easy crafts Archives

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

May 18, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s summer and that means it’s time to hit the high seas! Well, as close to the high seas as we get in the South….lol.

I’ve been on a motorboat before, but outside of that, I haven’t been on a boat at all. The notion of sailing out into the ocean with nothing solid underneath my feet makes me a tad…nervous.

But with this easy coffee filter sailboat craft, even sea-scary people like me can go sailing! And this is such a fun ocean-themed craft for kids to make along with parents!

If your children like this, don’t miss our other coffee filter crafts for kids, including our coffee filter beach ball craft! And make this summer the best one yet with our list of 50 summer crafts!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

To make this coffee filter sailboat craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start by cutting the coffee filter in half. Then cut a little curve out of the center to form a half-moon shape. This will be the boat.

Cut the other half of the coffee filter in half again. Use one piece (a quarter of the whole filter) as the sail.

Color the half-moon piece (the boat). I used bright yellow to make a boat that would stand out against the waves. But feel free to use any color you like.

Glue the boat and the sail onto a piece of construction paper. Be sure to glue the sail a bit higher than the top of the boat.

Use a crayon or colored pencil to draw the pole that connects the sail and the boat.

Now add a few sea details! Use colored pencils to draw a few waves, clouds, and seagulls!

And we’re done!

She looks pretty seaworthy to me! What do you think?

Try these other fun learning ideas!

And see more simple art projects on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Moose Craft

May 4, 2017 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Have you ever gotten to see a moose up close? Down here in the South, we don’t have them. It’s just too hot. (Shucks, it’s too hot for me sometimes, so I don’t blame them.)

But they are lovely, regal animals, especially when they’re adults and they have a full set of antlers. Although the small ones with the fuzzy antlers are cute too. 🙂

Since we’ve been busy making coffee filter crafts for kids over the past couple of months, I thought a coffee filter moose craft would be a neat addition! Read on to see how we made this sweet sleepy moose!

If you love making this project, be sure to try some of our other coffee filter crafts! Plant a few coffee filter flowers, bounce a coffee filter basketball, or adopt a pet coffee filter cat!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Moose Craft

You’ll need the following supplies: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start by flattening out the coffee filter with your hands. Sometimes it’s good to rest a book on it overnight to get it to lie a little flatter.

Color the entire filter brown with a brown crayon. Then glue it to a piece of construction paper. Try to place the filter in the center but toward the bottom. You need to leave room for the antlers on either side.

Use a black colored pencil to draw two closed eyes toward the top of the filter.

Now add a moose’s snout.

And a teeny smiling mouth. I know I’m happy when I take a nap!

On either side of the moose’s head, freehand draw a few antlers. If the kids are adding the antlers themselves, you can let them draw big letter “Y” shapes or use a fork to add antlers with brown paint.

Color in the antlers and you’re done!

Have a good nap, moosie!

Try some of these other easy crafts while you’re at it!

Plus, get more craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Cat Craft

April 14, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When I was about 20, I found a stray tabby kitten outside my job. She was so tiny and she just kept mewling and mewling. Of course, I caved and took her home.

That was years ago (I’m not going to say how many!), but I still remember her grey striped coat and her giant eyes. She was adorable.

So, for our newest coffee filter crafts for kids idea, I thought I’d make a coffee filter cat craft that looked like her. This is really simple and cute for kids! And, while I made mine grey, you can make it in any color you like!

This fun craft isn’t the only one you can make with a simple coffee filter! Try our easy Coffee Filter Bouncing Basketball Craft or our Coffee Filter Sun Craft for more crafting fun!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Cat Craft

To make this coffee filter cat craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Star by coloring the coffee filter grey. I used a crayon, because I didn’t want the color to be so heavy that the details wouldn’t show. Then glue the filter onto the center of a piece of construction paper.

Basically, all that’s left to do is build the cat’s face. Start with a pair of ears above the filter and then add some eyes with a black colored pencil. Be sure to make the eyes rather large so that the face fills the filter.

Use a red colored pencil to draw a nose. (An upside-down triangle works fine.) Then use the black colored pencil to draw a mouth. Add a red tongue if you like.

You know how cats have those little freckles that their whiskers grow out of? Add a few of those, with some whiskers. Again, I just used the black colored pencil for this.

Then a few stripes at four diagonal corners! And those little fat roll lines they have under their chins. 🙂

We’re pretty much done!

Okay, let’s add some long eyelashes. Then, we’ll be done.

Check out these other simple coffee filter crafts for kids to make at home!

See more easy craft projects on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Earth Craft

April 6, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

I have to admit: I am NOT the craftiest person on the planet. I like to knit, sew, and write, but it’s hard for me to come up with crafts to make with my kids. The biggest issue is that I hate making a mess. So if the project involves glitter, lots of glue, or tiny pieces of paper, I’m probably going to run screaming in the other direction.

That’s not to say I won’t ever make those kinds of projects with the kids, but it’s a struggle. Have you ever tried to get glitter glue off of a four-year-old’s face? It’s not fun.

So whenever I do a craft with the kids, I prefer to make one that doesn’t take a lot of time, doesn’t need a lot of supplies, and doesn’t make a big mess. And that’s why I love coffee filter crafts for kids! There are plenty that we can make in no time flat.

This coffee filter earth craft is no exception! It’s an easy craft that only needs a few supplies and makes almost no mess at all. I promise. 🙂 Plus, it’s a great activity for kids who are learning about conservation, the universe, or geography!

If you like this craft, don’t miss our easy bouncing basketball coffee filter craft or our simple coffee filter sun craft!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Earth Craft

To make this craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Start off by coloring the coffee filter blue. You can use either crayons or colored pencils for this. I went with a blue color that looks aqua – just to give the appearance of water.

After you color the filter, glue it onto a piece of construction paper.

Use a green colored pencil to do a rough outline of the continents. I didn’t really try to draw the actual coastlines, because I…ahem…am not the best artist on the planet either. But I did enough to resemble the continents.

See? You can kind of see Florida hanging down in the top left. Kind of.

Afterward, just color in the “continents” with the green pencil. I colored these shapes in pretty heavily to make sure they showed up over the blue color.

Really, you could stop here and be finished with the coffee filter earth craft.

Or you can stretch out a cotton ball or two and glue the pieces in random spots to make “clouds”. Either way, you’re basically done. Wasn’t that easy?

Try these other fun crafts for kids!

And see more easy craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Easy Coffee Filter Turtle Craft

March 16, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

We’re still using our coffee filters to make coffee filter crafts for kids!

This week, we’re making a really easy (and cute) coffee filter turtle craft!

This easy craft is part of a science and ELA lesson we’ve been working on about animal collective nouns.

In our lesson, we’ve been learning about groups of turtles. It turns out that a group of turtles has some pretty nifty names.

Read on to see how we learned about turtles and made this fun turtle craft. Plus, grab a free collective animal nouns matching activity for use with your students.

Learn even more about turtles with our list of fun turtle books for kids to read!

This simple coffee filter turtle craft is a fun spring or summer craft for kids to make!

What Do You Call a Group of Turtles?

We’ve been learning about animal collective nouns for the past few weeks. Many animals have their own unique collective nouns for groups, so we might refer to a “pride” of lions or a “murder” of crows.

Did you know that a group of turtles can actually be referred to four different ways?

While a “bale” of turtles is the most commonly used term, a group of turtles can also be called a “nest” of turtles, a “dole” of turtles, or (my personal favorite) a “turn” of turtles.

Try saying a “turn of turtles” three times fast.

So – we decided to make our own turn of turtles using coffee filters!

How to Make a Coffee Filter Turtle Craft

To make this easy coffee filter turtle craft, you’ll need a few items. (This post contains affiliate links. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

Two white basket coffee filters (One for each turtle)
Washable markers
Crayons
Construction paper
Glue stick
Scissors

Easy Coffee Filter Turtle Craft Supplies

If you’re only making one turtle, you’ll only need one coffee filter. To make a family, grab a few more.

Making a Simple Coffee Filter Turtle Craft

Start by coloring the filter light green. I used green apple here.

Then use a glue stick to glue the green coffee filter onto the center of a piece of green construction paper.

Use a brown marker to outline several turtle shell spots.

Coffee Filter Turtle Craft to Make with Kids

Then go back and fill in the outlines to make your shell markings solid.

Use a pencil to outline the head and four feet.

To keep the turtle body even, I drew the feet at opposite ends of the shell.

Cut the turtle out around the shell. Be careful not to cut the feet or head off!

Because I used green construction paper, I didn’t have to color the head or feet in.

Making a Turtle Craft with Coffee Filters

Add a happy face with a black marker and you’re done!

Working with very young children? Try this even easier version that doesn’t require scissors!

With this one, color in the turtle “shell” as before. But use a green marker to color in the feet and head directly onto the construction paper.

Add a few polka dots or swirls to complete the picture.

Making an Easy Coffee Filter Turtle Craft with Kids

Aw….they love each other!

And that’s it! Our “turn” of coffee filter turtles is complete!

Get the printable instructions below!

Easy Coffee Filter Turtle Craft for Kids

This simple coffee filter turtle craft is a perfect simple animal craft to make with kids!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

White basket style coffee filter
Construction paper
Markers
Crayons
Glue stick
Scissors

Instructions

Color the entire coffee filter light green.
Glue the filter onto the center of a piece of green construction paper.
Use a brown marker to outline the turtle shell markings. Then color them in.
Lightly sketch the turtle's head and feet using a pencil.
Use scissors to carefully cut the turtle shell out, making sure not to cut off the head and feet.
Draw a face on the turtle's head with a black marker.

Animal Collective Nouns Sorting Activity

Want to learn more about how animal groups are named?

Pick up this printable collective animal nouns matching activity by clicking the image or link below!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – this Sunday!

>>> Animal Collective Noun Matching Activity <<<

Don’t miss these other simple crafts for kids!

This simple paper bee craft is a fun way to make an easy spring or summer craft with kids!

Share an easy summer craft with the kids and make this easy paper ladybug craft! So fun for little hands!

Make this easy toilet paper roll lion craft with the kids for a fun art activity!

Check out more fun creative collective animal noun ideas below!

Simple Straw Bead Necklace Craft for Kids

August 30, 2013 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

If your kids are anything like mine, they’re always asking for the necklaces in the 25-cent machine at the grocery store. You know those fake gold necklaces that turn your neck green? Yeah, those.

I got tired of saying “no” over and over again, so I thought we’d come up with a simple jewelry craft that the kids could make and then wear on their own. That’s when we found this simple straw bead necklace craft and it was a perfect alternative! Plus, it didn’t turn their neck green, which was a plus. 🙂

Read on to see how to make these with your kids! And don’t miss my list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just 10 minutes!

Simple Straw Bead Necklace Craft for Kids

This week, we jumped into the great book The Arts & Crafts Busy Book: 365 Art and Craft Activities to Keep Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy and found a super easy craft for kids of all ages: straw beads! And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like.

Here’s what you need to make this craft:

We passed out tissue paper to the kids. They chose their own colors. Surprisingly, Roo picked blue as his new “favorite” color. He’s been hung up on red for years.

Then we spread glue over the paper. At first, we used glue sticks and they worked somewhat, but we ended up reinforcing them with liquid glue. So, to save yourself some time, use regular glue in the first place.

After that, you just place the straw at one end of the paper…

and roll it up tightly. We ended up adding a bit more glue to the very end of the paper just to make sure that the ends stayed closed.

Cut the straw into small pieces with a pair of scissors to make stringable beads. Have the kids string the beads onto a length of yarn, tie it around their neck, and you’re done!