craft

Nature Sun-Catchers

Seal petals, leaves, and seeds in contact paper, frame them in cardboard, and hang in a window. The Louisiana sun turns your backyard finds into stained glass.

What You'll Need

  • Stiff cardboard (cereal box thickness)
  • Clear contact paper — two sheets per sun-catcher
  • Scissors
  • Glue or tape
  • Ribbon or twine for hanging
  • Flat thin natural materials: flower petals, small leaves, fern fronds, grass seed heads

How To Do It

  1. Make Your Frame — cut a square from cardboard with a square hole in the middle. The outer frame should be about 1–2 inches wide.
  2. Collect and Press — gather flat thin natural items. Press thicker petals in a book for an hour so they lie flat.
  3. Arrange — cut contact paper slightly larger than your frame opening. Peel the backing and lay sticky-side-up. Arrange your petals and leaves on the sticky surface.
  4. Seal — press a second piece of contact paper sticky-side-down on top.
  5. Frame and Hang — glue the sealed sandwich to your cardboard frame. Punch a hole at the top, thread ribbon through, and hang in a sunny window.

Grandma Says

Thinner is always better. A thick flower petal casts a dark shadow instead of letting the light glow through. Press everything flat first.

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