While yellow marigolds, which are known as the flowers of the dead, are traditionally used, you'll often see big, bright blossoms as part of Day of the Dead decorations and flower crowns.

Did you know you could make your own paint dyed flowers using coffee filters?

It's really easy, though it can get a bit messy. These particular flowers glow under a black light because they're made with DecoArt American Neon Lights paint!

Items Needed:

• Coffee Filters
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Water
• Foam Brushes

Instructions:

I chose to make my flowers first and then paint dye them. But you can also dye the coffee filters first and assemble them once they're dried.

You'll need six coffee filters to make each flower.

Begin by folding each coffee filter in half, then in half again and again and again. You'll need to make four total folds for each coffee filter. You should end up with a small triangle.

If you like, you can trim the top edge of the triangle into a rounded petal shape, as shown. But this step is not necessary.

If you end up trimming the petals, your finished flower will look like the pink one above.

Next, unfold the coffee filters and stack them on top of one another.

Secure the center of each flower by adding two staples. Make sure the staples go all the way through the stack of flowers.

To form the flower, pull each coffee filter up from the center, scrunching so it stands up. Continue with each successive coffee filter, until you have a shape that resembles a flower.

Pinch the bottom of the flower into a point and secure with two staples. This will hold the shape and ensure the flower doesn't come apart.

You may need to ruffle and fluff the petals of the flower to get the shape you like. This is what the finished flower should look like.

Now we move onto the messy part -- paint-dyeing the flowers.

Use a damp foam brush to randomly cover the edges and center of the flower with DecoArt Americana Neon Lights paint.

Pinch the base of the flower so that the petals are tight. Dip the top of the flower, about an inch or so, into a bowl of water and squeeze out the excess water.

Gently separate the layers as best you can, being careful not the tear the wet coffee filters. Don't worry if you can't separate every edge. As the flowers dry, you can gently separate the layers.

Once the blossoms are dry, fluff the flowers back into shape.