There’s something so satisfying about crafts that catch the light and brighten up a room, and this Paper Plate Christmas Bauble Suncatcher is a perfect example. It’s a simple yet stunning craft that kids will love making and displaying. My kids had a blast layering colorful tissue paper to create unique designs, and they couldn’t wait to hang their baubles in the window to see how the sunlight brought them to life. It’s the kind of project that’s as fun to create as it is to admire.
You’ll love this craft because it’s easy to set up, mess-free compared to many other projects, and makes a beautiful homemade decoration. It’s perfect for kids of all ages and encourages creativity and fine motor skills. Plus, the final product is something you’ll actually want to display—your windows will be filled with colorful, festive baubles that bring a little extra holiday cheer.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Craft
This project combines art, creativity, and a touch of holiday magic. The materials are simple, and the steps are easy to follow, making it a stress-free activity for parents and kids alike. It’s also a great opportunity to experiment with colors and patterns, and the finished suncatchers are a festive way to decorate your home.
Materials You’ll Need
- Paper plate
- Painters tape
- Paint (any color you like)
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Contact paper
- Tissue paper squares (variety of colors)
- Ribbon
- Decorative bows
- Glue
How to Make a Paper Plate Christmas Bauble Suncatcher
1. Prepare the Paper Plate
Paint a paper plate in a festive color. Let the paint dry completely. Cut a large circle out of the center of the paper plate, leaving a 1-2 inch rim. This rim will act as the frame for your suncatcher. Keep the center to create the top of the Christmas ball.
2. Attach the Contact Paper
Cut a piece of contact paper slightly larger than the hole in the paper plate. Create 4 small tape ball and secure the contact paper to a surface with the sticky side facing out. Peel off the backing and stick the contact paper to the tape so that the sticky side is facing up.
3. Decorate with Tissue Paper
Provide your child with a variety of tissue paper squares in holiday colors. Let them stick the squares onto the sticky side of the contact paper, overlapping the pieces to create a beautiful stained-glass effect. Encourage them to mix colors and patterns to make their bauble unique.
4. Seal the Suncatcher
Once the tissue paper design is complete, cover it with another piece of contact paper, sticky side down. Press firmly to seal the tissue paper between the layers. Trim any excess contact paper around the edges for a clean finish. Turn your paper plate around so the back is facing up and apply glue or double sided tape the rim. Press the contact paper you just decorated into the glue or tape.
5. Add the Final Touches
Cut a tapered square shape from the center of your paper plate and glue it to the back of the paper plate. Glue a decorative bow to the top of the paper plate frame and attach a loop of ribbon to the back for hanging. You can also paint on extra details like dots or stripes around the paper plate rim if you want to add more flair.
6. Hang and Enjoy
Hang your suncatcher in a sunny window and watch how the light shines through, bringing your colorful creation to life. It’s a festive and cheerful addition to your holiday decor!
This Paper Plate Christmas Bauble Suncatcher is a wonderful craft that kids will be proud to display. It’s fun, easy, and adds a bright, festive touch to any room in your home!
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
