Project: Deck The Halls - Coffee Filter Tree

Here we have yet another project idea from Nesting Place. If you haven't checked out her blog, you should. She has some great DIY projects - including this coffee filter tree.

She used a styrofoam cone from the craft store ($4-$5) and a package of large coffee filters.

I was trying to do this on a dime, so I, instead, went to the Dollar Tree and found a 16 inch (or so) tall plastic cone toy (some type of water toy I think???) down the toy isle and decided to try it from there. I also purchased two packs of medium sized coffee filters from the dollar store.

Cost: $3.00
Time: 1-2 hours

I didn't take step by step pictures, but hopefully these directions will help. You can also visit Nester's blog for her directions. She also made a glorious coffee filter wreath as well.

Take your cone and hot glue white paper around it to cover the color of the cone. I only covered the bottom half of mine, halfway through the project and I can see lime green hues through the coffee filters now, even though the tree is completed.

Once the cone is covered with paper, you can begin gluing the coffee filters to start forming your tree.

Fold the coffee filters in fourths and/or eighths, then hot glue the folded end to the cone. Start from the bottom of the cone and work upward.

TIP - this took FOREVER. I had planned on making a few of these trees, but decided I was going to be lucky to be able to finish one. It took about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish. I wanted my tree to be thick and full, so I think it took me extra long. It took about 1 1/2 dollar store packages of coffee filters.

Once you have your tree filled with enough filters, take a pair of scissors and shape it into a more tree-like form. Chances are before this is done, it will look uneven. Once you've clipped and trimmed the filters, it looks much, much better!

I almost gave up on this project four different times, but I absolutely love the way it turned out. It's wintry and unique, and the neutral white color makes it also another decoration that can last well into the beginning of the year.