a pipe cleaner! Simply shape the pipe cleaner into a circle and attach it to the wooden bead. See our pine cone angels for instructions on making and attaching a halo.
- Make a traditional white angel: If you’d prefer your angel to have a classic white dress and wings, you can skip the colouring altogether! Simply leave the coffee filters white and start folding them right away. It’s an even quicker way to make these pretty Christmas ornaments.
Can I add a face to my coffee filter angel?
Yes, definitely! Adding a sweet, smiling face is a fun way to give your coffee filter angel a little extra personality.
Before drawing on the wooden bead, add a small drop of white glue and use your fingertip to spread it into a thin layer over the front of the bead. Allow the glue to dry completely.
Once it’s dry, use a fine-tip Sharpie marker to draw your angel’s eyes, mouth, and any other details you like. The dried glue creates a barrier that prevents the marker ink from bleeding into the wood, helping you create a neat, crisp face.
What’s the best way to colour coffee filter angels?
We love using washable markers to colour our coffee filter angels! There are so many colours to choose from, and when you add a little water, the ink spreads and blends together to create a beautiful watercolour effect.
You can also try diluted food colouring or liquid watercolour paint. Both options are already liquid, so you can apply them directly to the coffee filter without needing to spray on extra water.
Experiment with different colour combinations to create unique patterns! You can make soft pastel angels, bright rainbow angels, or even use traditional Christmas colours like red and green.
How long do coffee filter angels take to dry?
If you’re using washable markers and water to decorate your coffee filters, make sure they’re completely dry before you start folding them.
Depending on how much water you use, the coffee filters may take a few hours to air dry. You can speed things up by placing them in a warm, well-ventilated area.
Once they’re dry, they’ll be much easier to fold into neat accordion pleats without tearing. You can even colour the coffee filters one day and assemble your angels the next!
These coffee filter angels are such a sweet way to add a handmade touch to your Christmas celebrations! We love how each angel turns out a little different, with its own beautiful mix of colours and delicate, fluttery wings.
Make a whole choir of colourful angels to decorate your tree, or create a few special ones to share with family and friends. They’re a lovely keepsake craft that you can look forward to bringing out year after year!
Here’s even more angel craft ideas:
How to Make a Safety Pin Angel
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Where to buy:
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