This easy and engaging craft is perfect for young children. With just a few simple materials, they can make their own silly coffee filter monsters, providing hours of creative fun.

This summer, we’ve been making the most of our weekends by spending time at the lake and exploring the forest. The Sierra Nevada is absolutely ideal during this season—cool and refreshing, especially under the shade of the trees.

Yesterday, since I wasn’t feeling my best, we decided to stay indoors and have some creative fun. With the Fourth of July just around the corner, we thought it would be a great opportunity to do a festive craft using coffee filters and vibrant red and blue colors.

This craft project is incredibly versatile; you can use any colors you like to create your designs. It’s a perfect way to spend a relaxed morning or afternoon with your kids, turning simple coffee filters into playful, silly monsters.

Not only is it a fun activity, but it also offers a creative outlet for kids to express themselves and make something special for the holiday.

MATERIALS:

• Coffee filters

• Food coloring (blue and red)

• Water

• Plastic or glass containers

• Popsicle sticks

• Glue

• Googly eyes

• Black marker

• Brushes

How to Make Silly Coffee Filter Monster:

1. Mix Your Colors:

• Begin by preparing your color mixture. Fill a small container with water and add a few drops of blue and red food coloring. Stir well to ensure the colors are evenly distributed.

• Adjust the amount of food coloring based on how vibrant you want the colors to be.

  2. Paint the Coffee Filters:

• Lay out your coffee filters on a flat surface. Using paintbrushes, gently apply the colored water onto the filters.

• Experiment with different techniques to create unique effects. You can also use a medicine dropper to drizzle the color in fun patterns. If you don’t have brushes or a dropper, you can also use sponges or even your fingers!

3. Let Them Dry:

• Allow the painted coffee filters to dry completely. This may take a few hours or overnight.

• For faster drying, you can place them in a well-ventilated area or use a fan to speed up the process.

  4. Shape the Filters:

• Once the filters are dry, fold each one into a triangular shape. This can be done by folding the filter in half, then in half again, and finally creating a triangle shape by folding the edges towards the center.

  5. Add Eyes:

• Decorate your silly monster by gluing on some fun, wiggly eyes. You can use various sizes and colors to give your monster a unique look.

• Place the eyes in different positions to create different expressions. For extra fun, you can even use multiple eyes!

  6. Create a Puppet:

• Attach a couple of popsicle sticks to the bottom of the folded filter to turn it into a puppet. You can use chopsticks, or any sturdy sticks you have on hand.

• Glue or tape the sticks securely to the bottom, making sure they’re well-supported so your puppet can move easily.

  7. Draw a Mouth:

• Use a black marker to draw a mouth on your monster. You can add a big, silly grin or a spooky smile—whatever fits your monster’s personality. To complete the look, draw some fun teeth inside the mouth. You can make them sharp and pointy or large and goofy, depending on your design.

With these detailed steps, you'll create a playful and personalized monster puppet that’s perfect for imaginative play and fun activities with kids.

Check out our Instagram videos to find this project there and more creative ideas here.