Easy Handmade DIY Suncatchers

I'm always on the lookout for EASY craft projects to do, especially ones that can double as gifts. I came across these suncatchers in the art room of The Jersey Momma's Boy's school. We were meeting there for cub scouts and I happened to see this awesome project on the sidelines that the teacher was working on (I'm sorry, Mrs. E, I didn't mean to snoop in  your stuff! I just couldn't help but notice how pretty they were!)  If you want to make them, too, all you need to do is follow these THREE easy steps (yup, that's it!).

So you want to make a suncatcher? If you want to make them for a gift, just be sure to plan ahead, because they need a few days to dry (at least 4 to 7 days, depending on how much glue you use, some have taken longer).

Here's what you'll need:

-colored glass gems or stones of any size or shape (you can find them at most craft stores or in the floral section of your local Walmart)
-clean plastic lids from butter or sour cream (any container lid will do, but that's the general size you want)
-clear Elmer's Glue (you can purchase gallon size for multiple projects or even a quart size)
-ribbon or fishing line for hanging (I prefer the satin ribbon)

**NOTE: some readers have commented that their suncatchers have melted in the sun. I have NEVER had this happen to me, but I also live in New Jersey. If you live in a hot climate or plan on putting these in direct sunlight for more than a few hours a day, consider using resin instead of Elmer's glue. I have never used resin myself but the consensus is that it will not melt in the sun. Please use your best judgment when deciding where to hang these. If you live in Florida or Louisiana or someplace warm, I would not recommend hanging them in a window that receives constant direct sunlight. 

Optional Step  We decided to lay our stones out first to make sure our design fit before we glued everything down. This step is optional, but I recommend it so you know what your suncatcher will look like.

Step 1.  Now clear the stones off your lid off and squeeze some clear glue all over it (the flat side of the lid should be facing down- you need the edges of the lid up to hold your stones and glue in). Make sure it's enough to coat the lid. Then start placing your stones down. *Note: if you made your design in advance and want to try to keep it as is without removing the stones, you can try placing a piece of cardboard over it and quickly flipping it over, then carefully lifting the lid to keep your stones in place, so you can re-set them on your gluey surface. But that takes a quick hand! Another option is to take a photo of the design you created with your phone, so you can just copy your design from the image when you go to place it in the gluey lid. 

I recommend making your stones touch, as that makes it much easier to pop out of the lid in one piece when it's dry.  The image below still needed a few stones added in between to close up the gaps, see?

Step 2.  After you finish your design, squirt some more glue around it/over it to solidify your design.

Step 3.  Let it dry, at least 3-4 days (mine took longer, more like 5 days but they can take even longer, depending on how much glue you use and how big your design is). Do you know this was the hardest part for me? I am so impatient, I must've tried to pop it out of the lid at least four times before it was actually ready.

You'll know when it's ready because it will start to peel away from the lid really easily. If you try to peel it away and you still see gluey strings or it still seems like it's wet or stuck to the lid, let it dry more.

If you have any gaps in your finished design, you can thread some ribbon or fishing wire through to hang it. If not, you can use a dab of hot glue (or even the clear glue) on the back of the suncatcher to place a ribbon on it. The suncatcher will be fairly heavy when complete, so you want to make sure the ribbon or string is secure before hanging. 

Oh, and save your lids! You might be tempted to toss them because they're all gluey, but after the glue dries, it just peels right off (which is kind of cool, actually) and you can use the lid for another suncatcher.

Jersey Momma Tips:

-For some reason, The Jersey Momma's Boy's suncatcher dried much faster than mine. His took about three or four days. I don't know if it was his design choice or the amount of glue, or what.

- I was so impatient to get mine out of the lid and see my finished product that I did actually pop it out before it was ready. When I peeled it off the lid, the back was still a little tacky, so I left it to dry out of the lid with the back facing up. That seemed to do the trick.

-If you find that your suncatcher is not drying, you can try putting it in a warmer location, using a hair dryer on cool temperature, or carefully popping the suncatcher from the lid and turning it over on a piece of cardboard so that the other side can dry, too. 

**NOTE: a few readers have commented that their suncatchers have melted in the sun. I have NEVER had this happen to me (and I've made at least a dozen over time), but I also live in New Jersey. If you live in a hot climate or plan on putting these in direct sunlight for more than a few hours a day, consider using resin instead of Elmer's glue. I have never used resin myself but the consensus is that it will not melt in the sun. Please use your best judgment when deciding where to hang these. If you live in Florida or Louisiana or someplace warm, I would not recommend hanging them in a window that receives constant direct sunlight. The main issue I have had with long-term use is fading (the stones may fade over time in direct sunlight). The cons of using resin: it's not kid friendly, it's expensive and it takes the simplicity out of the project. But choose what is best for you! 

-You can get super creative with these if you have a knack for patterns. This was the original design that I saw in Mrs. E's classroom. Isn't her finished product beautiful?