We kicked off summer this week on our bi-weekly segment on Good Day Acadiana with Alex Worstell Wednesday morning. My schedule has been hectic with the end of the school year and coaching with the AHSA Commandos volleyball team, so I knew I needed to find a craft that would be easy and fun.
Suncatchers are truly easy to make and is the perfect craft to let your kid's unleash their inner Picasso and get creative. We have three easy ideas to create a suncatcher with your kids this summer. Check out the post from our Macaroni KID New Iberia Facebook Page to see what we made:
I've made suncatchers before as a kid and using paint-by-numbers sets from the local dollar stores. But I wanted to incorporate items most of us already have at home. I got the idea for these crafts from Days with Grey and put my own twist on them. These three crafts are simple and can be made as a rainy day activity at home or even while you are on vacation.
Suncatchers for Toddlers
If you have toddlers, or children of varying ages, sometimes the younger ones get frustrated when they can't paint or color as well as their older siblings. And as parents know, arts and crafts with toddlers can be super messy! This craft will keep them occupied creating and not make to much of a mess for you to clean up.
Supplies You'll Need:
- Construction or light colored paper
- Cooking oil
- Paint brush or cotton swab
Trace a circle in your construction paper about the size of a bowl. Cut it out. Pour some cooking oil in a small cup or bowl and let your toddler get creative!
Have them dip the paint brush or cotton swab in the oil, only using a small amount. They can draw shapes, lines, or images on their suncatcher. It's important not to use to much oil. The more oil you use to draw your image will make it spread through the paper, blurring the design.
You can also add other things like stickers or crayons to the suncatcher. Once its done, tape it to your windows or hang them from a string.
 Image by Mia Barletto |
Coffee Filter Suncatchers
I loved making this coffee filter suncatcher because it was so easy and relaxing! Kids of all ages will enjoy this one and it doesn't take much to make it.
Supplies You'll Need:
- Coffee filters
- Markers
- Decorative Washi tape or clean Scotch tape
- String or ribbon
Take your coffee filter and color it in with markers. You can draw abstract shapes, a detailed image, or even draw your name. The trick is to make sure your entire coffee filter is covered.
Once you have completed your drawing, take your tape and begin to add small pieces of tape around the edges of the coffee filter, going completely around it. This will allow for a little additional weight to let your suncatcher hang easier. Poke a hole a section of tape on your coffee filter and hang it up in the window. The sun will filter through the color adding some sparkle and shine!
Creative Tissue Paper Suncatchers
Honestly, you can get super creative with this one or keep it just as simple as the coffee filter suncatcher. Watch as Alex and I chat about creating these suncatchers during the show:
Here's what you'll need to make these tissue paper suncatchers:
- Four popsicle sticks
- Markers
- Mod Podge
- Paint brush or cotton swab
- Hot glue
- Tissue paper used for gifts
- Clear sheet protectors or clean, clear plastic wrap
- Stickers, or other small decorative items like noodles, beans, or sequins
- Paper clip and a piece of string or ribbon
First, color or decorate your popsicle sticks. We just colored ours with markers. Now, using hot glue, put your popsicle sticks together in the shape of a square. Next, take your tissue paper and cut those into as many different shapes and sizes as you like.
Once that's done, take your clear sheet protectors and trim it to the size of your square. You will need two pieces to cover the front and back. You can probably use plastic wrap, but you will have to use a few pieces as it is much thinner than the sheet protectors.
Now that you have your sheet protector cut out, hot glue one piece on the front of your square. Make sure that's dry, trimmed if you need to, and in place. Next, cover the entire clear sheet protector with a coat of Mod Podge. Now begin adding your slivers of tissue paper to your square. You can press them in gently with your fingers. You may also need to add another coat of Mod Podge once you get them all in place.
Take the other piece of clear sheet protector you cut out and hot glue it over your tissue papers. You may need to trim it a bit so it doesn't hang over the edge of your popsicle sticks. Add stickers or other decorative items to your popsicle sticks.
Hot glue a small paper clip to the back of your suncatcher. Let that dry. Then tie your string through the paperclip and you are ready to hang your creation!
Join us next time on Good Day Acadiana on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 7:00 am to 9:00 am for more fun, inexpensive kid's crafts you can make at home.
You can also catch the live stream of News 15 Today online. Or, catch up on our past crafting segments with Alex Worstell on News 15 KADN on their You Tube Channel.
Happy Crafting Acadiana! |
