Coffee filter art is definitely a classic project for kids. Probably because it seems to be a universal hit – at least in my experience. These Halloween art activities are focused on pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns made via coffee filter art. The kiddos and I are pretty happy with how they turned out!

coffee filter Halloween art activities

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Materials
Coffee filters
Eye droppers
Construction paper (white, green, black)
Yellow glitter liquid watercolors
Orange glitter liquid watercolors
Orange liquid watercolors

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Big thanks to Discount School Supply for donating glitter liquid watercolors to my classroom!

Directions
Set up the area! I’d suggest using an art tray of some kind. Place a piece of white construction paper down, with a coffee filter on top. Place liquid watercolors in small jars, each with an eye dropper.

Encourage the kiddo to drop just a drop or two of the watercolors on the coffee filter at a time. Like with last year’s coffee filter flowers, we discussed saturation and over-saturation during this art activity! Most of my students focused on using the orange watercolors, with accents of the sparkly yellow watercolors.

Once most (or all) of the coffee filter has been colored, grab another piece of construction paper. Have the child help press this piece of paper over the filter. The paper absorbs some of the liquid watercolors, creating a print (as does the sheet below the filter). Put the papers and the coffee filter to dry.

Once everything is dry, it’s time to make pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. Call the kiddos over a few at a time to cut out decorations for their jack-o-lanterns. Most of my students attempted to cut different shapes out for eyes, noses, and mouths (and a few added legs and arms). I helped when requested, of course.

Some children chose to keep their work as pumpkins, so they just added stems to their work. Since there were multiple “pumpkins”, this was perfect for the kiddos who wanted to do the art over and over!

Have you ever made Halloween art activities using coffee filters? How’d they turn out?

After writing this, I came upon Toddler Approved’s Pumpkin Sun Catchers – she did them differently, but they turned out so well. I can’t wait to try out her technique soon! Also, Housing a Forest’s Monster Marker Prints are awesomely fun for kids!

A Full Week of Pumpkin Lesson Plans

Continue learning about pumpkins with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provide different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.