Coffee Filter Bats
- Jessie
- Aug 6, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 30
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Get ready for some spooky, colorful fun with the Coffee Filter Bat Craft for Kids! This Halloween activity combines simple household supplies with a clever printable template to create a bat that’s both festive and fun. Children will love decorating the bat’s wings with coffee filters, markers, and a spray of water that transforms their artwork into a magical tie-dye design. With its mix of science, art, and seasonal charm, this craft is perfect for classrooms, homeschool projects, or family craft nights.
The process is easy and exciting, making it perfect for kids of all ages. First, children color their coffee filters with washable markers, blending shades of purple, orange, black, green, and blue. Then, with just a light mist of water, the colors bleed into each other to form a beautiful tie-dye effect. Once dry, the wings are cut out and attached to the printable bat body, creating a vibrant Halloween decoration that is both spooky and cheerful.
Teachers love that this Halloween bat craft is low-prep and highly engaging. It combines creativity with a little science experiment as kids watch the colors blend across the coffee filter. The printable bat body template gives children structure while still leaving plenty of room for personal expression in their wing designs. Best of all, the finished bats make wonderful classroom displays, hall decorations, or take-home treasures.
Parents will also appreciate the simplicity of this project. It requires only a few supplies—coffee filters, markers, water spray bottles, scissors, glue, and the bat body template. These are inexpensive materials that most families already have on hand, making this craft both fun and budget-friendly. Plus, kids can make as many bats as they’d like, experimenting with different color combinations each time.
This Coffee Filter Bat Craft isn’t just about art—it’s about fostering creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills. Kids get to experiment with colors, learn how water can transform their designs, and practice careful cutting and gluing as they assemble their bats. The hands-on nature of the craft keeps children engaged, while the exciting transformation of the coffee filters feels like a little bit of Halloween magic.
The finished bats are perfect for Halloween decorating. Hang them from the ceiling for a flying bat display, tape them to windows, or line them up on a bulletin board for a festive classroom wall. Their colorful tie-dye wings make them stand out from traditional black bat crafts, adding a fun and artistic twist to Halloween celebrations. Children will be proud to see their creations displayed as part of the holiday décor.
If your kids enjoy this project, be sure to explore other fun Halloween and fall crafts to go along with it! Favorites include the Coffee Filter Fall Tree Craft, spooky Witch Leaf Craft, the playful Mummy Paper Puppet, and interactive Halloween Clothespin Puppets. Each project is designed to be simple, affordable, and filled with creativity, giving parents and teachers a variety of options to keep kids crafting all season long.
Whether you’re planning a classroom Halloween party, searching for a fun after-school activity, or looking for a craft to enjoy as a family, the Coffee Filter Bat Craft for Kids is a perfect choice. It’s colorful, creative, and interactive, with just the right mix of spooky fun and artistic flair. Download the printable bat body template, grab a stack of coffee filters, and let your kids’ imaginations take flight with this tie-dye bat craft!
Step 1: Color Coffee Filter
Start by making the wings for the bats. You do this by flattening a large coffee filter and coloring on it with WASHABLE markers. Get creative and experiment with different patterns and colors. My favorite colors to use for bat wings are blue, black, red, orange and purple.
Step 2: Spray with Water
After the coffee filters have been colored, place them on a plastic grocery bag or an old cookie sheet and then spray them with water from a spray bottle. The water will make the colors bleed. Make sure you use just enough water to get the entire filter wet but avoid drenching it. Allow the coffee filter to completely dry.
Tip: Transfer the wet coffee filters onto a wire rack or a dry paper towel. Removing them from the wet surface onto a dry one will help the coffee filters dry faster.
Download & Print the Coffee Filter Bats Template
Download and print the template. Find directions at the end of this post for downloading the free black and white template or by purchasing the pre-colored template.
For best results, I recommend printing the template on 8.5x11 white cardstock. If cardstock isn’t available, regular paper will work too.
Step 4: Fold & Cut
Fold the dry coffee filter in half three times. Using scissors cut a scallop edge. Depending on your child's age, you might need to help them with this part.
Unfold the filter so that is just has one fold. It should look like this.
Step 5:
Pinch the filter down the middle and spread the outer edges apart. Tape the coffee filter to the back of the bat.
Congratulations—your Coffee Filter Bat Craft is complete! 🎉 You’ve created a spooky yet colorful Halloween decoration with tie-dye wings that are as unique as your imagination. Whether you hang your bat from the ceiling, display it on the fridge, or add it to a festive classroom wall, your finished bat is sure to bring Halloween cheer. Give yourself a high-five for crafting, experimenting with colors, and turning simple coffee filters into something magical!
How Do I Download the Coffee Filter Bat Template?
You can purchase the Coffee Filter Bat Template directly from Artsy Kids Zone. The template is available in two options: black and white (perfect for kids to color and customize) or pre-colored (ready to print, cut, and play).
After purchase, you’ll receive an instant digital download—no waiting, no shipping costs. Simply download the PDF, print at home, and start crafting! By purchasing, you’ll not only enjoy this fun project, but you’ll also be supporting Artsy Kids Zone so we can continue creating more creative activities for kids.
***These printables are intended for personal and school use exclusively. Unauthorized copying, uploading, republishing, distributing or alteration of these files in any manner is strictly prohibited. If you plan to showcase these printables, please ensure to include a link back to artsykidszone.com.
At Artsy Kids Zone, the creativity doesn’t stop with spooky fun—our crafts go far beyond Halloween! Kids can dive into magical play with 3D Paper Fairy Dolls, bring the barnyard to life with a Paper Cow Mask, or add a splash of color with a vibrant Coffee Filter Bald Eagles. They can also set sail on an underwater adventure with Mermaid Clothespin Puppets and explore other imaginative projects designed to spark creativity year-round. With so many fun crafts to choose from, there’s always something new and exciting waiting to inspire your child’s next masterpiece!
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