Nature Suncatcher

There’s something so wonderful about crafting at a campsite. Maybe it’s the slower pace, the constant sound of birds ( I counted five different bird calls one morning!) , or the way every walk turns into a treasure hunt. On our last camping trip at Haliburton Forest Reserve, we had no picnic table (just camping chairs and a blanket on the ground!) but that didn’t stop us from making one of the prettiest crafts we’ve ever tried—a Nature Suncatcher. It’s easy, it’s beautiful, and it’s made entirely from things you find outdoors.

Instead of packing a ton of fancy craft supplies, this activity encourages kids to gather flowers, leaves, pine needles, and little bits of nature to create their own outdoor art. When the sun shines through, it looks like stained glass made by the forest. We hung ours from a tree branch at our campsite and couldn’t stop looking at how pretty it turned out.

Why You’ll Love This Nature Suncatcher

• It uses what you already have around your campsite or backyard.
• It gets kids excited to collect and sort natural materials.
• It’s relaxing, creative, and can be done with toddlers, big kids, or even adults.
• When you hang it, it doubles as decoration for your tent or picnic area.
• The finished piece is so stunning that you’ll definitely want to take photos.

Materials You’ll Need

You really don’t need much for this craft. Here’s what to bring from home:

• Contact paper (clear, sticky kind)
• Twine or string
• Scissors
• Glue (to secure the contact paper to the frame)

And here’s what you can collect at the campsite:

• Four sturdy sticks (similar length, for the frame)
• Small flowers
• Flower petals
• Green leaves
• Red or orange leaves (if you find them!)
• Ferns
• Pine needles
• Tiny pinecones
• Moss
• Grass
• Bark flakes
• Maple seeds (“helicopters”)
• Seed pods
• Feathers
• Dandelions
• Pebbles (flat and very light)
• Thin reeds or cattails

How to Make a Nature Suncatcher with a Stick Frame

Step 1: Build Your Frame
Tie your four sticks together at the corners with twine to make a square or rectangle. It doesn’t have to be perfect—part of the charm is how rustic it looks.

Step 2: Cut Contact Paper
Cut a piece of contact paper slightly larger than your frame. Peel off the backing and stick it to the back of the frame so the sticky side faces forward. You can add a little glue around the frame edges before sticking it down to make sure it stays put.

Step 3: Collect Your Nature Treasures
Go for a walk around your site or along a trail and collect light, flat natural items. Flowers and leaves work best!

Step 4: Create Your Design
Start placing your items directly onto the sticky surface of the contact paper. Press them down gently. You can make patterns, shapes, or just a random collage.

Step 5: Seal and Hang
Add a second layer of contact paper on top to “sandwich” everything inside. Next, cut the contact paper to fit the stick frame. Add glue around the back of the frame and glue the contact paper to it. Set it aside to dry. Depending on how hot it is, this may take sometime. Tie a piece of twine to the top of your frame and hang it where sunlight will shine through.

There’s something so satisfying about making a Nature Suncatcher while camping. It slows everyone down, encourages noticing little details, and leaves you with a piece of art that glows every time the light hits it. Next time you head outdoors, pack a roll of contact paper and some string—you’ll be amazed at how simple and beautiful this craft is!

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.