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DIY Coffee Filter Flowers

Happy almost spring neighbors! While we are all dreaming of no more snow storms and staying inside so we don’t blow away, why not make some lovely flowers? These are super easy and inexpensive. I will show you the simplest way of making realistic flowers. These are pretty enough to display in your window or in a guest bathroom. For this show, we’re going to focus on three different types of flowers; Roses, Hydrangeas and Sunflowers.

I have patterns for all the flowers and labels for your vases in the google drive link at the bottom of the page. You can make any kind of flower you can possibly imagine.

SUPPLIES

  1. Large basket type coffee filters (basket style 8-12 cup size Large)
  2. Food Coloring (acrylic paint works but it dries harder)
  3. Hot glue and glue gun OR white school glue
  4. Scissors
  5. Wire cutters
  6. Floral Wire (or skewer sticks. A metal hanger also works in a pinch)
  7. Pen or pencil
  8. Recycled jar or food container
  9. Gloves (if you don’t want to have dyed hands like mine) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Here’s a helpful hint: I would start with the lightest colors first and put those in individual little pots or glass bowls. Please note that the colors dry much lighter than they look so to get vibrant color you’re going to want to make the food coloring look very dark in the water. You can dip the filters 5-10 at a time. You can also paint on the food coloring for more control over the colors and design. For a darker, more realistic look, you can re-paint them with a paint brush and concentrated food coloring AFTER the flowers are assembled.

Add food coloring to a cup of water.
For a 2 tone look, dip the edges in one color.
Put a different color in a small bowl.
Dip the center.
Examples of 2 tone filters.
For a subtle 2 tone look, dip the whole filter in one color.
Dip the edges with a darker color.
Squeeze out the dye and let the filters dry.
For a tie dye look, dip the edges first.
Dip the center in a darker color, then TWIST the filter.
Unfurl the filter and let it dry.
EXAMPLE: Yellow, pink and purple.
EXAMPLE: Yellow, blue and purple.
EXAMPLE: Yellow, pink, blue and purple.
EXAMPLE: Yellow and red.
EXAMPLE: Purple, blue, yellow and red (painted on with a brush).
Dried filters
Rolled pattern example. More on google drive below.
For a super easy flower, draw or trace a pattern on the filter.
Cut out the design.
Starting from the outside end, roll and glue, pinching the petals in as you go to create volume.
Example of a rolled rose.
ROSES: Cut a variety of sizes and shapes in pink and peach tones.
Stack from the largest to the smallest. Save the scraps for the bud.
Cut some wire and fold it in half then twist it leaving a loop a the top.
Use the scrap and roll it into a cone on the loop end of the wire. Secure it with hot glue.
Example
Example
Wrap the smallest layer around the bud, gathering as you glue it to the base.
Example
As you glue, you want to gather/pinch the bottom of the petals so they fan out.
Wrap, pinch and glue the next layer. It should be a little bigger than the last.
Example
3rd layer
Wrap, pinch and glue the 3rd layer.
Using a pencil or paint brush, dampen the petals and curl the edges. Allow them to dry.
Finished rose with a bud and 4 layers of petals.
Fold the filter 3 or 4 times and draw on this pattern. It doesn’t need to be exact.
Example of a cut pattern.
Unfold the cut filter and stack about 10 layers.
Glue each layer then CUT down one side to the middle.
Cut wire, double and twist it leaving a loop at the end.
Using a scrap, wrap the loop completely.
It won’t show so it doesn’t matter if it’s perfect.
Cut a small hole on the bottom and push the wire through. Glue at the top inside where the bud is.
Cut out some leaf shapes.
Fold the leaves in an accordion shape.
Example
Glue leaves together. You can use crayons, paint, markers, etc to add detail.
Example
Cut stripes for the stem.
Cover the base of the flower first.
Wrap the strips down the stem, glue and twist as you go.
Wrap the leaves around the stem and cover with more strips.
Fold filter 3 times, the cut the ends in a fringe like pattern.
Fold 4 times and draw on the pattern.
Cut pattern, then repeat the steps of the hydrangea.
Sunflowers
Peonies
Hydrangeas
Roses

I made some beautiful graphics for you to download and mod podge over the top of your containers. If you are using glass jars, be sure to spray paint them first. That will ensure the label will stay on.

Here is a playlist of YouTube videos where professional floral designers making intricate designs that are very realistic. I have stuck with the simplified versions for you since television moves very fast. You can take your time and look through these videos, and find some really beautiful ways of making coffee filter flowers that are nice enough to sell on Etsy. The best videos are from Toni-Scott Daniel’s channel, Your House a Home TV. I put them at the top of the list. She is the original designer of coffee filter flowers. You can also buy her instructions, patterns, templates, etc on Etsy.

MY FREE GRAPHICS & PATTERNS

Google Drive Link:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uiwu2FPa9Nkx0Np6I_oiwLhuCjOFFEdy?usp=sharing

Project ideas: You can add these flowers to hats, headbands, picture frames, wedding bouquets, garlands, wreaths, gift cards, handbags, gift boxes, junk journal covers.

You can glue in faux pearls, beads, rhinestones, buttons or old brooches in the center for a shabby chic look.

I hope you enjoyed this project idea. I will add the video tomorrow after the show. Thanks for watching Mass Appeal on WWLP Channel 22.

Happy Spring!

Love,

Malena

Youtube Playlist of DIY Coffee Filter Flowers videos : 

Creative Fabrica #7600623

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