This coffee filter ladybug craft for kids is fun and easy to make at home or school.
Create a good luck ladybug in about 30 minutes (plus drying time) using coffee filters, wooden clothespins, and markers.
Want more insect activities? Check out this butterfly life cycle worksheet, printable butterfly addition ten frames, and our coffee filter butterfly, coffee filter dragonfly and coffee filter bee crafts.
You may also like these spring craft ideas!
Get 15 easy coffee filter craft tutorials conveniently all in one place for you with our Cute Coffee Filter Crafts digital craft book! Access it on your phone, tablet, or computer any time.
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Ladybug Coffee Filter Craft
Aren’t these ladybugs cute? I love making coffee filter crafts with kids. They are perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners as well as older children. Even adults can enjoy this coffee filter and clothespin craft project!
Make this activity educational by adding it to a ladybug unit study, garden unit study, or any spring themed lessons. You can look up interesting ladybug facts, learn about the ladybug life cycle, grow ladybugs, and make fun ladybug snacks!
Younger kids can help with coloring the coffee filter, which makes the ladybug’s wings, and painting the clothespins. They will also love misting the coffee filter paper and watching the colors spread and blend.
Older kids may be able to complete this ladybug craft project on their own with adult supervision, but younger children may need more assistance with assembling it.
I recommend using a hot glue gun because it dries quicker and it makes the craft more durable, especially if you use it for a decoration.
If you are making these with younger children, you may want to use tacky craft glue (that’s my favorite one to use) instead, but you will need additional drying time.
When they are completed, hang the ladybugs up, clip them onto a banner or to decorate the top of a gift bag. You could also hot glue a small magnet to the back and stick it on the fridge!
Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft Supplies:
- Round White Coffee Filters
- Red and Black Washable Markers
- Wooden Spring Clothespins
- Googly Eyes
- Black Craft Paint
- Black Chenille Stems (aka pipe cleaners)
- Black Pom Poms
- Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Scrap of Cardboard
- Water Spray Bottle
- Gallon zip top bags or cookie sheet or wax paper (to lay filters on for drying)
How to Make a Coffee Filter Ladybug:
Start by flattening out the coffee filter. Color it with a red washable marker. Draw and color in random dots with a black washable marker.
Place your colored coffee filter papers on a cookie sheet or plastic zip top bag and mist with water to watch the magic as the colors spread and blend!
TIP: Wax or freezer paper will work as well in place of a cookie sheet, but place an old towel underneath to protect your work surface.
Set them aside to dry. Depending on the humidity, it will take about 1-2 hours for the filters to air dry. Some readers have suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
Next, clip the wooden clothespin to a scrap of cardboard. This will make it easier to hold while painting. Paint all surfaces of the clothespin with black craft paint to create the body. Set it aside to dry.
Once dry, fold the coffee filter in half and then in half again. With scissors, trim off a one-inch section around the perimeter of the coffee filter. After trimming, unfold the filter and lay it flat.
Now, cut a black chenille stem in half with scissors. Bend it in the center and then curl both ends to create antenna.
Glue the black chenille stem onto the back of the top of the clothespin (where it clips closed).
Glue the pom pom to the front of the top of the clothespin to make the ladybug’s head. Then glue two googly eyes to the head of the ladybug.
Lastly, cut a slit three-quarters of the way up the center of the coffee filter to create the ladybug’s wings. Clip this part into the clothespin.
Did you make this project with your kids or students? We’d love to see it! Take a picture of it, then join our private Facebook group and show us in there.
More Coffee Filter Crafts:
- Coffee Filter Peacock
- Coffee Filter Dragonfly
- Coffee Filter Bee
- Coffee Filter Butterflies
- Coffee Filter Rainbow
- Coffee Filter Bats
- Coffee Filter Turkeys
- Coffee Filter Leprechaun
- Coffee Filter Angels
- Coffee Filter Santa
- Coffee Filter Wreath
- Coffee Filter Holly Garland
- Coffee Filter Poinsettia Flowers
- Coffee Filter Hearts
Coffee Filter Ladybug
Transform coffee filters and clothespins into a cute ladybug spring craft for kids!
Materials
- 1 Round White Coffee Filter
- Red and Black Washable Markers
- 1 Wooden Spring Clothespin
- 2 Googly Eyes
- Black Craft Paint
- 1 Black Chenille Stem (aka pipe cleaner)
- 1 Black Pom Pom
Tools
- Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or tacky craft glue)
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Scrap of Cardboard
- Water Spray Bottle
- Gallon zip top bags or cookie sheet or wax paper (to lay filters on for drying)
Instructions
- Start by flattening out the coffee filter. Color it with a red washable marker. Draw and color in random dots with a black washable marker.
- Place your colored coffee filter papers on a cookie sheet or plastic zip top bag and mist with water to watch the magic as the colors spread and blend!
- TIP: Wax or freezer paper will work as well in place of a cookie sheet, but place an old towel underneath to protect your work surface.
- Set them aside to dry. Depending on the humidity, it will take about 1-2 hours for the filters to air dry.
- Some readers have suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
- Next, clip the wooden clothespin to a scrap of cardboard. This will make it easier to hold while painting. Paint all surfaces of the clothespin with black craft paint to create the body. Set it aside to dry.
- Once dry, fold the coffee filter in half and then in half again. With scissors, trim off a one-inch section around the perimeter of the coffee filter. After trimming, unfold the filter and lay it flat.
- Now, cut a black chenille stem in half with scissors. Bend it in the center and then curl both ends to create antenna.
- Glue the black chenille stem onto the back of the top of the clothespin (where it clips closed).
- Glue the pom pom to the front of the top of the clothespin to make the ladybug’s head. Then glue two googly eyes to the head of the ladybug.
- Lastly, cut a slit three-quarters of the way up the center of the coffee filter to create the ladybug’s wings. Clip this part into the clothespin.
Notes
Drying time may vary.
