DIY Mother's Day Floppy Hat with Coffee Filters

You might be thinking that hats are for Easter however, students in Ms. Ledderman's and Ms. Dulin's preschool class think they're perfect for Mother's Day!  Each student made a hat for their parent to wear during the Mother's Day tea.

DIY Coffee Filter Hats

Coffee filters are inexpensive and so versatile that they can be used for so many different crafts. They are absorbent that when you add colors to them, the colors spread to make beautiful rainbow or tie dye like effects.

Supplies:

Industrial size coffee filters (found at restaurant supply store)
Droppers or water spray (1 for each color)
Faux Flowers
Diluted food coloring or tempera paint or diluted water color paint
Washi Tape or Paper Tape
Hot glue

Place opened coffee filter on table, let students decorate by saturating filter using a spray bottle or dropper with diluted food coloring, one color at at time. Place hat on top of inverted bowl to dry.

Once filter has completely dried and working in pairs, place 1 filter on head. Pull down gently near ears. Wrap Washi tape at brim line to fit head. Flip brim up. Remove from head and attached faux flower using hot glue. Optional: Using a small coffee filter, create a“flower” by pinching filter in middle. Wrap 1" tape at middle/stem. Attach flower at brim with tape.

Don't you think they are just lovely? I wore mine when my girls "surprised" me with a breakfast of toast and cut fruit and juice. 

Have a great Mother's Day!

What about you did you receive a handmade gift? 

Edgar Degas, How to Use Coffee Filters in Art Projects

Ordinary coffee filters used for drip coffee makers are a versatile and inexpensive supply for arts and crafts projects. Perfect for home, or school art program as it can be purchased in bulk. Combine with markers, paint, water, these paper circles can be transformed into a numbers of things.

Edgar +Degas Art Masterpiece

+Degas Style Ballerina

Edgar Degas (deh ɡɑhs); was a French artist regarded as one of the founders of the Impressionism.   He enjoyed capturing female dancers and is famous for capturing movement in his work and  is best known for paintings, pastels and drawings of dancers. 

+Degas Style Sailboat

After a discussion about Edgar Degas, our volunteer art guide Anna, demonstrated how kindergartners in Mrs. Knowlton's class can show movement and texture by using coffee filters. Students drew  and cut out their designs and applied to their background.  Coffee filters were colored with markers and attached as tutus or sails on a sailboat.

Coffee filters also work well with watercolor and diluted tempera paint.  Add the desired about of paint to your water.  The less water you start with the darker your filters will be.  Stir the paint and water together.  Dip each filter in just about an inch in the water.  The coffee filter will soak up the paint. Place on rack to dry. Once dried your coffee filter will have an ombre effect.