Glitter Coffee Filter Christmas Trees

12.12.2013

I whipped this up while I was watching Monday night football.

I needed something for my mantle. I wasn't in love with it last year.

That tree just wasn't the right color. There's more I'd love to change, maybe next year.

So, I wanted to make something that didn't cost me an arm and a leg. How about only $1-$2?? Now, that's what I'm talking about.

I've seen coffee filter trees all over Pinterest, so I figured I could make one of these! I made my own cone though, because there was no way I was going to pay $5-$7 for a foam cone.

Cones are so easy! I just plug in my glue gun and wrap up a piece of paper. I actually used some poster board I had on hand.

Okay... Screech! Let me back up a minute...I feel like I'm getting ahead of myself.

I actually made two of these trees. The first one turned out to be really big! Way to big for the mantle, so I made a smaller one the next night. I used poster board for the first larger tree, then used some craft paper for the smaller one.

Ok, now let's move on...It's basically the same process.

After I twisted the paper into a cone, I used my glue gun to secure the last corner of the cone. It really works, you don't have to glue the whole thing. And whats nice about making your own cones, is you can make them as tall or wide as you like.

The bottom of the cone will be off, so I just trim it to make it as even as possible. It isn't going to sit on a table, so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Now comes the fun part. Coffee filters! I used two coffee filters together, then folded them in half and then in half again.

Well, it's not exactly in half but close.

Then I put glue on the triangle part of the bottom and glued it to the cone.

For the first row I folded the triangle under the edge of the cone.

Then just went around.

For the rest of the filters I glued the "triangle" pointing down, like so.

Then they fluff and kind of hang down.

Kind of looks like a clown hat. :) But not done yet...

This is the large one. Just a bit too big.

I thought it looked a bit out of place on the mantle.

And for some reason it was still kind of "creamy" looking and not white like the little one. I did use a different package of filters, but I didn't think it would make a difference. Oh well.

I have no idea where I'm going to put it...

The little one worked out just right!

I trimmed the smaller tree so that it was tapered at the top. I need to do that to the larger one too.

I then rummaged around in the basement for some glitter. I found some old t-shirt paint that was in silver glitter. Perf! So, I just painted it on the edges.