This is a project I did with my grandchildren. While I did the cutting and gluing, they did the tearing and sticking – the fun part. When the sun hits these, they are simply stunning.
Supplies: Tissue paper in fall colors (you don’t need much, so any scraps you may have will work just fine), brown cardstock, cardstock (any color), clear sticky-backed shelf liner (don’t use “repositionable”), scissors, glue.
1. Print a leaf pattern of your choice onto the cardstock (not the brown). You need to have them large enough to cut out the inside to form a frame for the colored tissue. You can find templates online or trace a leaf from your yard, or cut out a picture of a leaf and trace it onto the cardstock. Make several different sizes and shapes.
2. Cut out the leaf template, inside edge and outside edge.
3. Trace the leaf onto the brown cardstock. Use different shades of brown for variety.
4. For each leaf suncatcher, cut two leaves out the brown to make the leaf frame and set aside. Make sure to reverse the template for the second leaf. These are the front and back frames for the suncatcher.
5. Tear the tissue paper into small pieces. They should be varying shapes and sizes. It’s okay if the wrinkle.
6. Cut two squares of the sticky-backed shelf liner slightly larger than the leaf frame. Peel the backing off of one and stick the pieces of tissue paper in a random pattern to the square. Make sure to overlap the pieces to give the stained glass effect and vary the depth of the colors.
7. When the square if full of tissue, peel the backing off the second square and carefully adhere it to the top of the tissue paper to make a “sandwich” of tissue between the two squares of shelf-liner.
8. Glue one of the leaf frames to the square. Cut around the leaf to remove the excess tissue paper.
9. Glue the second leaf frame to the back. Trim if necessary.
10. Punch a hole in the top for a string hanger or tape to the window.
11. Go find a sunny window and hang up your suncatcher!
