DIY Campfire Craft: How to Make with Coffee Filters
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting!
This DIY campfire craft is a delightful way to enjoy a camping-inspired project with kids.
If your family loves camping or your getting ready for a camping theme for school, summer camp, or library event, this frugal activity is a must-try. It's also fantastic for rainy day fun. Using only a few supplies (featuring coffee filters), you can create a cute and colorful campfire that will spark your kids’ imaginations.
I'm sharing my tips and ideas for using this camping craft plus step-by-step instructions (with picture) to make this activity even easier to do with your students.
Brighten Your Day With A Camping Craft
Are you collecting ideas for summer fun and looking for affordable crafts? Maybe you're preparing for a summer camp week that's featuring outdoor camping? Or perhaps you'd like an interesting way to boost your homeschool fire safety lessons?
Well, this DIY campfire craft was a big hit with my boys so I had to share it with you!
We worked on this project as part of our camping and fire safety unit study and had a bunch of fun with it. This craft really go our creativity flowing but also sparked some great conversations.
As we made our colorful campfires (with coffee filters and sticks), we chatted about everything from fire safety tips to why a campfire is so important when you’re out camping. Such a low-stress way to work on communication skills with your kids while sneaking in some learning, too!
What You'll Need for This Campfire Craft
To do this easy craft with your kids, you'll need a few supplies. If you'd like your completed project to look like the pictures in the tutorial, make sure you have:
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers (orange and yellow)
- Spray bottle filled with water
- Scissors
- Small sticks or craft sticks
My boys and I like to change things up and add our own special touches to these types of activities. In place of coffee filters, you can use tissue paper (red, yellow, and orange - like what we used in our Minecraft torch toilet paper roll craft), especially glitter tissue paper. Also, we used a flameless tea light under the coffee filters to make it glow like a real campfire!
Amazon Basics Basket Coffee Filters for 8-12 Cup Coffee Makers, White, 200 CountCrayola Super Tips Marker Set (100ct), Fine Point Washable Markers, Drawing Markers for Kids & Adults, Great for Thick & Thin LinesCrayola Broad Line Markers (12ct), Washable Markers for Kids, Arts & Crafts Supplies, Coloring Markers, Gifts for Kids & Toddlers, 3+DilaBee Plastic Spray Bottles (4 Pack) - 8oz Spray Bottle for Hair, Gardening, Cleaning Solutions, Grilling - Water Spray Bottle for Pet Correction - Heavy Duty Spray Bottles for Cleaning BPA FreeLAZACA 120Pcs Craft Sticks, Wood Sticks for Crafting Twigs Crafts Log Toy DIY Photo Props Rustic Decorations Ornaments 10cm 0.3-0.5cm
Step-By-Step Instructions for Your DIY Campfire Craft
Color the coffee filters.
Lay both coffee filters flat. Use orange and yellow markers to color all over them.
Spray coffee filters with water.
Spray the coffee filters with water using a spray bottle. Watch as the colors blend together to create a fire-like effect. Let them dry completely.
Create the flame shape.
Once dry, fold each coffee filter in half, then in half again. Use scissors to cut out flame shapes along the rounded edge.
Assemble the fire.
Unfold the coffee filters and place one on top of the other. Pinch the center and twist.
Build the campfire.
Arrange small sticks or craft sticks in a crisscross pattern to form a campfire base. Place the twisted coffee filter flames on top. If needed, use glue or tape to secure them.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Campfire Craft
This DIY project is perfect for kids ages 3 and up. Younger kids may need some help with arranging the coffee filters. Older children can work independently and add more details.
While coffee filters work best for this project due to their texture and flexibility, you could use a piece of tissue paper as a substitute. The final look may vary slightly, but it’s still a fun and creative option!
Creative Ideas for Making and Using Your Craft
Want to take your DIY campfire craft to the next level? Make your own camping scene with paper tents, trees, and logs to sit on. Your kids can paint or draw a background for the sky - with sun and clouds for day and then flip over for a starry night. Add constellations, too!
If you have time, turn finding small sticks into an adventure. You can go on a nature walk or search around your backyard or playground.
To display your coffee filter campfires, place on a shelf, use as a table centerpiece, or incorporate into a camping-themed diorama in a shoebox.
Talk with your students about how they'd like to make and use their DIY campfires. One of my boys found a tiny stick and added bits of cotton to make it look like roasting marshmallows. Another boy added a few hot dogs to a stick, too!
More Frugal and Fun Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids
If you like this DIY campfire craft, I think you'll really like our other ideas for coffee filter crafts. These projects are budget-friendly and nice ways to use craft supplies that you already have. Here are a few of our top picks:
- Coffee filter rainbow
- Coffee filter butterflies
- Easy coffee filter flowers
- Coffee filter ladybug craft
⭐ This coffee filter DIY campfire craft is a brilliant activity for kids. I'd love to find out how you'll be using it. Please share your ideas (and any questions you may have) in the comments area at the bottom of this post!