There are two ways to make a suncatcher – you can melt beads into a frame or you can simply add color with a translucent paint. The kids love to see their creations turned into pretty window art and it’s fun to watch the transformation. Today, I’ll show you how we made both kinds. The packages come with step by step instructions, but I’ll show you how we made ours.
- For the melted bead oven version:
- For the painted version:
Step 1: Place the metal frame on an aluminum foil covered cookie sheet. Make sure the foil is smooth or the beads will melt into the shape of any creases in the foil. Pour each package of colored beads into individual bowls or shallow cups. This will make it easier to pick individually colored beads as needed.
Step 2: Make a mini scoop with the plastic straw. We found that making a tiny spoon from a straw really helped in placing the colored beads in detailed areas. Simpy cut off one side of a regular plastic straw as shown.
The second decorating option is a painted design. The suncatchers come already filled with a clear plastic, and you simply paint them however you like with the special suncatcher paint. These tend to be an easier project for younger kids or kids with a shorter attention span. This is also a great group activity, especially if you get one of the large group kits which comes with a variety of designs.
Suncatchers are a fun summertime activity for boys and girls. The kits come in a variety of themes from flowers to cars, so there’s something for everyone! Make a pile of suncatchers and then decorate the windows with pretty color art pieces. Have fun!