The easy coffee filter jellyfish craft is super simple and enjoyable for kids of all ages. Grab a few supplies and make an aquarium (that you don’t have to clean) full of crafted ocean animals!
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Cute Craft Alert: Jellyfish Ahead!
I have to tell you that when I was finished, I laughed out loud. The fun jellyfish with its flowing tentacles is just so whimsical. And it looks tie-dyed which appeals to this 70s girl.
So my granddaughter did a painting with me a while back and it ended up being a jellyfish! Jellyfish just aren’t on my radar because I live in the central United States and have rarely been to the ocean.
But I’m hearing they’re quite popular right now. So I thought it would be fun to make cute jellyfish crafts. Well, you could make jellyfish in 100 different ways. But I was kind of wanting a 3-D one that would go along with the plastic water bottle fish that we made in another post. I hope to hang them up in a mobile together.
You’ve gotta check these jellyfish out. They are so funny and very easy to make.
Supplies to Make Coffee Filter Jellyfish
You don’t need much to bring these cute jellyfish to life!
- Coffee filters: Personally I am not a coffee drinker, but Papa is so we always have these on hand. Dad's coffee filters come in handy so many times for crafts. You may just want to have a little stash of them in your craft supplies for making coffee filter crafts like this one. They don't need to be expensive, the low cost ones work great. Mine were about 10 inches in diameter.
- Water-based markers: The markers to use in this craft need to be water-based. So any of the markers that say "washable markers" on the front should work well. A permanent marker design will not blend with a water mist.
- Ribbons: The jellyfish's tentacles that come down from the jellyfish can be made out of anything that you have that is long and dangling! I cut a piece of bubble wrap and used a couple pieces of ribbon off of old packages. You could purchase ribbon for this or think of other things like fabric and lace, crepe paper, pipe cleaner, whatever you might have that could be cut up into strips. I think variety looks really cool. This is a great way to use up scrap items or recycle.
- Recycle a plastic bottle: Look around your house and your recycling bin and see what you can cut up to make the shape of the jellyfish. The end of a water bottle or plastic container for applesauce or pudding works well. You might find other things that also work well. Right now I just thought about a paper cup, paper or Styrofoam bowl or egg cartons.
Steps to Make an Easy Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft
Select two coffee filters. Lay them down in a jelly roll pan, on cookie sheets, or on a surface that can get wet like an old tablecloth.
With water-based markers color a design on the coffee filters. This design will get smeared by the water, so it does not need to be real detailed.
Use a squirt bottle on the misting setting and spray the coffee filters lightly until they are just wet.
Allow the coffee filters to dry completely.
Cut a plastic bottle or other use another object as the jellyfish form. See the supply list.
Use one of the decorated coffee filters to glue over your plastic bottle or pudding cup form. This is the jellyfish's body.
Cut the second coffee filter in a spiral from the outside edge to the center of the circle in a long continuous strip that’s about a half inch wide. When finished cut this in half so you have two pieces.
Gather your ribbons or other materials that you have found for jellyfish tentacles and find the halfway point for all of them. Also use the two pieces of the spiral cut coffee filter. Gather those in your hand and tie a string (about 1 foot long) around them to hold them together at that halfway point.
In the center of the bottom of your pudding cup poke a small hole. This will be the top of the jellyfish. Draw the two ends of your strings on the tentacles up through that hole. Tie a pony bead onto the strings so that the string does not fall back through the hole. Tie the ends of the string together so it makes a loop to hang up the jellyfish.
Glue on googly eyes to make a face on your jellyfish. That’s all there is to it! Isn’t it cute?
Craft Tips
- Mist only: Do not pour water over the coffee filters. The design on them will be completely lost. The misting with a spray bottle is a much better method.
- Water based markers only: This craft only works with water-based markers. There are several color sets for markers, which would make different looking jellyfish.
Craft Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few ways you can customize and play with this craft.
- Use fabric: Use a 8 to 10 inch in diameter circle of fabric instead of a coffee filter.
- Color scheme: Use a color scheme, such as a monochromatic color scheme for your jellyfish. Monochromatic means colors that are close to one another on the color wheel. It could be shades of pinks, blues, and purple, OR red, orange, and yellow combinations, OR blue, purple, and green combinations. The pictures show the simple multi-colored designs I drew. I just went for a tie-dye look and I certainly got it!
- White ghost: Leave the coffee filter white and glue it over your form. Use it as a little ghost for Halloween. You could still add the tentacles if you want them but make them white
FAQ
Yes, you could use paper towel and cut it into circles. Or use fabric and cut it in a circle, you would not use sharpies on fabric.
These would be very cute, hung on a mobile. You could use an embroidery hoop and tie ribbons to it and then tie the jellyfish to that. You could also make a garland with a whole series of them that hung on a long ribbon as party decor for a birthday party, or just for a decoration in a room.
More Animal Craft Ideas for Kids
Looking for more great DIY kids crafts with an animal theme? Here are a few favorites for you to try:
- Plastic Bottle Fish Craft
- Easy Seashell Crabs
- Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
- Easy DIY Animal Masks from Craft Foam
- DIY Frog Ball in a Cup Game
Enjoy!
If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com
Easy Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft (simple for kids)
Equipment
- Spray bottle
Items Required
- 2 Coffee filters
- 1 Form for the jellyfish out of recycled, plastic water bottle or putting plastic cup, small Styrofoam or paper bowl
- 4 Ribbons and streamers out of various materials each about 18 inches long
- 2 Googly eyes
- Glue
- 1 Pony bead
- 12-18" String
- 1 Spray bottle
Instructions
- Select two coffee filters. Lay them down in a jelly roll pan, on cookie sheets, or on a surface that can get wet like an old tablecloth.
- With water-based markers color a design on the coffee filters. This design will get smeared by the water, so it does not need to be real detailed.
- Use a squirt bottle on the misting setting and spray the coffee filters lightly until they are just wet.Allow the coffee filters to dry completely.
- Cut a plastic bottle or other use another object as the jellyfish form. See the supply list.
- Use one of the decorated coffee filters to glue over your plastic bottle or pudding cup form. This is the jellyfish's body.
- Cut the second coffee filter in a spiral from the outside edge to the center of the circle in a long continuous strip that’s about a half inch wide. When finished cut this in half so you have two pieces.
- Gather your ribbons or other materials that you have found for jellyfish tentacles and find the halfway point for all of them. Also use the two pieces of the spiral cut coffee filter. Gather those in your hand and tie a string (about 1 foot long) around them to hold them together at that halfway point.
- In the center of the bottom of your pudding cup poke a small hole. This will be the top of the jellyfish. Draw the two ends of your strings on the tentacles up through that hole. Tie a pony bead onto the strings so that the string does not fall back through the hole. Tie the ends of the string together so it makes a loop to hang up the jellyfish.
- Glue on googly eyes to make a face on your jellyfish. That’s all there is to it! Isn’t it cute?
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