Fall is here and we have been collecting the fallen leaves from Oak trees, and basically every tree! Collecting leaves is a great outdoor activity for children, it’s like a fun scavenger hunt, trying to find the perfect fallen leaf. The first thing you’ll need for this craft are oak leaves. So go outside and start collecting a handful of them!
We love how colourful these suncatchers are and this fun craft brings the fall colours inside. You will want to make more than one!
Make them in any colour you’d like & the more colours the better!
Materials:
Coloured Kite paper or tissue paper
Thick coloured paper - like card stock
Oak tree leaves
Mod podge glue or clear glue
A paint brush
Scissors
A pencil
Clear tape - to attach your acorns to the window
Paper cutting knife (optional for adults)
Acorn template (optional)
For this craft encourage children to draw their own acorns! You can cut out their design using a paper cutting knife (x-acto knife), or they can cut it out using scissors.
If you need a template to get started, we have provide some printable acorns to help, scroll to the bottom to download them. .
Instructions:
1. Grab your coloured card stock paper and start drawing your acorn design! If you want the leaf to fit into the nut part, lay the leaf onto the paper and trace your design around it.
2. When you are happy with your design cut it out! Make the design simple or complex.
3. The cut out pieces can also become a second acorn Suncatcher, so keep that part too!! You will need to cut it into a frame still - so do that now.
- It will be in two pieces but you can glue it back together onto the kite paper.
4. Set the acorn cutouts aside. Grab the coloured kite paper or tissue paper that you want the nut to be and glue your oak leaf onto it. We used mod podge glue and a paint brush to apply it. Glue the underside and apply glue to the top side of the leaf too - this will keep it from drying out. Then stick it onto the paper and set it aside and allow it to dry.
If you are using the extra frame, glue the second leaf onto a piece of kite or tissue paper now too!
5. Once it is dry, glue it to the frame. An easy way to do this is by placing your kite paper with you leaf upright onto the table, then apply glue (you can use a paint brush to smooth the glue out) onto the underside of the frame and stick the frame onto the kite paper leaf.
6. Do the same for the second acorn frame, glue the kite paper leaf onto the frame, don’t worry if it overhangs.
7. Now it’s time to glue on the cap kite paper colour. First, Cut any excess kite paper from your first colour, so that it doesn’t interfere with the second colour. Then place glue onto the frame like before and stick your kite paper onto it.
Notice the bottom acorn, we attached the top to the bottom frame by gluing both the top and bottom frame onto the dark green tissue paper!
8. Cut off any of the excess kite paper (again) that goes over the edge of the frame with scissors.
This is what the underside will look like. Make sure you tape that part to the window. You can also add strips of coloured paper in an X pattern (or any pattern) onto the cap, to add more details.
9. Your Acorn Suncatcher is complete! Hang it in a window and enjoy!
Here’s some acorn templates to work from if needed - cut them out so they become a frame for the kite paper. You can also download these on our freebies section.
Check out the ones designed by kids!
We hope that you had fun creating this unique and nature inspire Suncatcher! Feel free to tag us on Instagram @acorns.and.aprons (tag the actual photo) so that we can see your creations and share it!
