Coffee Filter Seashell Suncatcher Craft

Does summertime have you thinking about the beach? Then you’ll love this coffee filter seashell suncatcher craft! It is one of our fun summer-themed coffee filter crafts for kids of all ages.

Transform coffee filters and colored paper into a colorful seashell suncatcher you can hang in the window. You can do this craft at home, as a family, or with a group such as a homeschool co-op or at school. 

This project is ideal for preschool and older. Younger children may need some help to complete this project depending on their scissor skills. Watching the colors spread and blend when spraying with water is fun for everyone!

Make decorations or set up a crafting station at a mermaid themed birthday party with this coffee filter seashell, our coffee filter mermaid tail suncatcher, and our coffee filter starfish. They’ll make guests feel like they are hanging out under the sea!

Free printable available at the end of this post.

Benefits of Making a Seashell Coffee Filter Suncatcher

Making these coffee filter seashell suncatchers provides coloring, tracing, cutting and gluing practice for preschool and kindergarten children. This helps them work on fine motor development which is important for things like writing.

Younger children may need assistance cutting out the center of the seashell shaped suncatcher frame, but older children will also enjoy completing this craft mostly by themselves. 

For further learning, you can introduce them to the color wheel. This handy tool is a great way to understand the relationship between colors and how they work together.

Not only is it an informative activity, but it’s also an exciting way to explore creativity and art. With a color wheel, you can experiment with new combinations and learn how to create different moods and effects in your artwork.

Another idea is to learn about different types of shells. You can use this seashell identification worksheet to discuss the variety of patterns on various seashells.

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Coffee Filter Seashell Craft Supplies:

It’s a quick (less than 30 minutes) and easy craft to make using common, affordable craft supplies you may already have around the house.

• Seashell Suncatcher Template (available by filling out the form at the bottom of this post)
• Round White Coffee Filters
• Washable Markers in Pink, Purple, Green, Blue
• 2 sheets of Colored Paper in Blue, Green, or Purple
• Glue Stick
• Water Spray Bottle (for color blending)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Paper Plate, parchment paper, ziploc bag or craft mat

Helpful Crafting Tips

Coffee filters bleed color because they are so thin, so it is important to protect your work surface. You can do this by place coffee filters on top of a craft mat, parchment paper, or even a paper plate before spraying. 

We do not recommend placing them on top of newspaper because the newspaper may absorb the colors as your filters dry.

These may require additional drying time depending on how much water is sprayed on the coffee filter during the blending stage. Using a fingertip water spray bottle can help keep it to a light misting and reduce the amount of water used than a squeeze trigger style bottle. 

How to Make a Coffee Filter Seashell Suncatcher:

First, flatten out round white coffee filters. You will need one for each seashell suncatcher you wish to make.

Then lightly color them in with washable markers. Let kids use whatever colors they want, but we suggest pink, purple, blue, and green for this seashell.

Place the colored coffee filter on your covered work surface and mist with a water spray bottle.

Have fun watching the magic of the colors move and blend! Then set the wet coffee filters aside to dry. The drying time will vary depending on how much water is sprayed on them.

Print out the seashell suncatcher template (fill out the form near the end of this post) and cut out the seashell frame.

Pinch the template in half, cut a slit in the center, and then cut out the inside of the shape. Younger children may need help with this step or prepare the template for them ahead of time.

Next, trace the seashell frame pattern two times on colored paper. Cut it out with scissors. 

Once the coffee filter is dry, place the suncatcher frame over it until you are happy with how it shows through the frame.

Glue the colored coffee filter to the first suncatcher frame with a glue stick. Then flip it over, line up the second frame and glue them together so the coffee filter is in between the two paper frames. 

Carefully trim any excess tie-dyed coffee filter outside of the seashell frame with scissors. The colored paper should make a nice outline around the brightly colored coffee filter. 

Hang the suncatcher in a sunny window or door using a loop of string or double-sided tape.

More Ocean Themed Activities for Kids

Summer is an ideal time to engage your kids in learning through play, and ocean-themed activities offer excellent opportunities for that! If you’re planning summer camp at home, you can incorporate this craft into a themed week focused on the beach or ocean.

From crafting sessions to nature strolls and scavenger hunts, there’s a plethora of enjoyable and educational activities for you and your little ones to enjoy throughout the summer.

Sandy Beach Cloud Dough

Create a touch of the beach at home with Summertime Sandy Beach Cloud Dough. This tactile activity not only sparks creativity but also enhances fine motor skills. It’s a perfect indoor or backyard activity that promises to bring oceanic adventures to your doorstep.

Ocean Charades Game

Dive into a sea of fun with the Printable Ocean Charades Game, perfect for a lively family game night or as part of your ocean-themed summer camp. This free printable comes chock-full of marine-inspired prompts that helps kids improve their nonverbal communication skills and quick thinking. Get ready for heaps of laughter and a splash of creativity with every round!

Dolphin Coloring Pages

Unleash your child’s inner artist with these engaging Dolphin Coloring Pages. Coloring is not just a fun way to pass the time; it’s also beneficial for children’s development, improving hand-eye coordination and concentration. Perfect for a quiet afternoon or accompanying a lesson on ocean life, these printable coloring sheets are a convenient and mess-free activity for kids of all ages.

DIY Ocean Pop-Up Book

Create a captivating 3D underwater world with the DIY Ocean Pop-Up Book Printable. This hands-on project encourages kids to cut, color, and assemble their own oceanic scenes, fostering not only creativity but also storytelling skills. Once completed, they’ll have a personalized pop-up book to treasure and share.

Sea Shell Sculptures

Bring the beauty of the ocean’s treasures into your home with Colorful Shell Sculptures. Ideal for young explorers and budding artists, this activity invites children to create unique artwork using seashells of various shapes and sizes.

Shark Life Cycle

Discover the fascinating journey from egg to apex predator with the Shark Life Cycle Printable Activity. This educational resource is perfect for young marine biologists eager to learn about the growth stages of one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures.

Catch a wave of creativity with a colorful Coffee Filter Seashell Suncatcher craft, an ideal project for little hands during the summer months. As they transform simple coffee filters and seashells into stained glass-like decorations, children will delight in the play of sunlight through their handiwork.

This whimsical activity offers not only a fun way to spend an afternoon but also an opportunity to explore the beauty of light and color. Hang their finished creations in a window and watch your kids beam with pride as their art enlivens your home with the vibrant hues of summer.