This beautiful flower suncatcher is also a flower mandala kids can easily make!
When we get on a roll, we go with it. That’s been the case lately with all of our flower petal and contact paper suncatchers. We’ve made nature suncatchers in the past, but have never quite gotten into it as much as this past month with the flower petal art box, the flower stained glass door, and subsequent flower mandalas.
And we’re still going strong!
We’re loving all these flower suncatcher crafts!
Here’s a video showing Flower Petal Suncatchers in action! And don’t forget to scroll down for step-by-step instructions.
Flower Suncatcher Mandalas
MATERIALS
- Paper plates (the thin cheap kind)
- Scissors
- Transparent contact paper
- Flowers and leaves
- Markers
- Hole punch
- Yarn
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: Create flower suncatcher frame
Begin by making a frame for your flower suncatcher by cutting a hole in the paper plate.
Step 2: Add a center of transparent contact paper
This time I cut some frames out of paper plates (the centers will be used for spin art) and then cut circles from contact paper to fit over the opening (overlapping the paper plate by about half an inch).
Step 3: Press flower petals and leaves to the sticky contact paper.
Maia and I arranged flower petals, petal pieces, and leaves in outwardly concentric designs on the contact paper to create our mandalas.
(Daphne worked on one, too, but mostly just explored the sticky nature of the contact paper and eventually crumpled the whole thing up.)
Step 4: Protect and hold the flower design in place.
We added another circle of contact paper over the top to protect and hold the flower design in place.
Step 5: Hang the flower mandala suncatcher.
Punch a hole at the top of the frame and tie a loop of string for hanging.
We hung Maia’s (for me) in the living room window and mine (for Maia) in her bedroom window.
More About Mandalas
I love how well these circular frames hold the mandalas, perfectly, in the center! And I also love some of the meaning that has historically been connected with mandalas.
Here’s a description (found on The Mandala Project’s website) that I especially like:
The word “mandala” is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean “circle,” a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself–a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.
There are so many examples of mandalas found in nature: daisies, oranges, onions, the iris of the eye, starfish, and snowflakes just to name a few.
Not to get to woo-woo on you or anything, but I’d love to learn more about mandalas. More about them as an art form. About the meanings associated with them. And about how they’ve been used in cultures around the world.
Have you ever made a mandala, either yourself or with your kids?
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37 Comments
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June 2, 2011 at 8:38 amThat is wonderful! I love these flower mandalas you have been sharing. They are so beautiful! I wish I had more flowers so we could do some ourselves. I may go buy some just for this purpose.
Kate @ An Amazing Child
June 2, 2011 at 9:28 amI once made a mandala when I was on a work retreat. It really was fantastic and something I think you would enjoy. A very large circle of plain material was placed on the floor. Many many baggies of coloured rice were place around the outside. We were then each invited to silently take a bag and start creating. At first people weren’t quite sure what to do but as the coloured rice flowed and people started to form patterns it really came together beautifully. Plus pouring the beautifully coloured rice into swirls was really relaxing. At the end the floor was covered with 10 huge rice mandalas. They were so beautiful – and such a shame to ruin come days end :(
Sneha Maroo
June 29, 2020 at 3:22 pmHi!
I am a mandala artist and teacher :) Good to see your interest in mandalas.
Adrienne
June 2, 2011 at 9:36 amSuch fun! Love that carpet, btw.
One of my longest suffering knitting projects is a round lace shawl from a pattern called “Mandala”. It’ll be gorgeous when ever it gets done…all 91,194 stitches of it (eep!)
Jacki
June 2, 2011 at 9:46 amI am an elementary school teacher and for several years we had a Buddhist monk come and construct a sand mandala in our gym. Each morning all the students would meditate with him and then watch him add sand. You’ve never seen children sit so still as when watching that beautifully colored sand pour from his tools.
Rachel
June 2, 2011 at 10:15 amgreat use of “woo-woo” jean. ;)
so fun and beautiful and relaxing btw.
Erinode
June 2, 2011 at 11:15 amI have! Last summer, I hosted an art play group. Ages ranged from 4 up to 9.
https://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-modge-podge-wednesdaylets-make.html
It worked pretty well too! My son and I collected lots of leaves and petals from around the yard. A friend with a computer-type husband brought lots of old cd’s and also some flat-backed plastic-y jewels to add a bit of sparkle. Big hit with the girls.
[email protected]
June 2, 2011 at 11:49 amLooks lovely! I have loved all the flower-based art that Maia and you have made recently. Especially loved the glass door art.
Here in India, we make mandalas on every festive and religious occasion.
Julie Liddle, ART IN HAND
June 2, 2011 at 11:47 amJean,
If you are interested in learning more about Mandalas, Phyllis Frame at Round Oaks Creative Center is your “go to” person: https://arttherapyblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/round-oaks-creative-center-schedule/
And if you want to pursue the topic further, perhaps for an interview on your blog, here’s a list of contacts. https://www.mandalaassociates.com/Mandala_Associates/Teachers_files/Mandala%20Life%20Cycle%20Theory%20Teachers.pdf
I highly recommend Carol Cox, a former professor of mine and a friend. I think it’d make for a great inteview for your blog. Tell her I sent you. :)
Amanda
June 2, 2011 at 4:53 pmWe use a mandala exercise in a decision-making program I teach (and I’ve used it with my kids). We trace a circle onto a piece of paper using a paper plate (or other large circle template), then use crayons to color freeform within the circle. It’s particularly useful when you’ve been doing alot of left-brain work (learning to read, studying, etc.) Doing this right-brain mandala exercise immediately afterwards helps “seal” the knowledge in your neural pathways. My mentor, who taught this to me, also uses it at night when she can’t sleep or is overthinking an issue. It really works!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:54 pmLeaves and leaf pieces work well, too! And leaves come in so many different colors and shades…
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:54 pmSounds like a beautiful experience!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:55 pm:) That’s why I like to sew. Zip, zip, zip! Much quicker.
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:56 pmWonderful!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:56 pmI’m learning… :)
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:56 pmThose look great! I’d love to try that with Maia.
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:57 pmThanks for the links, Julie! I just e-mailed Carol about an interview. Thanks!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 12:58 pmDo you make them yourself? Just curious…
frivolitea
June 2, 2011 at 5:31 pmYou might enjoy _The Mandala Workbook_ by Susanne Fincher.
Merja
June 2, 2011 at 8:20 pmI’m in love with your blog! I just now found it and it’s full of all those things I hope to make one day with my baby. Thank you thank you so much for every idea and project that you share here!
Jena
June 2, 2011 at 9:37 pmIn reference to mandala in children’s work, you can barrow this book from the library to learn more. The author writes about mandalas in one of the early chapters of, Young at Art. There are probably many other books about mandalas and children. Sounds like Carl Jung has some opinions on the matter.
jen at paintcutpaste.com
June 2, 2011 at 11:15 pmthis is so beautiful! as you might know from my blog where mandalas pop up quite a bit: https://paintcutpaste.com/tag/mandala/ and from my being a transpersonally oriented art therapist (read: woo-woo supreme! ;) i adore mandalas. we had semesters devoted entirely to them in my graduate program. they are such powerful healing tools, and i use them every single day in art therapy with adult clients. my favorite book on mandalas is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0835608476?tag=paicutpas-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0835608476&adid=134TMWF78NRB2N450X6S&
art therapist, joan kellogg, developed a MARI card assessment tool based on using mandalas for the healing arts – you can learn more about it here: https://www.mariconnections.com/ – you can be trained and certified in using this method.
yikes, can you tell i like to nerd out on mandalas? ;) happy circling!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 9:42 pmI’m going to try that! Thanks for the idea!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 9:43 pmThanks! I’ll look for it.
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 9:44 pmYou’re welcome! And thank you! I’m so glad you are finding inspiration here!
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 9:46 pmYes, Striker is talking about the transition young children make from scribbling to more control and early realism where they start to make enclosed shapes, primarily circles. They often add radiating lines (as in a stylized sun) outward or inward.
Her reference to mandalas is a bit different from what I’m exploring now.
I’ll have to look into Jung’s thoughts on mandalas…
Jean Van't Hul
June 2, 2011 at 9:48 pmOoh, this looks like an amazing mandala book with images from nature!
The Mandala Book: Patterns of the Universe
https://www.amazon.com/Mandala-Book-Patterns-Universe/dp/1402762909/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_7_dp
jen at paintcutpaste.com
June 3, 2011 at 10:29 amvery cool – carol was my supervisor when I lived in VA! small world :)
Molly
June 6, 2011 at 11:24 pmThese are just gorgeous! Your rug is too! Can I ask where it is from?
Jacqueline
June 15, 2011 at 11:48 amWanted to share our mandala my daughter made for her daddy for Father’s Day-
https://dimplesgiggles.blogspot.com/2011/06/flower-suncatcher-for-fathers-day.html
Thanks for the inspiration!
inge
July 3, 2011 at 6:36 amI have been to several mandala drawing classes and have led two myself. I think it’s very relaxing, just to draw.
One special mandala I made over and over with my kids, because they love it, is the mirrowmandala. you draw a circle and a line in the middle. Each of you takes a side of the mandala. (Then you can fill it in in ceveral ways.) The way my kids like it the most: Your child draws a form and you do the same form in your half… So on till your child thinks its ready. Than you can color it in. Sometimes I colored the whole mandala, sometimes we take turns in picking the color. Your child’s selfesteem will grow, because you mirrow him/her. He’s in charge! This is always fun, for young and old! Hope this was helpfull.
Patty
June 27, 2012 at 12:58 pmIn Family Fun magazine (Nov 2011) there was a mandala game/art project.
Each person started with a piece of paper and 1 marker (different color for each person). They drew a circle (or circular pattern – you can use dashes, swirls, dots, etc).
The paper then gets passed to the person on your left (or right – as long as this is consistent each time.
Now add a new circular design to your neighbor’s paper.
Continue until everyone has a beautiful mandala.
Theresa
September 25, 2012 at 9:03 pmThe luminescence of the flower mandalas are beautiful. Here is more info about others creating flower mandalas, an entry from my blog, TogetherOne.
https://togetherone.wordpress.com/2012/06/30/flower-mandalas/
Your site is so much fun!!!!
Nancy Baumann
March 7, 2020 at 1:40 pmMy Grandchildren and I have been making these when you posted them years ago. They go out to my garden and collect whatever they find to make one. My oldest Grandchild is 10 and the youngest is 2. We have a grand time making them
They are so creative and proud to present one to their parents hanging in a window at home
Gwen
April 2, 2020 at 5:25 amWe did this activity on a rainy day with tissue paper and other bits and bobs we had lying around, including glitter. Tip – don’t use glitter! It stopped the contact paper from adhering to the plates properly and getting everywhere!
Jean Van't Hul
April 3, 2020 at 2:27 pmI’m so glad you enjoyed this activity, Gwen! And thanks for the tip about using glitter. :) I know that my kids have used it sometimes with suncatchers (and flower crowns) but it needs to be used sparingly if the contact paper is still going to stick!
Inesa
May 2, 2020 at 6:09 pmThank you for great art ideas. My kids (4&7) loved puffy salt painting And also we used your recipe to make play dough. Kids spent three hours playing first day and two hours the next – never ending fun and such a good way to stimulate kids imagination. Can’t source sticky paper for suncatcher but will keep looking. Thank you again 😊