Stained glass light catcher

Materials:

• scrap tissue paper
• 2 sheets of construction paper (letter size printer paper shown)
• scissors
• tape
• white glue
  

Instructions:

• take one sheet of construction paper and fold it in half lengthwise
  
  
  
  
  
  
• cut out the centre piece (which includes most of the folded edge), leaving a 3cm (1.25") frame
  
  
  
  
  
  
• open out the frame
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• take the second sheet of construction paper and cut several 2cm (0.75") strips lengthwise
  
  
  
  
  
  
• begin arranging the 2cm strips over the frame, cutting as required to fit your design
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• tape the strips down to secure them to the frame and to each other (this is the back side of the frame)
  
  
• cut tissue paper big enough to fit over each of the holes in your frame, dry fit them (overlay them on the back side of the frame to make sure they're the right size, but don't glue them until you're sure they are!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• glue the tissue paper to the back side of the frame
  
  
  
  
  
  
• let dry overnight
• hang on a window and enjoy!
  

As you can see from the photo below, if you use lightweight paper such as printer paper, the frame will be translucent. For best results, use thick opaque construction paper for the frame elements.

An advanced method (for adults) of doing this, would be to use a single sheet of paper for the frame and an X-Acto knife to cut out the "window" parts of the decoration.

Heart sun catcher

(This idea came home from school.)

Materials:

• white paper, letter sized (approx 22cm x 28cm or 8.5" x 11")
• waxed paper (approx 22cm x 28cm or 8.5" x 11")
• red paper (approx 22cm x 28cm or 8.5" x 11")
• red acrylic paint
  
• hole punch
• scissors
  
• white glue
• ribbon (white, pink or red)
  

Instructions:

• cut a large heart out of the red paper (leaving a red heart-shaped frame)
• splatter red acrylic paint on waxed paper (in approximate area of cut-out of red sheet)
• let red paint dry over night
• glue waxed paper on top of white sheet of paper
• glue red heart frame on top of waxed paper
• let dry
  
• punch hole in centre top of heart
• put length of ribbon through hole, tie and hang on window