DIY Shamrock Melted Bead Suncatchers
Are you looking for some Spring crafts for the kids? Check out these easy DIY Shamrock Melted Bead Suncatchers. They make a fun decoration!
Kids love to make fun craft projects, and they love them, even more, when you put them on display for everyone to see! These Shamrock Melted Bead Suncatchers are adorable to hang in your window for the spring or St Patricks Day! You can even take this idea and turn it into other shapes and designs to decorate the windows all year long! The kids will have a blast!
Do they smell?
These suncatchers are made by melting plastic beads, so yes, it can smell a little. I recommend using an old toaster oven. (You can find one at a local thrift store without paying a ton.) I set mine up on the porch for my kids when they are doing projects like this. That way, the smell is outside, and so is the mess.
How to Make A Melted Bead Suncatchers
The process is so simple! Lay your metal cookie cutter on a foil-lined baking sheet that will fit in your oven or toaster oven.
Fill the cookie cutter with the beads you choose to make your suncatcher; Translucent beads work the best of this purpose.
Bake at 400 for about 15 minutes, but watch your design; different sizes and different beads can take varying amounts of time. The goal is to have all of the beads melted together.
Once melted, allow your design to cool completely. Then, with the help of an adult, use a drill with a 1/8″ bit to place a hole in your suncatcher for stringing. Use a piece of ribbon or twine to hang your suncatcher. You can then hang them in the window with a suction cup.
Other Shapes & Designs
You are not stuck, making these melted bead suncatchers as shamrocks. You can make them any shape and any color you choose by using the same process. Some of my favorites are…
- Flowers
- butterflies
- circles (yes, plain circles look cool)
Shamrock Melted Bead Suncatchers
Ingredients
- Plastic pony beads translucent
- Metal cookie cutters or clay cutters
- Baking pan
- Aluminum foil
- Drill fitted with ⅛ inch drill bit
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Line baking pan with aluminum foil to protect the pan and make it easier for the ornaments to release from the pan.
- Place cookie cutters on aluminum foil in baking pan. Fill each cookie cutter with a single layer of beads. Use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to arrange the beads.
- Carefully put the baking sheet in the oven and melt the beads. The time can vary based on the type of bead. Begin checking at 5 minutes. (My ornaments took 15 minutes to melt.) The ornaments are ready when the beads are melted and the hole in each bead has disappeared.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely prior to removing from the cookie cutters. To remove the ornaments, gently pull the sides of the cookie cutter away from the ornament.
- Use the drill to create a small hole in each ornament for hanging.
- String the ornament and hang in the window with a suction cup if desired.
