How to Dye Coffee Filters
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So are you dying to know how to make your own Heart Shaped Coffee Filter Wreath?
In this here little post, I’m going to show you how to dye coffee filters. It’s so super easy you could do it with your toes. Okay…Maybe not, but it’s super easy.
First, you’ll need some Acrylic Craft Paint. I used Deco-art’s Americana in Lipstick. It’s red.
I love red lipstick. Sigh.
Sorry… I digress.
What You Need
Paint and Coffee Filters… that’s what you need.
I totally recommend going super bright with your paint.
This RED paint produced some gorgeous light pink flowers. The color will dilute, so as I always say… GO BOLD!
Dying the Coffee Filters
First, you’ll need a tub with some water. Not too much or your paint will be too thin.
I used around a couple of inches of water in this shoebox tub.
Pour some paint in. Just squeeze it in until you think you have enough.
Fortunately, this isn’t rocket science and there won’t be any fuselages on the line, here, yo.
Then stir…
And stir… 
And stir some more.. until it’s thoroughly dissolved.
Next, take a pile o’ coffee filters. I dyed 10 or so at a time.
And smush them down into the water/paint.
Then, lay them on a cookie sheet between two {or more} paper towels and squish as much water out as you can.
You might just have to use two hands.
Drying the Dyed Coffee Filters
Line the cookie sheet with some parchment paper. You might want to cover all the edges with the paper as well.
{The first time I dried my filters, I didn’t and I had some dark red lines where the filters touched the edge of the pan. I’m a quick learner, so I covered the edges and didn’t have any mo’ probs.}
Lay several piles of filters on you parchment covered cookie sheet.
Bake them in a 250 degree oven for about 20 minutes.
Check them often and don’t burn your kitchen down. This is your official warning.
I’m so not responsible if you forget to time your oven, and you go out hunting for four-leaf clovers and come back to a big pile of ashes.
Seriously… just watch them. I didn’t have a problem, and I’m sure you won’t either.
You might have to separate some and take some out and put the rest back in for a few minutes so they all get nice and dry.
They should come out looking just loverly.
Up next… How to make the purdiest coffee filter flowers ever.
I shall return.
Pin me for later, say the gorgeous dyed Coffee Filters…
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what i noticed was the lovely shape of your nails! they are so pretty!
You are hilarious! Thank you!
Just found you and absolutely love your posts, so humorous and real!! Ya got a new follower here 🙂
Thank you so much, Brittany! You tots made my day!
LOVE the color you picked, Gwen – red happens to be my favorite color! Can’t wait for the flower how-to!
Thank you, Keri! They are so easy to make and super duper pretty!
What a fun idea! It looks so much easier than I thought it would be. Sharing on my FB page today 🙂
Thank you so much, Karen! You’re da bomb!
Sooo purdy! Can’t wait for wreath!
Thank you, Vanessa!
Just wondering if you can dry these outside on a nice hot day in the sun?
As long as it’s not windy, right? Haha! But I am sure it would work just fine! I say go for it, Becky!
Hey there this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use
WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
i love this
awesome job , i did not use the oven ,,, i heat with wood so i dryed mine on top of the wood stove ,
my brother in law thought i was nuts , ( but he is a man so he knows nothing ) …..
When drying the coffee filters do you have to bake them? Like would they not look the same if you just leave them out to dry? Just curious 🙂
Hi,
Can you use any type of Acrylic Craft Paint?
Thanks Lauren x
Hi Lauren,
My guess would be yes. I say try it out and see what you think! I’ve only ever used the DecoArt acrylic paint.
Gwen
I wondered what would happen if ya tossed the filters in the drier.
Me too! Hmmm….
Do you iron them before dyeing them?
No, I don’t Judy. But I have ironed them after I dye them and it makes the flowers much prettier!
If I wanted a bolder color, could I use something like Rit Dye? Just thinking maybe a dye for cloth might yield a stronger color.
You could absolutely try that, Dayna! I’ve never done it, so I can’t say how it would work, but it’s worth a try!
After they have been dried, what happens if they get wet again. Do they run? Do they stain?
I really don’t know! My wreath has never gotten wet. I would definitely be careful where you hang it so it will stay dry!
Thank you.
absolutely love the way you explain things and what a cool way to make flowers! I’m going to keep following you! Thank you!
Thanks, Tamara! 🙂
I have used Rit dye in many colors to make coffee filter wreaths. It works perfectly. I’ve also used coffee and pomegranet tea to dye them. I sometimes air dry them and I also throw them in the clothes dryer for about 10-15 minutes. You can smooth them out and you are good to go.
Great post, by the way. Very enjoyable and I love the way the filters look like roses on your wreath.
Just discovered how to make paper filter wreaths and am working on my first one, a white with (enventually) red adornments and a bit of silver bling. Perfect for over the fireplace mantle. But as usual, my mind was wandering to my NEXT wreath (lol) and how I could actually find/make colored filters. Thanks for sharing.
Hey Gwen. Love this wreath. Never made one and know it’s a year or so after the fact. But could you estimate the count of coffee filters you used. Keep up the good work. I love your blog.
Hi Terrie!
I honestly cannot remember. I’m so sorry! I know I dyed about 100 maybe? I honestly don’t think I used that many.
Sorry I can’t be more exact!
xoxo
Gwen