Easy to make, these coffee filter Christmas trees are such a fun craft to add to your Christmas activities. Coffee filters are a MUST have addition to any science or craft kit! Soluble science is combined with unique process art to make these colorful Christmas trees below. We love do-able Christmas crafts for kids!
Coffee Filter Christmas Tree Craft
Watch the video!
Supplies:
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers – green, blue, purple, yellow
- Spray water bottle
- Clothespins
- Yellow cardstock or star stickers
- Scissors
Instructions:
STEP 1. Start by spreading out a coffee filter. Then color in the coffee filter with the washable markers. Experiment with different patterns for unique results.
STEP 2. Spray the coffee filter with a water bottle until just wet. It needs to be completely wet but not soaked or the color will run. About 3 or 4 sprays.
STEP 3. Let the coffee filters dry completely.
STEP 4. Once dry, fold the coffee filter in half.
Then fold one side in and fold the other side in, too so that the half is now folded in thirds. Insert a clothespin on the inner folds.
STEP 5. Finally, cut a star out of yellow cardstock or use star stickers for added ease. Stick the star to the top of the watercolor tree.
Why Do The Colors Blend Together?
Why do the colors from the washable markers blend together when you add water? It’s all to do with solubility!
If something is soluble that means it will dissolve in that liquid (or solvent). The ink used in these washable markers dissolves in what? The water of course!
In this coffee filter craft, the water (solvent) is meant to dissolve the marker ink (solute). For this to happen, the molecules in both the water and the ink must be attracted to each other. When you added drops of water to the designs on the paper, the ink should spread out and run through the paper with the water.
Note: Permanent markers do not dissolve in water but in alcohol. You can see this in action here with our Sharpie and Alcohol Christmas ornaments.
Explore more coffee filter crafts…
FREE Printable Christmas STEM Challenges!
More Fun Things To Do This Christmas
- Make ornament crafts for the Christmas tree,
- Explore snowflake crafts and snowman activities.
- Have fun with Christmas Science Experiments.
- Set up a Christmas STEM challenge or two!
- Make and play with Christmas slime.
- Explore famous artist inspired Christmas art projects.
- Make Christmas science ornaments.
Printable Christmas Activities Fun Pack
Countdown to Christmas with 25+ low to no prep activities!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 25+ Low-to-no-Prep Christmas activities include games, secret codes, paper crafts, and more!
- Fun Christmas games include a 10-card bingo game, DIY board game, I Spy, word find, sodoku, and more!
- Easy Christmas Projects include making a peppermint spinner, exploring gingerbread house tessellations, playing with homemade thaumatropes, creating 3D Christmas cards, and so much more!
- Bonus! Includes the 12 days of Christmas Color by Code!
