Stained glass and suncatcher crafts are some of our favorite projects at The Artful Parent! I’ve evenly jokingly called this a stained glass and suncatcher blog since we make so many!

• We’ve made tiny suncatchers and turned entire picture windows into temporary stained glass installations.
• We’ve made permanent suncatchers and ephemeral stained glass.
• And we have made suncatchers for every season and holiday imaginable.

I just love how suncatchers and stained glass combine sunlight with art!

Materials for Creating Suncatchers

We’ve made suncatchers and faux stained glass from such a wide variety of materials, but here are some that we’ve used more than others.

• Transparent contact paper (also called sticky-back plastic)
• Colored tissue paper
• Colored feathers
• Crayons
• Translucent plastic pony beads

Favorite Suncatcher Crafts Kids Can Make

Here are more than 50 different ideas for kids and families to explore light and color in a creative way. Enjoy!

Suncatcher Crafts with Tissue Paper

Colored tissue paper is translucent and can be used with contact paper or wax paper to create a beautiful stained glass effect.

• Tissue Paper Suncatchers (simple and beautiful!)
• Tissue Paper Suncatchers in Embroidery Hoops

Flower and Leaf Suncatchers

Flower petals and leaves are gorgeous when held up to the light. You can use them to create temporary seasonal suncatchers.

• Flower Petal Suncatchers in a Wood Frame
• Autumn Leaf Suncatchers

More Nature Suncatchers Kids Can Make

• Nature Suncatchers in Paper Plate Frames
• DIY Cardboard Box Nature Suncatcher

Stained Glass with Crayons (on Paper)

Who knew crayons would create such great stained-glass effects?!

• Melted Crayon Stained Glass on Paper
• Stained Glass Windows for Our Front Door

Using Wax Paper for Melted Crayon Stained Glass 

• Melted Crayon Stained Glass Art with Drawings

Melted Bead Suncatchers

Melt plastic pony beads to create durable suncatchers, ornaments, and gifts.

• Melted bead suncatchers (the basic tutorial)
• 7 Ways to Make Melted Bead Suncatchers

Suncatchers with Contact Paper

Sticky and transparent, contact paper makes it easy to turn anything from ribbons and lace to index dividers into suncatchers.

• Contact Paper Suncatchers with Index Dividers
• Suncatchers with Lace and Ribbons

Want more stained glass ideas and suncatchers kids can make? Click to see The Artful Parent archive for the entire category!

And if you’re looking for a particular activity, use the search field in the right sidebar of the site.

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