Crafters of all ages will enjoy learning how to make beautiful Rainbow Heart Suncatchers with tissue paper and glue. Reminiscent of stained glass, this easy Valentine’s Day craft for kids is perfect for home or school. Read on for the full step-by-step tutorial and to download our free heart template!
RELATED: Rainbow Paper Craft for Kids
How to Make Rainbow Heart Suncatchers
Our kitchen boasts a lovely bay window that overlooks the backyard. It’s perfect for bird watching, checking the weather, and displaying homemade suncatchers.
Bright Rainbow Heart Suncatchers are easy for kids to create in five simple steps. Don’t they glow beautifully in the afternoon sunlight?
To Make this Rainbow Heart Suncatcher You Will Need
- Heart template
- White cardstock
- Tissue paper, cut into 1″ x 1″ squares
- Scissors
- Foam paint brushes
- Clear sheet protectors
- Mod Podge
- Pen
Directions for Heart Suncatcher
1. After gathering supplies, invite your child to cut small squares of tissue paper. While your child is working on that, print the heart template on white cardstock.
2. After you’ve collected enough tissue paper squares, invite kids to spread a thick layer of Mod Podge over their sheet of plastic.
3. Press the tissue paper squares into the Mod Podge, then use the paintbrush to découpage the tissue paper squares directly onto the plastic. This basically means that in addition to the layer or Mod Podge below the tissue paper, you will paint a second on top of the tissue paper squares.
Tip: Mod Podge can get sticky! Keep wet wipes or damp paper towels nearby for your child to use.
4. While the plastic sheet is drying, invite your child to cut out the heart template with scissors.
5. When the glue is dry, gently bend the plastic sheet and peel the découpaged tissue paper away from it.
6. Invite your child to trace a heart onto the tissue paper, then use scissors to cut it out.
I attached the suncatchers to our window with double-sided tape. They make me smile, and I hope they will make you smile too!
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More Heart Crafts for Kids
Click the images below to view more heart crafts, simply perfect for Valentine’s Day!
Cassi says
What a happy project! I’ll be sharing on The Crafty Crow soon 🙂
Kay says
I’ve never worked with modge podge before. Do you put it over the tissue paper also?
Melissa Lennig says
Yes, spread it everywhere!
Katie says
Could you use glue mixed with water for this?
Melissa Lennig says
Yes, absolutely!
Kathy says
How much water to how much glue?
Melissa Lennig says
2 parts glue to 1 part water.
Linda says
We did this with clear contact paper instead….
Angela says
Great project. i think we did something wrong….. Are you suppose to take the tissue paper off the next day?
Sarah says
Do you think this would work if done on wax paper instead of the plastic page protectors?
Melissa Lennig says
Yes, I think that would be fine. If it doesn’t peel off, at least the wax paper is fairly translucent!
Rachel says
Roughly how long does this take to dry? TIA!
Melissa Lennig says
Hi Rachel! Gosh…I’m so sorry, but I don’t remember! I do remember that Owen and I made these in the morning and I hung them around 4 PM! So I guess dry time would be several hours. Sorry I don’t have an exact number for you!
Colleen says
At the end do you glue the tissue paper heart to white card stock is doesnt specific I’m guessing that’s what you do??
Melissa Lennig says
Nope. The template is only for tracing the heart. You peel the suncatcher off the plastic and tape it to the window!
Tanya Fuhrman says
Can you just leave the tissue on the plastic and let the kids take it home like that? That way we don’t have to wait for it to dry?
Melissa Lennig says
I think that could work. Are you making this craft with a class? I’d love to see photos!
Hanna says
Hi, I made these with some friends tonight but we weren’t super clear on the instructions… based on the tutorial and comments we put mod podge on the sheet cover, put overlapping paper squares on top, then covered again with mod podge. Does it really peel off the sheet cover once it dries? Do you not cut the heart out first (is it sturdy enough)? Thanks in advance 🙂
Melissa Lennig says
Hey, thanks for your questions. I’ll go back into the post to clarify instructions.
Lily says
This looks great. We will definitly make on. Thanks for the idea
Alyssa says
These are so pretty! I wanted to let you know that I’m featuring these with a link and one photo if you don’t mind.
Melissa Lennig says
Thank you!
Kristin says
Does the tape leave sticky residue on the window?
Melissa Lennig says
I guess that depends on how long you leave them up. If it leaves residue you should be able to get it off with Goo Gone or lemon essential oil. If you are extremely worried about it, just use regular tape.
Sheryll McKay says
What a great idea Melissa. I shared with a Girl Scout leader!
Sinea says
Melissa, this is such a beautiful craft. Any advice for doing it with a group of 4 year olds? I want to make it next week with my preschoolers for our Valentine’s Day craft! — I have 2 adult assistants for 13 kids. Should I get more help?
Melissa Lennig says
I think when working with 4-year-olds, you can never have too much help! 🙂 I would pull a couple more volunteers in if you could. It only took about an hour for mine to dry, but I would expect a little more drying time with 4-year-olds. They might put more glue on the tissue paper! Have fun!