June gloom has ended and the sunlight is sparkling once again. Now is the perfect time to create a few suncatchers for your home. Suncatchers are small, colorful and translucent ornaments that reflect, or “catch,” the light. They hang either in a window or on a patio, spreading the light inside like little pieces of stained glass.
I’ve made these suncatchers out of clear plastic sheets, which are remnants from some packaging I had around the house. I recommend upcycling your old plastic packaging rather than buying new materials. Clear plastic report covers also work.
While there are many ways you can add color to the plastic sheets, e.g., gluing on tissue paper or painting them, here’s a really fun and easy technique that creates wild patterns similar to tie dye. And with this tutorial, you’ll create two suncatchers at the same time.
What you’ll need:
2 clear plastic sheets
Acrylic paint, assorted colors
Scissors
Hole punch
1. Cut out two pieces of clear plastic so they are about the same size. A six-inch square is a good size to start with.
2. On one of the pieces of plastic, squeeze drops of acrylic paint in various colors. You don’t need that much paint, or need to cover up the entire sheet.
3. Place the second piece of plastic over the first one and press down. The paint will spread between the two layers and create a colorful pattern.
4. Lift off the second piece of plastic to separate the two layers. The act of lifting the plastic creates interesting striations in the paint.
5. After the paint has dried, cut the plastic sheets into any shape you wish your suncatcher to be.
6. On one end of the suncatcher, punch a hole for hanging. Thread a string through the hole, and hang it where it will catch direct sunlight.
