Summer Suncatcher

This suncatcher, filled with flowers, leaves, hummingbirds, and butterflies, lets everyone know that summer has arrived! The faux leading and stained glass are made entirely from glue with acrylic paint added for color.

Supplies

1 bottle Elmer's Washable Clear School Glue

1 bottle Elmer's Washable White School Glue

acrylic paint: black, red, orange, yellow, blue, two shades green

small paintbrush

6 paper cups (2 oz,)

plain paper

pencil

scissors

black marker

wax paper

toothpicks

long handled paintbrush or thin stirring stick

1 embroidery hoop (8 1/2 inch)

needle end pointer tool

clear fishing line

1 loose leaf binder ring ( 1" in diameter)

Step 1: Drawing Your Design

Draw the patterns on a plain piece of paper for your suncatcher.

Using a black marker, trace over the lines.

Step 2: Prepare Leading

Add approximately two teaspoons of black acrylic paint to a bottle of white glue.

Stir with a long handled brush until paint is throughly mixed with the glue.

Firmly screw the cap back on the glue bottle.

Step 3: Trace the Patterns

Place the patterns under a piece of wax paper.

Using the leading, trace over the patterns.

Step 4: Allow to Dry

After tracing the patterns with the glue leading, allow ornaments to dry overnight.

Step 5: Prepare Stained Glass Glue

Assemble the paint colors for your stained glass ornaments.

Put about 1/2 inch of clear glue into a small paper cup. Add one or two drops of paint and stir until throughly mixed.

Step 6: Fill in Design

Fill the paintbrush with a generous amount of paint.

Put the paintbrush in the middle of the ornament section to be filled.

Gently push the paint to the leading, making sure there are no gaps at the edges. The section should be completely flooded with paint. Add more paint if needed.

Tip: A toothpick can be used in small spaces or to pop large bubbles.

Step 7: Drying

Check each ornament to make sure there are no gaps between the paint and the leading.

Allow to dry overnight or until completely dry.

Step 8: Peel

With scissors, cut the large piece of wax paper into smaller pieces so each ornament has its own square. See first photo.

Gently peel the ornament away from the wax paper. The ornament will be thin and somewhat flexible.

Step 9: Making a Hole for Hanging

Using a needle end pointer tool, gently push through the leading to form a small hole.

Repeat this process for all the ornaments.

Step 10: Making the Frame

Take apart an embroidery hoop and use the inside circle.

Make a cross using picture wire, twisting the ends onto the inside of the hoop as shown.

Cut a short piece of picture wire and wrap at the intersection of the wire cross to strengthen the wires.

Step 11: Hanging the Frame

Cut a 24" piece of fishing line. Repeat 3 more times.

Tie one piece of fishing line onto the hoop in the middle of each quadrant.

Take the four pieces, knot them near the top and tie onto a binder ring as shown.

Step 12: Assembling the Suncatcher

Hook the prepared hoop on a hanger.

Cut a piece of fishing line for each ornament.

Loop one end of fishing line through the ornament hole, and knot it twice. Cut off excess line at knot.

Tie the other end of the fishing line onto the hoop or crossed wire. Cut off excess line, if needed.

Tip: To create an interesting composition, alternate lengths of the fishing line.

Step 13: Finished!

Hang the summer suncatcher indoors and enjoy!