Sun Catcher

Crafting together has mental health benefits for kids individually & benefits the parent/child relationship, as well. For a child, making a project like this one can be gratifying & build self-esteem. Working alongside their caregiver, they feel connected & appreciated, especially when they don’t feel pressured to do things exactly “right”. As they work together, they can have healthy conversations about anything – even those difficult topics that might otherwise be hard to discuss. 
https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/conversation-starters 

This project has the added benefit of lending itself to the development of mindful behavior. Mindfulness, or living in the present moment, means focusing on the task at hand. Mindfulness insists that you slow down & take your time.
https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/helping-kids-stay-positive/help-kids-practice-mindfulness​


SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Colorful tissue paper [multicolor packs are available]
• Clear contact paper
• Black chenille stems [pipe cleaners]
• popsicle sticks [wood craft sticks]
• Black paper
• Scissors
• Tacky glue
• Glue stick [optional]
• Masking tape or painter’s tape
• Clear tape [optional]

DIRECTIONS:
To find the downloadable patterns click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above.

1. This project creates up to five sun catchers. Choose your favorite design or make more than one.
2. Print the line art patterns.
3. Pick tissue paper colors and tear them into a variety of sizes. Remember to look at how new colors are made through color mixing.
4. Tape the corners of the line art to a hard surface using masking tape or painter’s tape.
5. Cut two pieces of clear contact paper large enough to cover the line art.
6. Peel off the backing from one sheet of contact paper. Carefully position contact paper, sticky side up, over the line art. Tape the corners to keep it from sliding around as you work.
7. Design with the torn tissue paper directly on the sticky surface. Layer colors to create beautiful and unexpected results. Make sure each piece of tissue paper is touching [at least a bit] to the contact paper’s adhesive.
8. When you are happy with your design, peel the backing from the second sheet of contact paper and carefully and gently sandwich your design between the two sticky sides of the contact paper.
9. Use your hands or even the edge of a ruler to smooth the surface from the middle outward, removing bubbles.
10. Cut out sun catchers.
11. If you are making the butterfly: use tacky glue or glue stick to adhere the black paper to a popsicle stick and glue to the butterfly’s front. Fold a black chenille stem and tacky glue to the back of the butterfly as an antenna. After the glue has dried, you can trim and curl the chenille.
12. If you are making the flower: glue a popsicle stick to the back as a stem, and then glue the leaves to the stem.
13. If you are making the ice cream: glue a popsicle stick to the back.
14. If you are making the bird: use the leaves from the flower design for the sun catcher. Glue a popsicle stick to the back as a perch, and then glue the leaves to the perch.
15. Display on your window using transparent tape or masking tape/painter’s tape.

JOANN HACKS:

• If you notice tissue paper blocking the edges from adhering after cutting out your sun catcher, simply add a bit of glue stick to those areas.
• Tacky glue is kid-friendly but takes time to dry—be patient.