Create beautiful, translucent art using colorful petals and leaves collected from your own backyard. These suncatchers capture the sunlight and bring the colors of nature inside your home.

Tools

• scissors
• hole puncher

Materials

• clear contact paper (2 sheets, 9x12 inch)
• colorful flower petals (1 handful)
• green leaves (5-10 pieces)
• cardstock or construction paper (1 sheet, 9x12 inch)
• string or yarn (12 inches)
• transparent tape (3-4 pieces)

Safety

• Adult supervision required when using scissors.
• Ensure children wash their hands after handling wild plants and flowers.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Do not wrap string around neck or limbs.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Go on a nature walk and collect a variety of colorful flower petals and small leaves.
2. Cut a frame out of the cardstock paper by cutting a large circle or square and then cutting a smaller shape out of the center to create a hollow border.
3. Cut a piece of clear contact paper slightly larger than the inside of your cardstock frame.
4. Peel off the backing of the contact paper to expose the sticky side and press it firmly onto the back of the cardstock frame.
5. Carefully arrange your collected flower petals and leaves onto the sticky surface of the contact paper, creating a colorful pattern.
6. Cut a second piece of contact paper to the size of the frame and press it over the top of the flowers to seal them in place.
7. Use scissors to trim any excess contact paper around the edges of the frame.
8. Use a hole puncher to make a small hole at the top of the cardstock frame.
9. Thread the string or yarn through the hole and tie a knot to create a hanger.
10. Hang your nature suncatcher in a sunny window to see the colors glow.