How to Make Nature Suncatchers With Kids

Nature suncatchers are the perfect slow-afternoon craft — a nature walk, a bit of arranging, and a window that glows with pressed petals and leaves. There's no oven, no mess, and no plastic beads: just the treasures kids collect outside, pressed into stained-glass-style art the sun lights up.

Here's how to make nature suncatchers that turn a walk into a window full of color.

What you'll need

• Clear contact paper (self-adhesive film), or laminating pouches
• Flat nature finds: petals, small leaves, thin grasses
• Scissors and string
• Card or paper for a simple frame (optional)

Make them step by step

1. Go on a nature hunt and collect flat, colorful bits — thin petals and small leaves work best. Pressing them a day between book pages gives the flattest result.
2. Cut two equal pieces of contact paper. Peel the backing off one and lay it sticky-side up.
3. Arrange the nature bits on the sticky side — let kids design freely.
4. Seal it by peeling the second sheet and pressing it sticky-side down on top.
5. Trim to a circle, heart, or leaf shape, punch a hole, and add string.
6. Hang in a sunny window and watch it light up.

Variations to try

• Tissue-paper suncatchers — torn scraps of colored tissue between the film.
• Pressed-flower bookmarks — the same method, cut into strips.
• An autumn-leaf version that pairs beautifully with homemade nature confetti.

Tips for success

Thin, flat, dry pieces stick best, so press flowers first and work on a flat surface. Save your contact-paper offcuts — even small ones make lovely bookmarks.

Made a window full of these? Share your prettiest one in the comments at ecoxee.com — sunlight photos encouraged.