These coffee filter Christmas trees are so easy & inexpensive. All you need are paper plates, coffee filters, & markers. SO pretty and perfect for a group!

These coffee filter Christmas trees have the simplest supply list ever.  They come together for pennies apiece sp they’re perfect for group crafting.  And, they’re so delicate and pretty you won’t believe they’re made from coffee filters!

Supply list for coffee filter Christmas trees…

This supply list is so basic that chances are good you’ve already got everything you need.  Grab coffee filters and paper plates from the pantry and washable markers from your art stash.  That’s it.  Easy.  

You’ll want to use the white, bleached coffee filters and full size, 9 inch, paper plates.

Something about the absorbent nature of coffee filters makes them a slam dunk for art projects.  They end up looking so sophisticated and the color so subtle it’s hard to believe what they started as!  Check out this post for some amazing coffee filter flowers and other coffee filter crafts.

These coffee filter Christmas trees are so easy & inexpensive. All you need are paper plates, coffee filters, & markers. SO pretty and perfect for a group!

Colorful paper for your Christmas trees…

You could totally skip this step and create beautiful, white coffee filter Christmas trees.  These would be totally lovely but in my experience most kids aren’t into the minimalist look.  Color is fun so let’s add some! 

Grab a stack of coffee filters.  It will take 3-4 to create one tree but you can color enough for two trees at one time.  Fold them in half and lay them on a piece of scrap paper.  Use washable markers to create a line of color all around the edge.  If the stack of coffee filters is thick flip the bunch over and add some color on the other side too.  

Our coffee filter Christmas trees have a monochromatic look but you may use any colors your little artist likes.  Layer on some color! 

Use a spray bottle to saturate coffee filters with water.  Spray the coffee filters more than you might think necessary to be sure to saturate all the layers.  This part is really pretty.  Watch the colors run and bleed.  Set these wet filters aside to dry.

These coffee filter Christmas trees are so easy & inexpensive. All you need are paper plates, coffee filters, & markers. SO pretty and perfect for a group!

Making your Christmas tree from a paper plate….

You need a circle of cardboard or tag board to create the cone shape. A full size, inexpensive paper plate is perfect. Cut out a pie shaped wedge approximately one fourth to one third of the paper plate.  Wrap the plate around itself until you’re pleased with the shape.  Fix with a piece of tape on the inside seam and another piece on the outside seam.  I love this method of creating a cone shape because there are so many great applications for the holidays and beyond.   These would be super fun to paint on, collage on, or anything your little artist can dream up!

The cone doesn’t have to start from a paper plate, that’s just easy and accessible. I can imagine a giant version of these coffee filter Christmas trees made from a circle of posterboard, or mixed sizes sprinkled on a mantle.  

These coffee filter Christmas trees are so easy & inexpensive. All you need are paper plates, coffee filters, & markers. SO pretty and perfect for a group!

Wrapping your cone….

Take your colored coffee filters and fold them into quarters, as seen in the picture above.  Cut the center of the circle out, leaving a ring a couple of inches thick.  Cut the ring at any point so there is a beginning and and end.  Put a ring of glue about one and a half inches from the bottom of the cone.  Wind the coffee filter around the tree by pressing the top edge of the coffee filter into the glue.  I like to wrinkle the coffee filter a bit to make a tree with a bit more volume.  Just allow a little slack as the filters wrap around, and press any extra into the glue.  Glue, wrinkle, glue, and repeat.

When one coffee filter strip runs out just begin with another, repeating till you reach the top.  Cut off any extra.  

I just think these coffee filter Christmas trees are just so pretty.  It’s hard to believe they are made from kitchen supplies.  Because they are made from such inexpensive materials these would be amazing for class projects or any kind of group.  These beauties cost just pennies each!

These coffee filter Christmas trees are so easy & inexpensive. All you need are paper plates, coffee filters, & markers. SO pretty and perfect for a group!

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The Artists and the ELements is a year long visual arts curriculum designed to connect the elements of art, art history, and hands on, fun art projects.