Coffee Filter Fireworks Craft for Kids (original) (raw)

White text on blue background at top says Coffee Filter Fireworks 4th of July Craft. Close up picture of completed coffee filter fireworks craft projects using coffee filters, craft sticks, markers, chenille stems, pom poms, and glitter glue.

Jump to Printable Instructions

We love getting creative with coffee filter crafts for kids. This Coffee Filter Fireworks craft is perfect for celebrating Independence Day.

Transform coffee filters, wooden craft sticks and glitter glue into colorful 4th of July fireworks! Coffee filter crafts are great for kids of all ages, especially preschool and kindergarten children.

It’s easy to make at home or at summer camp in about 30 minutes (plus drying time) with a few common craft supplies.

White text on blue background at top says Coffee Filter Fireworks 4th of July Craft. Close up picture of completed coffee filter fireworks craft projects using coffee filters, craft sticks, markers, chenille stems, pom poms, and glitter glue.

Looking for more Fourth of July activities? Check out our fireworks salt painting art project, no sew Fourth of July felt wreath, star wand craft and this printable patriotic stars roll and cover dice game.

4th of July Fireworks Coffee Filter Craft

We love coming up with craft ideas for kids to decorate and celebrate different holidays.

This project is simple to make at home as a family to celebrate the 4th of July. They also make super cute, inexpensive decorations!

This is a fun summer activity you can do outside too.

Along with celebrating July 4th, this is a great activity to include for a United States Independence Day unit study.

Preschoolers and kindergartners will practice fine motor skills as they color the coffee filters with washable markers and create designs with glitter glue.

White woman's hand holding finished coffee filter fireworks craft colored with blue and red. Another finished project with lots of blue is slightly out of focus in the background.

Kids of all ages will enjoy spraying the coffee filters with water and watching the colors blend.

These may require additional drying time depending on how much water is sprayed on the coffee filter during the blending stage.

It’s important to protect your work surface by placing the coffee filters on top of a craft mat, parchment paper, zippered plastic bag, or even a paper plate before spraying.

Keep the red, white, and blue theme going by baking these red, white, and blue M&M pretzel brownies for a yummy treat.

Overhead close up view of red and blue coffee filter fireworks with blue craft stick. To the right side is part of a mostly blue coffee filter firework too.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Coffee Filter Fireworks Craft Supplies:

How to Make Coffee Filter Fireworks:

First flatten the round coffee filters. Then use blue and red washable markers to color the coffee filter paper with a variety of starburst patterns.

Coffee filter laying on a ziptop bag and colored with blue starburst lines and red marker between blue lines. Markers and small spray bottle next to it.

Bold colors work best. In our experience, pastel markers or coloring too lightly leaves designs too washed out after spritzing and drying.

Round coffee filter laying flat on plastic ziptop bag next to red and blue markers and small water spray bottle. Red starburst lines out from red center to edge of filter. Blue colored in between red lines.

Place the colored coffee filter on a paper plate, sheet of parchment paper, craft mat or large zipper baggie and mist with water.

White woman's hand using spray bottle to spritz red and blue colored coffee filter with water. Filter is laying on a plastic ziptop bag.

Kids love watching the colors blend! Set aside to dry.

Next, color the wooden craft sticks with red and blue markers in a variety of solids and patterns. You can also trim the rounded ends from the jumbo wooden craft sticks with scissors.

Four craft sticks with rounded ends cut off colored with red and blue markers.

Then cut your silver and gold tinsel chenille stems (aka pipecleaners) in half and then in half again.

Attach a chenille stem to the top of a colored craft stick on the back. Then glue a pom pom to the end of the other end of the chenille stem. We recommend using a glue gun for this part, but you could also try tacky craft glue.

Hot gluing chenille stem to back of colored craft stick and gluing pom pom to end of chenille stem.

After those are secured in place, glue the back of the craft stick firework to the colored coffee filter. You can adjust the bend of the chenille stem upwards as needed.

Lastly, place the fireworks craft back on the gallon size zipper bag or craft mat. Use silver and gold glitter glue to draw long swirls out from the center.

Blue and red colored coffee filter with red colored craft stick glued to it. Gold chenille stem sticking out the top of the craft stick with blue pom pom on the end. Coffee filter laying on top of ziptop bag. Gold glitter glue used to make swirl designs.

Let it dry completely before using it to decorate your home or yard.

Two completed coffee filter fireworks crafts laying near each other at an angle. One has more red on the filter with a blue craft stick. The other has more blue on the filter and a striped craft stick.

More Coffee Filter Crafts:

Instructions

  1. First flatten the round coffee filters. Then use blue and red washable markers to color the coffee filter paper with a variety of starburst patterns.
  2. Bold colors work best. In our experience, pastel markers or coloring too lightly leaves designs too washed out after spritzing and drying.
  3. Place the colored coffee filter on a paper plate, sheet of parchment paper, craft mat or large zipper baggie and mist with water.
  4. Kids love watching the colors blend! Set aside to dry.
  5. Next, color the wooden craft sticks with red and blue markers in a variety of solids and patterns. You can also trim the rounded ends from the jumbo wooden craft sticks with scissors.
  6. Then cut your silver and gold tinsel chenille stems (aka pipecleaners) in half and then in half again.
  7. Attach a chenille stem to the top of a colored craft stick on the back. Then glue a pom pom to the end of the other end of the chenille stem. We recommend using a glue gun for this part, but you could also try tacky craft glue.
  8. After those are secured in place, glue the back of the craft stick firework to the colored coffee filter. You can adjust the bend of the chenille stem upwards as needed.
  9. Lastly, place the fireworks craft back on the gallon size zipper bag or craft mat. Use silver and gold glitter glue to draw long swirls out from the center. Let it dry completely before using it to decorate your home or yard.

Notes

These may require additional drying time depending on how much water is sprayed on the coffee filter during the blending stage.

It’s important to protect your work surface by placing the coffee filters on top of a craft mat, parchment paper, zippered plastic bag, or even a paper plate before spraying.

Darcy Zalewski

Darcy is the founder of “Life With Darcy and Brian,” where she combines her love for education, board games, and crafting to create engaging learning experiences for kids. Her creative projects and writing have been featured in outlets like The Toy Insider, CafeMom, Mom.com, Parents.com, Country Living, and The Pioneer Woman.