Make this Valentine’s Day extra special for the kids with this beautiful suncatcher craft. It’s an easy craft activity that combines art with fine motor skills and helps the kids learn about the properties of light. You only need a few supplies to create these magical mosaics. This craft activity is made easier with the free printable heart template that you can get at the bottom of this post.
RELATED: Stained Glass Heart Suncatcher Craft
These heart suncatchers would make awesome Valentine’s gifts and is an awesome heart ideas activity. Here are more ways to make them special:
- Stick them on any lid, such as a plastic or Mason jar lid. A clear lid works better and they make adorable ornaments. Another option is to put them on clear coffee cups. They reflect the light beautifully!
- Add a personal touch by attaching a note or using them as gift cards.
- Stick them on a mirror for added decoration.
What to love: This craft allows the kids to be creative. No two suncatchers will look the same. Cutting and sticking the tissue paper also targets essential fine motor skills development!
Heart Suncatcher Craft Video Tutorial
Watch this video tutorial to see how easy it is to create suncatchers. It’s so much fun for kids of all ages.
Supplies Needed
- Heart template – You can also get your free template at the bottom of the post.
- Cardstock – I prefer to print the outline onto cardstock but normal printer paper works great too.
- Self-laminating sheets or clear contact paper
- Tissue paper
You can find links to all these supplies in my preschool supplies list.
How to Make A Suncatcher Craft
Whether you’re a parent or teacher, you know that simple crafts are filled with fantastic fun that all kids love. This activity is a great addition to a Valentine’s Day unit, and an excellent way for parents to spend quality time with kids. If you have younger children, pair them up with an older sibling or parent as a craft buddy.
Step-By-Step Instructions
1. Cut out your heart templates
After you print out your heart template, cut out the heart shape. Preschoolers can do this with kid-safe scissors, but you must assist smaller children at all times. Thereafter, you should cut out the inside of the heart too, so that you are left with a heart-shaped frame/outline.
2. Place your template on your self-laminating sheet or on the sticky side of contact paper.
Remember to work on a flat surface. Moreover, if you want to grab some crayons, the kids can color in the white side of the heart template.
3. Cut out tissue paper into squares and place it in the frame
Cut your tissue paper into squares. You can buy the pre-cut squares or DIY them. I usually just use tissue paper that I have at home and prefer the colors pink, red, purple, and turquoise to create a valentine suncatcher. Recycle the tissue paper that comes in gift bags so you can use it for another fun activity or more DIY suncatcher crafts!
Next, stick the tissue paper squares onto the laminating sheet or on the sticky side of the contact paper until the heart is filled up. No need to fret if your tissue paper goes outside of the lines—any excess will be neatly trimmed away later on.
4. Place another self-laminating or contact paper on top of the heart.
You are going to cover your heart placing the sticky side downwards. Smooth it out so that there are no air bubbles and creasing.
5. Cut out your pretty suncatcher and stick it to the window with double-sided tape.
Where to get the free heart templates printable
Click the image below to get your free PDF to cut your heart outline printable.
We absolutely loved creating this craft activity for Valentine’s Day. It’s easy and fun for all ages!
More Suncatcher Ideas
If you want to make more cool suncatchers (it doesn’t have to be a tissue paper suncatcher), here are a few ideas:
- Flower Suncatcher Craft- pick some flowers from outside or the garden and stick them on. It looks like a preserved work of art.
- Cosmic suncatchers- Cut the tissue paper out in stars. You can even print out some fireflies and add them.
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