Maker Monday: Kids can make these lovely coffee filter ballerinas

This Maker Monday project lets kids create graceful dancers from the simplest of supplies. These “coffee filter ballerinas” are a fun exercise in crafting, mixing colors and working those fine motor skills.

As with all Maker Monday projects, you can do this one with a few items you may already have around the house or you can get at a dollar store.

A note to kid makers: Please work with a parent or caregiver on every project, including this one, and always be very careful when using tools of any kind, including scissors.

Maker Monday materials you’ll need:

• coffee filters
• washable markers
• pipe cleaners
• an empty spray bottle
• any kind of ribbon
• scissors

Instructions:

Step 1: Layer three coffee filters together and flatten them. Keeping the layers together, draw a design on the top filter using washable markers. The color will seep through the layers, so put something underneath to protect your table. A cookie sheet or plastic placemat will work nicely.

Step 2: Put water in your spray bottle and lightly spritz the coffee filters with water, keeping the layers together. The colors will blend together and seep through in a beautiful way. Set the filters aside for a couple of hours to dry.

Step 3: Once the filters are dry, choose the pipe cleaner color for your dancer and twist it into the shape of a person. We used two pipe cleaners for each dancer.

Step 4: Fold the layered coffee filters in half, then half again, until they are a triangle shape and you have a nice point at the end. Then clip the point with scissors.

Step 5: Open the coffee filters up and slide the dancer in through the hole in the center, feet first. Then gather the “skirt” together at the dancer’s waist and tie it tightly with a length of ribbon to keep it secure. Finishing with a bow.

Step 6: Separate each layer of the coffee filters to make the flouncy skirt and bend the arms of your dancer upwards. There you have it — a graceful ballerina!

Want more at-home fun making beautiful things? Check out more Maker Monday projects right here.

Do you have an idea for a Maker Monday craft project? If so, please share it with Kidsburgh! Send your maker activities to info@kidsburgh.org.