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Make a Pretty Spring Wreath!

March 19, 2013 25 Comments

I’ll admit it: I’ve had coffee filter wreath-envy ever since a friend made one at Christmastime.  It was lacy-white, beautiful in its simplicity, and striking with a bright ribbon ready for the hanging.

I wanted one.  I needed one.  But Christmas came and went and oh!  I never made one.

But I couldn’t get it out of my mind.

I began dreaming of a coffee filter wreath fit for spring.  I wanted something softly variegated, like tea roses, something that would make my spring mantel pop and my front door say “Welcome.”

I wanted something like this:

DIY Coffee Filter Wreath

It’s breathtaking.

It’s inexpensive.

And, it’s a very simple project to undertake.  In fact, you can start today.

First, gather the following supplies:

*1 foam wreath form, 12”

*Extra yarn, ribbon, or fabric strips, enough to cover the wreath form, optional

*I package of white basket-style coffee filters (I used 3” filters)

*Hot glue gun and plenty of glue sticks

*Ribbon to finish

*Food coloring

*I cup strong black tea, cooled

Step 1—Wrap the Wreath Form

I like to wrap foam wreath forms in a coordinating ribbon, yarn, or fabric strips.  This is not completely necessary but it allows me to be a little less perfect in the placement of my coffee filter flowers because  it doesn’t matter if a little bit shows through between the flowers.

Also, I like my wreaths to be finished on all sides.  It gives a nice, professional appearance to the final product.

Step 2—Dye the Filters

Variegated Coffee Filter Wreath

Using food coloring, dye several bowls of water any shades you like.  Keep in mind that the colors will dry lighter, so don’t be afraid to make deep, concentrated hues.  I used red, purple, green, and blue.  I also brewed a cup of strong black tea because I wanted some of my filter flowers to resemble dried roses.  The flowers I double-dipped in tea ended up being my favorites.

Working in batches of 5-8 filters at a time, begin by folding the filters into half, and then half again so you’re working with a manageable quarter-circle.   Scallop the edges with a scissors so they will look like flower petals when you fold them.

Dip the wider end of the circle into the color of choice.  Take it out of the water and allow the color to seep to the middle.  Double dip, if desired, in another color until you get the look you want.  The filter will draw the colors into the middle, lightening as it goes.

Be sure to dye at least 100 filters.  You will need all of them for this project!

Step 3—Drying

To dry, spread the filters flat on a cookie sheet and place them in a warm oven.  There is no need to separate them.  Just keep them in the groups you dyed them in.  But be sure to turn off the oven once you put the filters in to prevent them from burning.  Rotate occasionally until dry.

If you have a food dehydrator, you can use it to dry the filters.  They dry very rapidly on the highest setting so check back often.

Step 4—Create Filter Flowers

Creating flowers out of the dyed filters is time consuming.  There’s no way around it.  So, plug in your glue gun, put on some great music, and plan to stay awhile.

You don’t really need directions from this point on, but if you’d like to know what I found to be the most effective technique for making filter flowers, read on. 

DIY Coffee Filter Flowers

Click on the photo for a close-up look.

Working in batches of 4-5 filters, fold the filters into fourths.  Cut circles out of the centers of the filters using a scalloped cut.  Unfold.  You should have two parts: a scalloped circle (the center of your flower) and a large, scalloped outer ring.

Take the center circle and put a dot of hot glue in the middle.  Pinch it together, bringing the scalloped edges up and rolling it slightly until it resembles the center of a flower.

Now, take the larger outer ring.  Make it into a flat figure 8, securing the inner edges with a dab of hot glue where they come together.  Place the flower center right onto the middle of the figure 8, glue and fold the edges up so they look like more petals.

You should have two loops on either side of the flower center.  Glue the middles of those two loops to the center flower.  You will have a few more smaller loops now.  Glue those to the center as well, always folding and gluing as necessary to create flowers.

Don’t worry if they’re not perfect.  Once you glue them onto the wreath, most of the imperfections won’t show anyway.

Set aside and repeat until you wonder what possessed you to do this project in the first place.

Coffee Filter Flowers

Step 5—Arrange the Flowers

I decided to group bunches of like-colored flowers in a pattern around my wreath, but a random pattern would be just as pretty.  Do what you like!

Save any “flower failures” to fill in the bare spots where no one will see.

Coffee Filter Wreaths

Step 6—Finish

Your choice of ribbon will determine the feel of your project.  A wide ribbon is elegant while a bright, thin ribbon is fun and festive.  Embrace your creativity until you find a look you love.

Then, enjoy your beautiful wreath all season long.

Coffee Filter Wreath Ideas

 

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, Decorate, Holidays Tagged With: budget decor, coffee filter wreath, design on a dime, DIY, home decor, Spring decor, variegated wreath

About Kristen

Kristen has been known to sneak her husband's favorite scissors and her kids' craft supplies when creativity strikes. She is the wife of an Army chaplain and the homeschool mom of five children, including twin boys who look nothing alike. When she's not brewing strong coffee or hiding the fact that she eats too much dark chocolate, you can find her blogging at www.fiveintow.com.

Comments

  1. Daisy Tremorev says

    March 20, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    What a super cute idea! I am going to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Kristen Barnhill Glover says

      March 20, 2013 at 9:28 pm

      Let us know how it goes!

      Reply
      • Kelly Chalmers Carter says

        April 4, 2013 at 3:26 pm

        Love this! I really want to try it…I’m not totally sure I get how you made the filters muti-colored…if you double dip won’t they mix together and make a different color? Yours have such a pretty layered look!

        Reply
  2. Dawn Lopez says

    March 20, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    Ooh that is so pretty, I really like that. Thanks for the super idea!

    Reply
  3. Pam Wattenbarger says

    March 20, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    THis is so pretty. I need to make one for my home.

    Reply
  4. 2Wired2Tired says

    March 20, 2013 at 11:15 pm

    That is gorgeous! I pinned it so I can give it a try. I am just amazed that it was made of coffee filters! So pretty and creative.

    Reply
    • Kristen Barnhill Glover says

      March 21, 2013 at 12:21 am

      Thanks for pinning!

      Reply
  5. Raeanna C says

    March 20, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    This is so pretty! I’m going to show my sister since she’s a very creative person.

    Reply
  6. Liz says

    March 20, 2013 at 11:44 pm

    Pops just like flower blossoms!

    Reply
    • Kristen Barnhill Glover says

      March 21, 2013 at 12:21 am

      Don’t they look real?! I love that.

      Reply
  7. suelee1998 says

    March 21, 2013 at 10:46 am

    this is so pretty, I will have to forward this to my niece. thanks

    Reply
  8. kSquaredGlamour says

    March 21, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    such a beautiful wreath and creative way to make it. I love it!

    Reply
    • Kristen Barnhill Glover says

      March 21, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  9. Anne Lashuay says

    March 21, 2013 at 11:35 pm

    I’m going to have to do this!

    Reply
  10. kate says

    April 14, 2013 at 1:32 am

    I love your wreath and how soft and pretty it is – great job! I just featured it in a roundup of my of fav 15 DIY spring wreaths 🙂

    Reply
  11. lisa says

    April 23, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    That is very pretty. I wasn’t sure if the tea was to use or to drink. Anyways, I may try this project. Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Cindy @ sunsetcoasting.blogspo says

    May 18, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Amaze-balls! That is so lovely! Great info on how to make it too!

    Reply
  13. Mandy Tirado says

    October 2, 2013 at 2:27 pm

    Oh! I love this! I know someone in an assisted living facility that would go crazy for this! I think I’ll try my hand at making her one for Christmas! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • AshleyWalkup says

      October 5, 2013 at 1:25 am

      What a great idea!

      Reply
  14. Sharon says

    October 13, 2013 at 1:21 am

    Just made this as a Fall wreath with Burgundy. It’s hanging on my front door. Thank you!!~

    Reply
  15. Jennifer says

    November 12, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    The wreath is beautiful! How long do you think it takes to put it together after the filters are dry?

    Reply
  16. jasmine says

    May 6, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    What a great idea! It came out so pretty

    Reply

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