Sun Catchers are so very magical & these heart wings have brought us so much joy!
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XO Gina
If you love to DIY and create joyful moments, this is for you!!
Sun catchers are so incredibly magical.
They use recycled materials: don’t throw away that box that just got delivered to your doorstep!!
They can be differentiated in so many ways. Don’t want to make wings? That’s ok! Check out this BLOG post HERE for all of the variations we have tried!!
We have made over 20 sun catchers over the years & they are truly magical each & every time.
They can be as simple or as complex as you'd like. They can be made out of recycled cardboard or a paper plate. They can be handheld, or you can wear them like wings. Regardless of how you make them or how you play with them, they are sure to bring JOY into your day!
An added bonus...they get you outdoors enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!
Looking for additional fun? Download our FREE Valentine’s Day Activity Pack HERE!!
Let's start with the materials!
You will need:
Cardboard or a paper plate
Clear packing tape
An Xacto knife
Cellophane paper
Scissors
It is important to note that tissue paper will create a really pretty design/piece of art but it will NOT reflect in the sun. You need cellophane paper. I buy a variety pack on Amazon.
Next, decide what kind of design you want.
Do you want them to be wings? Do you want to attach them to a craft stick to hold? Do you want them to stand up on their own? Do you just want to hold them & run around the yard with them? Each way is amazing & fun & totally dependent on what your plan is.
You can print out a template online and use that to trace or free draw your shape right on to the cardboard. Once you have your outline drawn, decide what cut-out you want to have on the inside of the shape. Draw those next.
It is time to start cutting out your design!
I have my kiddo pick the design, help draw it and tape on the cellophane paper, but I do the cutting for this activity.
Important: if you are using an xacto knife to cut out your shape, place another piece of cardboard underneath so that you do not cut into your surface! I have found that cutting down and applying pressure with my pointer finger to be the most effective method of cutting on the lines.
Remember, if you are just starting out, you can keep this simple. A square, a circle, or a triangle work great and you only need one or two to make the magic happen!
Adding the cellophane:
Once your design it completely cut out (the outside and the inside shapes) you can start adding the cellophane paper. This does not have to be exact. Cut the paper into strips and tape it to the back of your design. You want to make sure that there are no holes, but besides that, you don't have to worry about trying to make it "look nice." Just cover the spaces with your packing tape and you are reading to GO!
Go chase the SUN:
Head outdoors and watch the magic happen. The reflections are going to change based on the position of the sun and the time of day. This lends itself to SO many learning opportunities!!!
For the HEART wings:
How To:
Use a pencil & draw the heart shape on a large piece of cardboard. I based the size of the wings off of her height.
Inside of the heart, draw a bunch of smaller hearts.
Cut out the outer & inner using the X-acto knife or scissors.
Cut pieces of cellophane paper and tape to the back. This doesn’t have to be neat or exact, just cover all open spaces & tape down edges.
To make them into wings:
Cut two equal pieces of string. I start long & then cut them down.
Tape one end of the string to the left of the center (top).
Tape one end of the second piece of string to the right of the center (top).
You are going to tape the ends to the bottom of the wings. This will create two loops that they can slip their arms through like a backpack.
You can either cut the strings before you tape them, or loop/tie them tighter once they are on! This is usually what I do because it creates a perfect fit.
Then, go chase the sun! Depending on where the sun is and the time of day, the shadows will be longer/shorter/brighter!
Looking for other Valentine’s Day activity’s?!
Check these out:
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