How to Make Coffee Filter Leis
A lei is a traditional Hawaiian garland, sometimes given as a greeting or parting gift. The image of a wreath of beautiful, tropical flowers has come to symbolize the island paradise to many people and nowadays leis are popular at Hawaiian-themed parties all over. Obviously, nothing beats fresh flowers strung together, but a coffee filter lei can be surprisingly convincing. If you have young children, they will enjoy helping out by dying the coffee filter "flowers" for you. Just be sure to thread the flowers on the needle yourself.
Instructions
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1
Fill a few bowls with water and stir in several drops of a different food coloring in each.
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2
Hold a coffee filter (still folded up) and dip the edge into the water. This will create a ring of color around the edge of the filter. Dip 20 filters in the different colors and leave all of them to dry for several minutes.
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3
Open a coffee filter. Then, wrap it closed around your finger. Remove your finger and put a rubber band around the filter. This will create the illusion of a narrow trumpet flower with spreading pedals.
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4
Thread a needle. Poke the needle through the center of all the flowers. Push the flowers so they are close to each other. Leave about 3 inches of thread on each end.
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5
Remove the needle and tie the thread ends to form the lei. You now have an authentic-looking coffee filter lei.
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