Rainbow Tissue Paper Suncatchers

Create a vibrant, translucent piece of art that catches the sunlight! Kids will learn how light passes through different colors of tissue paper to create a glowing effect in their windows.

Tools

• scissors
• pencil

Materials

• clear contact paper (2 sheets, 9x12 inches)
• colored tissue paper (1 pack, assorted colors)
• black construction paper (1 sheet, 12x12 inches)
• masking tape (1 roll)

Safety

• Adult supervision recommended when using scissors.
• Be careful with the sticky side of the contact paper to avoid sticking it to clothing or furniture.
• Adult supervision required for sharp objects.
• Protect work surface. Materials may stain clothing.
• Adult supervision required for children under 8.

Steps

1. Cut a shape out of the black construction paper (such as a circle, heart, or star) to create a frame. Cut a hole out of the center of that shape so you are left with a hollow border.
2. Cut the colored tissue paper into small squares or irregular torn pieces (approximately 1 inch in size).
3. Cut a piece of clear contact paper slightly larger than the inside of your black paper frame.
4. Peel off the backing from one side of the contact paper to reveal the sticky surface. Lay it flat on the table, sticky side up. Use small pieces of masking tape on the corners to hold it down.
5. Press the colorful tissue paper pieces onto the sticky surface. You can overlap the colors to see how new colors are created when light shines through them.
6. Once the sticky surface is covered with tissue paper, carefully place the second sheet of contact paper (or the remaining half of the sheet) over the top to seal the tissue paper inside.
7. Use scissors to trim the contact paper sandwich so it fits perfectly inside your black construction paper frame.
8. Glue or tape the contact paper design to the back of the black frame.
9. Tape your finished suncatcher to a sunny window and observe how the light changes the colors!