Ombre Coffee Filter Wreath And Backdrop

As part of the Hospitality Team at my son's school, during Valentine's week each grade level donates treats and goodies on a designated day.  I needed to come up with inexpensive decor for the teacher lounge and food table. A project that is just up my alley! 

If you remember my project last week, the DIY Soda Crate, was for the teacher lounge as well.  I love being able to volunteer my creativity to the school! 

After thinking about it for a bit, I decided to make a backdrop for the table so there would still be plenty of room for all the sweet treats.

To make the backdrop, I started with a project board from the Dollar Store and covered it with red and white chevron wrapping paper I bought there too.  

I already had a stash of cone coffee filters on hand so I grabbed a stack and got to work. To make the ombre wash, I added a few drops of  red craft paint to a bowl of water and mixed well.   

I dipped the ends of the coffee filters in the ombre wash a stack at a time.  Using my finger I smeared a bit of red paint on the rim of several of the filters to create dimension. I spread them out on a piece of cardboard overnight to let them dry.

To start the wreath, I glued a paper doily heart in the middle of the display board as a template for the shape. Then I twisted the coffee filters into petal designs and hot glued each filter around the outline of the doily heart. My fingers are recovering from all the burns I got from my new industrial glue gun. A small price to create beautiful things. 

After finding these Anthropologie-inspired letters HERE, I created two banners as the finishing touch for the backdrop.

I'm excited to see the teacher's reactions to my ombre wreath backdrop. This is definitely pretty enough decor for the PTA to use again.  Isn't there a saying about "waste not, want not?"  I'm kinda wishing the wreath was removable so I could hang above my fireplace.  Sounds like a project for another day.....  :)