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Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft

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Aren’t these ladybugs cute? This coffee filter ladybug craft is fun and easy to make at home or school.

I love working on coffee filter crafts for kids. They are perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners as well as older children. Even adults can enjoy this coffee filter and clothespin craft project! 

Create a good luck ladybug in about 30 minutes (plus drying time) using coffee filters, wooden clothespins, and markers.

Two coffee filter ladybug crafts, one held up by a hand and another laying against grey wood background.

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!

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Ladybug Coffee Filter Craft

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.

One finished coffee filter ladybug laying on grey wood background and another completed project standing up.

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!

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.

Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft Supplies:

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.

Coffee filter colored with red marker and black circles next to markers, water bottle, and on a plastic bag.

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.

Wet red and black colored coffee filter laying on plastic bag next to water squirt bottle.

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.

Painting two clothespins black while clipped to a piece of cardboard.

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. 

One round coffee filter colored like a ladybug and scissors laying next to folded coffee filter showing how to trim it.

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).

Completely assembled ladybug craft laying next to painted clothespin, black pom pom, googly eyes, and black pipe cleaner shaped like antenna by hot glue gun and an unclipped coffee filter.

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.  

More Coffee Filter Crafts:

One ladybug made with coffee filter and clothespin leaning against gray wooden backdrop.

Coffee Filter Ladybug

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Transform coffee filters and clothespins into a cute ladybug spring craft for kids!

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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!
  3. 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.
  4. Set them aside to dry. Depending on the humidity, it will take about 1-2 hours for the filters to air dry.
  5. Some readers have suggested using a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Now, cut a black chenille stem in half with scissors. Bend it in the center and then curl both ends to create antenna.
  9. Glue the black chenille stem onto the back of the top of the clothespin (where it clips closed).
  10. 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.
  11. 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.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

© Darcy Zalewski
Category: Crafts
Two completed ladybugs made with coffee filters and clothespins on a grey wood background above text box with craft title. Another finished ladybug laying on grey wood background under text box.

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