Suncatchers for Kids to Make

Whatever side of the world you are on, this time of year feels like a time when we need to soak up all the sun we can. Bring a little sunshine into your home or classroom with these suncatcher crafts kids can make. (They’d also be fun Mother’s Day presents or teacher appreciation gifts.)

If you’re making these at home and want to go the super easy route, you can buy a kit of Perler bead suncatchers, which has the peg board, pattern sheet and all the beads you need to make several suncatchers. They aren’t super see through but they are pretty to hang in a window. Or use the supplies you have to make designs of your choosing.

Speaking of supplies you already have, if you have a lot of pony beads you can also melt them down into a suncatcher using silicone molds or an old muffin tin. Check out the instructions from One Little Project (and as noted please do this with a toaster oven you can take outside since melting plastic fumes are nasty).

One Little Project has another pretty one done with flat glass pieces, which I feel like I have a ton of in my house so that would be an easy one for most people to do. If you don’t have glass beads you can easily find them at a dollar store.

Probably the easiest suncatcher idea here, and one that kids can do pretty much on their own, is this one using a coloring page from 100 Directions. As shown the pages are just printed on regular printer paper, but it might be fun to experiment with tracing the design onto tracing paper, parchment or even tissue paper to see how different kinds of paper allow the light through.

Another easy one involves going on a nature walk to make the sun shaped suncatcher craft from Fox Farm Home. These are so pretty with petals and grasses in them, but you could do a similar project any time of year with whatever relatively flat objects you can find outside.

These upcycled plastic suncatchers were made for Earth Day, but you can make them any time of year with different designs drawn on them. Use clip art as a guide or just let kids color them. Get all the details from Books and Giggles.

Pony Bead Suncatcher

Butterfly Suncatchers

Daffodil Suncatchers

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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