A simple, easy and inexpensive kids craft, these contact paper leaf suncatchers are a fun way to let the kids help decorate for fall.
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I am all about easy kids crafts! And while I don’t mind messy ones sometimes, I usually lean towards the kind where I don’t have to clean up glue, paint or glitter. *wink* These contact paper leaf suncatchers are so easy and both my kids had a lot of fun making them.
Here’s what you’ll need to make the suncatchers:
- contact paper
- tissue paper
- paper trimmer
- large leaf shapes
- scissors
- ruler
- sharpie
- masking tape
First, find some tissue paper in the colors you want to use. I actually just looked through my bin of gift bags and found tissue paper that I keep on hand for gift giving, but if you don’t have any, the dollar store is a great place to pick some up. The easiest way to cut up the tissue paper into squares is by folding it in half and then cutting that piece in half. I wanted the paper to be 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ so I used a ruler to make little marks at the top as a guide. I used my paper cutter to cut the tissue paper into strips and then stacked them up and made more marks across the top of the first piece on the stack.
Then I used my scissors to cut the strips into squares. There is a little bit of prep in cutting up the tissue paper, but a little goes a long way and you can always save the extra for another day.
Next, print out 3-4 large leaf shapes and cut them out. (I printed out one leaf on each 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper with leaf outlines I found by searching on Google.)
Now you need to get your contact paper. (I found some at Walmart on the shelf organization aisle.) I cut two pieces of contact paper for each leaf which made them about 12″ x 10″. Peel the backing off of one sheet and lay it down on the table or counter sticky side up. I used a couple of small pieces of masking tape on each side to hold it in place.
Give your child the squares of tissue paper and let them start sticking them onto the contact paper. They can layer them however they want to but I recommend having them try not to crinkle the tissue too much. They don’t have to cover every bit of the contact paper because the leaf shapes aren’t going to fill out the entire piece. Once they have most of the contact paper covered, take your second piece of contact paper, peel off the backing and lay it sticky side down on top of the tissue paper, pressing it down flat.
Next, pick a leaf shape to use and trace it onto the contact paper with a sharpie. Then cut out the leaf and hang it on a window, glass door or any door.
Ideally you want to display it somewhere where the light is going to catch it so it acts as a suncatcher. My kids thought it was so cool to see the sun lighting up the leaf through the thin tissue paper!
This post is part of the Inspire My Creativity link party which happens every month on the second Wednesday. Our theme this month is LEAVES which is perfect as fall starts moving in. Below you’ll find a ton of great posts all centered around our theme and I hope you’ll check them out and be inspired to try one!
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Next month the theme will be THRIFT STORE MAKEOVER.
19 Comments
What a fun craft to do with the kids! It is nice to find one that isn’t as messy too. I’ll have to try this with my little ones this fall!
So cute!! Can you share the leaf templates please? Thanks so much!!
Hi Annie! I actually don’t own the leaf outlines so I can’t share them as a template. I found the leaf shapes by doing a quick Google search for images. Let me know if you have any other questions or if I can help you find some good leaf shapes! 🙂
Very fun idea! Will have to try with my kids this autumn. Now if only it would feel like fall and not still summer, LOL! Visiting from Inspire My Creativity party.
This looks so cute, such a fun diy
Such a fun idea for fall decor, kids will definitely love making it
I remember making something similar when I was in school. I think my daughters have made them as well. So much fun!
This is a great craft for the kids. My little guy would love it. I will add it to the list of things to pull out when he comes to me bored.
What a fun idea for the kids! Mine love crafting with tissue paper and they love anything for fall. We will definitely be making these. #InspireMyCreativity
So much fun! I’m hoping to do something like this with my younger son while my oldest is at preschool. It would be a fun craft for a rainy morning. (Which we’ve been having a lot of lately.)
I will have to do this with my girls. They would love it!
This is such a cute idea! My kids are going to love making these!
This is so fun! I’ve been wanting to do this with my little ones, but I think I have everything I need at home already so we should make it happen!
What a cute idea! My nephew would love doing this! So colorful and easy 😉
Doing activities like this is such a fun to do with kids this coming fall season. It looks really cute and I’m pretty sure that your kids enjoy making suncatchers.
Wow, what a fun and creative project that I can create with my family! 🙂 I love all the colors.
I JUST got contact paper at the store the other day! Totally going to do this with my kids 😀
I love this craft! Contact paper crafts are some of my favorite!
I love this idea! Such a fun craft to do with kids!