FLORAL SUN CATCHER  With Spring flowers in bloom it’s the perfect time to take advantage of nature’s color and make sun catchers!   Sun catchers are decorations for our windows that let the sun shine through them to light up in different colors and designs.  Typically, they’re made with colored glass; we’ll make one using colorful flowers and leaves instead!

Materials: Paper Plate Scissors Hole Punch Contact Paper (If you don’t have contact paper, you can use plastic wrap and glue) Plant Parts (flower petals and small leaves) Yarn or String Crayons (optional)

Step 1 - Collect Go out into your yard or take a nature walk in a park or through the neighborhood.   Along the way, look for leaves and flowers you can collect to use in your sun catchers!

Step 2 – Cut Using scissors, cut out the inner circle of the paper plate.  When finished, you should have a paper plate ring.    The open hole of the plate is to let the sun shine through and light up the plant parts!

Step 3 – (Optional) Color Using crayons, markers, pencils, or paint color your paper plate ring!   Coloring the ring can really show off your sun catcher and make it pop!

Step 4 – Cover Cut out a piece of contact paper and attach it to the paper ring to cover the hole.  The “sticky” side should face towards the paper plate.   If you do not have contact paper, you can use glue and plastic wrap.   Carefully cut out a piece of plastic wrap that will cover the hole.  Apply glue around the ring, and attach the plastic wrap.   Try to keep it as tight as possible!  If you use glue, allow it dry before proceeding to the next step.

Step 5 – Attach Using the plant parts you have collected, attach them to the contact paper or plastic wrap.   Sun catchers work best if the plant pieces are thin – so try attaching individual petals instead of the entire flower!    Be creative and have fun with your design!   Tip:  You may need to apply a tiny bit of glue to your plant parts if you are using plastic wrap.  The plant parts may not stay in place otherwise.

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Step 6 – Seal To prevent the plant parts from falling out as well as to keep them flat, let’s secure and seal your design with another piece of contact paper.   Cut out another piece that will cover your design.  Place the sticky side down and attach it to your suncatcher, securing it to your original piece of contact paper.  If you are using plastic wrap, once again glue around the ring and attach a piece of plastic wrap to cover your design.

Step 7 – Punch and Hang! Using a hole punch, make a hole near the top of the sun catcher in your paper plate ring.   Thread a piece of yarn or string through the hole and use the string to hang your new sun catcher in the window!

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YOUR FBBG MEMBERSHIPS  We are renewing memberships remotely. You will receive a temporary card in the mail until we are able to send out membership packets. If you have any questions about memberships, please contact Dkoepsel@fbbg.org You can purchase a membership on-line by clicking here .

We’d love to see your creativity! Tag us on:  Facebook ( Friends of Boerner Botanical Gardens )  Twitter (@FBBG) or Instagram (friendsofbbg)  to show off your Sun catcher or any of our weekly activities!

Continue to watch for our weekly fun activities for all ages to enjoy!