We decided it was time to update our colorful window display, and given the popularity of this activity we just had to do it again!
This time the girls and I painted inexpensive coffee filters…
…waited for them to dry…
… gathered three filters at a time, and folded them up to cut out super-colorful leaves…
…and stuck them with double-sided tape to our new tree!!!
You might recognize it as the branch from our Easy Spring Mural. It makes a fantastic tree as well!
I absolutely love how bright and colorful it looks!!
Quick, easy, frugal, and festive!
Have fun!!
I’ve added this post to:
Works for Me Wednesday @ We Are THAT Family
September 20th, 2010 on 7:41 pm
Oh that looks so pretty! I love Fall crafts.
September 21st, 2010 on 9:16 am
Me too! Fall is my absolute FAVORITE season!!
September 20th, 2010 on 7:45 pm
Oh, how beautiful.
September 24th, 2010 on 3:59 pm
Thanks, Phyllis! It makes me smile every time I open the door!
September 20th, 2010 on 7:58 pm
I love how the sun shines through them!
September 24th, 2010 on 3:59 pm
Me too!! Even on rainy days it has lots of color!
September 20th, 2010 on 8:01 pm
Such a lovely idea! I never thought of using coffee filters, will have to grab some next time I go to the shops.
I bet the kids love having a display that they made themselves up in the window!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:00 pm
They are very proud of it! Coffee filters are super-cheap too… I usually get packages of them at the local dollar store. Have fun!!
September 20th, 2010 on 8:01 pm
We have to do this one. So beautiful!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:00 pm
Yay!! You’ll have a great time!
September 20th, 2010 on 8:04 pm
Beautiful! I love the way the light shines through too.
September 24th, 2010 on 4:00 pm
Thanks so much, Maryanne!
September 20th, 2010 on 8:10 pm
LOVE IT!!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:00 pm
September 20th, 2010 on 9:12 pm
SO pretty!!!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:01 pm
Thanks, Christy!
September 20th, 2010 on 9:27 pm
We did something similar last year, but I never knew how to display them well. Love the tree!
September 21st, 2010 on 9:17 am
Yay!! I think they would make for a beautiful bunting too! Have fun! xoxo
September 20th, 2010 on 9:54 pm
That looks awesome… I love the entire idea…
September 24th, 2010 on 4:01 pm
Thanks so much! xoxo
September 20th, 2010 on 11:16 pm
Great idea!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:01 pm
Thank you!!!!
September 20th, 2010 on 11:31 pm
someday I will do one of those window displays, and my husband will roll his eyes.
September 21st, 2010 on 9:18 am
LOL You crack me up! Would you believe Mark walked in the front door and didn’t even notice it????? He was completely oblivious!!
September 20th, 2010 on 11:43 pm
Wow – this is cute! I think that my niece would love this! Thanks for the idea!
September 21st, 2010 on 9:19 am
Fantastic! You’ll have a great time! Enjoy!! xoxo
September 21st, 2010 on 3:00 am
It looks wonderful!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:02 pm
Thanks, Christina!
September 21st, 2010 on 5:14 am
Sorry for being dim, but is that poster paint or watercolour?
September 21st, 2010 on 9:23 am
I have used both on coffee filters before, and they both work beautifully! We used watercolors this time — mainly out of sheer laziness, as the poster paints were alllllll the way upstairs.
Have fun!!
September 21st, 2010 on 8:47 am
oh.. that is really pretty!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:02 pm
Thanks, Shari! It’s so much fun to make!
September 21st, 2010 on 9:44 am
So fun bringing the outside in She really enjoys painting
September 24th, 2010 on 4:03 pm
Painting is always a big hit in this house — so much fun!
September 21st, 2010 on 9:46 am
Ooh – so pretty! I love the colors.
September 24th, 2010 on 4:03 pm
Thanks, Natalie!!!!
September 21st, 2010 on 11:23 am
Very pretty! I bet the neighbors agree
September 22nd, 2010 on 10:57 am
Thanks, Rebecca! While we were doing this, a few neighbors drove by and slowed down to get a better view of what we were up to…. so fun!!
September 21st, 2010 on 7:45 pm
how wonderful! That will be a great project for us this weekend.
May I ask what you used for the stem? It looks like some kind of paper, but one big piece, isnt’ it?
September 22nd, 2010 on 10:59 am
I used a roll of brown craft paper — very inexpensive. I think I got it at Target with the shipping/packaging materials…? I’ve also recycled plain brown grocery bags which work perfectly for this too! Have fun!!
September 22nd, 2010 on 2:04 pm
Thank you so much for your reply!
The weekend can come!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:03 pm
Yippie!!!!!!
September 21st, 2010 on 8:14 pm
Long time lurker here! I’m also a director of a preschool and have passed along some of your ideas to my teachers.
The coffee filters also work if the kids color it with markers and then you spray each one with water- the colors run together making the same effect (and sometimes less of a mess- especially with 12 kids in the class!)
I love your blog and your girls are so cute!
Thanks!
September 22nd, 2010 on 11:00 am
That is a perfect solution, especially for a large classroom!! Thanks so much for sharing, and I’m so happy to hear you’ve passed along some of our projects to the teachers — yay!!!
September 22nd, 2010 on 3:37 pm
That came out so cute. What a great fall decoration.
September 24th, 2010 on 4:04 pm
Thanks, Debby! We LOVE the Fall!!
September 23rd, 2010 on 10:35 pm
Love it, love it, love it!
I am a preschool teacher and you can bet we will be making those gorgeous leaves soon.
Thanks for sharing!
September 24th, 2010 on 4:04 pm
Fantastic! That makes me so happy!!!!
September 24th, 2010 on 11:34 pm
Totally in love with idea! Just became a new follower of your lovely blog
I featured this post and your blog on Crayon Couture!
http://crayoncouture.blogspot.com/2010/09/autumn-window-art.html
Thanks so much for sharing all your wonderful ideas!
September 25th, 2010 on 5:38 pm
oo very pretty!!!
September 25th, 2010 on 7:02 pm
Great project! I’m going to link to this on my linking party right now, and would love to see you there again sometime soon too! all the best!
September 25th, 2010 on 7:14 pm
Very sweet! Simple and effective. Love it.
September 26th, 2010 on 10:47 am
I like this very much. “J’aime beaucoup” like we says in French.
September 26th, 2010 on 2:50 pm
That is lovely, can’t wait to make one! Karen
Sippy Cup Central Mom
September 27th, 2010 on 11:35 pm
Beautiful!
Love Val
September 29th, 2010 on 7:55 pm
Cool project. My girls will love doing this.
September 30th, 2010 on 1:52 pm
I just wanted to let you know that I have an award for you at my blog for all the sunshine you give people.
http://homeschooljournal-bergblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/sunshine-award-from-homeschooling-in.html
October 1st, 2010 on 12:43 pm
Ooooh, my 4 year old and 2 year old are making this soon! I’m making the trip tomorrow to Target for the brown paper.
October 1st, 2010 on 9:57 pm
Yay!!! That makes me so happy!
October 3rd, 2010 on 4:51 pm
Beautiful. Colorful. So cheerful and sun shiny. I love it! *Ü*
October 15th, 2010 on 1:43 pm
Thank you! Our girls had a blast doing this. We have been adding leaves daily. Here is our version on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43688713@N08/5083644161/in/pool-1276371@N25
October 21st, 2010 on 4:28 pm
I love this!! I used your idea for the leaves in a school project my kids and I did- thanks!!
Myrnie
http://iwonderwoman.blogspot.com/2010/10/kids-made-this-hand-sillouhette-window.html
November 7th, 2010 on 3:56 pm
Thanks so much for the great idea. We had a blast and it looks beautiful!
November 15th, 2010 on 7:57 am
Lovely craft. I didn’t have double sided tape on hand so we just did this on a piece of white paper.
November 17th, 2010 on 6:16 pm
Beautiful, beautiful…. thank you.
September 8th, 2011 on 11:41 pm
Did you use double sided tape for the tree as well? I would think the tape would show, but i don’t see it in your pics.
September 9th, 2011 on 7:59 am
Yes, I used it for the tree too. It’s clear so it doesn’t show. Hope this helps!