We really enjoy making suncatchers around here. After all, they add some much needed color to our windows, especially during our long and drab winters.
But one of my favorites that my kids have ever made is this colorful handprint suncatcher craft. It's so vibrant!
I particularly love that crafts like this suncatcher require no glue and encourage fine motor skills. I also love that this handprint craft provides an opportunity to explore color mixing. On top of that, it makes for a great gift to relatives!
A version of this post originally appeared on the CBC Parents website.
What You'll Need for this Handprint Suncatcher Craft
Here's what we used to make this beautiful handprint suncatcher:
- Cardstock - You can use whatever color you'd like. We went with purple.
- Contact paper - I buy this at Dollarama. It can be found in the office supply aisle and goes by the name of vinyl book cover (or some variant of that).
- Colored transparencies, tissue paper, or colored cellophane - Use what you have on hand or can easily find in stores near you. We happen to have transparencies on hand for other crafts like this or for light table play.
- Scissors - To cut out the handprints, as well as the colored transparencies (or similar). You could also use a craft knife and mat to cut out the handprints.
- Pencil - You'll need a pencil to trace your child's hands onto the cardstock.
Please note that this craft requires some prep from an adult. It is not intended to be made entirely by a child. However, once the template is created, this craft can be finished by kids of any age. Yes, even toddlers.
How to Make this Handprint Suncatcher
First, you need to trace your child's hands onto a piece of cardstock using a pencil. Depending on the size of your child's hands, you might want to do only one hand per cardstock. Or you could stagger the hands like we did.
Next, cut out the interior of the hand using scissors or a craft knife.
After it's cut, place the cardstock onto the sticky side of some contact paper.
You'll also need to prep the colored transparencies, tissue paper, or colored cellophane by cutting them into little strips. Your child could also cut these materials themselves as a way to practice their scissor skills.
Once all the materials are prepped and ready to go, it's time to decorate the hands. Since contact paper is sticky, no glue is required. Instead, you simply place the colored transparencies onto the contact paper until the hands are well covered.
Once the hands are fully covered, you can seal the suncatcher by putting another piece of contact paper over top.
Then it's ready to hang up to display. Isn't it a pretty way to capture your child's handprints? It's also a heck of a lot cleaner (and more sensory friendly!) than doing handprint art with paint or something.
Three year old K really enjoyed making this handprint suncatcher craft. And I think it looks so lovely hanging up. Are you going to try making one too?
