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Craft Tutorials | Crafts for Kids | Recycled Crafts for Kids | Colorful Glue Suncatcher
Recycled Crafts for Kids

Colorful Glue Suncatcher

Author by Amanda Davis on July 1, 2020 Updated on June 29, 2020

5 from 9 votes
Colorful and fun to make, this glue sun catcher makes a great project for bored kids. Ideal for rainy days, snow days, or when it's just too hot outside!
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plastic lid suncatcher hanging in window
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Need a fun and easy craft for the kids that won’t cost an arm and a leg? If you are like me and save plastic lids then this is the perfect rainy day activity or afternoon craft.

glue suncatcher hanging in window

 

Why this project is a hit

I mean, recycling! A lot of recycling centers will take containers but not their caps and lids. I usually save those so I can make more projects with them. You might remember my plastic lid ladybugs from years ago?

Craft supplies you will need

  • White craft glue (or school glue)
  • Plastic lid (cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc)
  • Liquid food coloring
  • Toothpick
  • Embroidery floss
  • Needle (Parents handle this if creating with young kids)
  • Pony beads
  • 3 (4-hole) buttons

suncatcher hanging in window

Helpful Project Information:

  • Age Level: 4 and up
  • Mess Factor: Medium (glue)
  • Level of Difficulty: Medium (threading)
  • Time to Complete: 20 minutes
  • Cost Estimate: Less than $1.00

How to Make a Colorful Glue Suncatcher

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this project. Please scroll down to simply print out the instructions!

  1. Place lid upside down on the table and fill it with glue. Add three drops of food coloring in three different places in the glue.

plastic lid filled with glue and three dots of food coloring

  1. Use a toothpick to swirl the food coloring around in the glue.

dragging food coloring through glue with toothpick

  1. This photo is an example of when is a good time to stop. The color will spread a lot more than this as it sits and if you swirl it too much you’ll end up with just a brown design instead of a colorful one.

plasic lid with glue and food coloring

  1. The photo below is what my design looked like after an hour of sitting. See how the colors have begun to spread?

glue suncatcher design spreading

  1. Now here’s the hard part. Put the lid somewhere it will remain undisturbed for 5-6 days. You can check it after 4 days by reaching into the lid then carefully pulling back the dried glue. Peel slowly and if you see wet glue, return it to its original position and let it dry longer. Once the design is completely dry, peel it out of the lid.
  2. Parents: Thread the needle and poke it through the bottom of the sun catcher.

threading needle through plastic lid

  1. Pull the thread through, take off the needle and line up the two ends of the thread.

inserting needle into plastic lid

  1. Repeat two more times for a total of three hanging strings about 8 or 9 inches long.

three strings hanging from plastic lid suncatcher

  1. Now have your little ones thread some pony beads onto each set of strings; I used eight beads on each one.

pony beads on string

  1. Thread the two strings through a 4-hole button, running the thread up through two holes and back down through the other two holes.

threading string through button holes

  1. Turn the button over and tie a knot in the string three times. Trim off the excess string.

tying string in knot at back of button

  1. Thread a needle with one strand of embroidery floss. Poke the needle through the top of the sun catcher, tie that in a knot for the hanger. Thread several pony beads onto the hanger. I used seven.

string with pony beads

  1. Loop the string back through the final bead.

string looped through end of pony bead

  1. Pull that string tight. Now all you have to do is hang it up and marvel at its beauty!

pony beads on string

Expert Tips & FAQs

While this project doesn’t take long to make, it has a long dry time, about 5-6 days. While it is just regular white craft glue, a thick layer like this takes time to dry.

The outer layer will dry first, locking in the wet glue underneath, not allowing as much air to touch it. Hence the drying must rely on evaporation, and without a lot of room for the moisture to escape, it slows the dry time considerably.

I suggest turning this into two separate craft projects. The first one is making the sun catcher, and the second one a week later to embellish it.

This is great as a group project too. I hope you and the kids have fun!

suncatcher with tree in background

More Recycled Crafts for Kids

  • Recycled Plastic Lid Windchime
  • Plastic Lid Monsters
  • Make a Robot from a Cereal Box
  • Rainbow Button Wind Chime
  • Margarine Tub Boat

I love to create and share my projects with you! I know it’s hard to remember to come back and search, so I’ve made it easy for you with my weekly newsletter! You can subscribe for free and I’ll send you fun crafts and delicious recipes every week right to your email.

Check our more fun suncatcher ideas like our adorable watermelon suncatcher, a candy corn suncatcher, or our easter egg suncatcher!

plastic lid suncatcher hanging in window
Print Project
5 from 9 votes

Colorful Glue Suncatcher

Colorful and fun to make, this glue sun catcher makes a great project for bored kids. Ideal for rainy days, snow days, or when it's just too hot outside!
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Crafting Time20 minutes mins
Drying Time4 days d
Total Time4 days d 25 minutes mins
Age Group: Kids Crafts
Project Type: Crafts
Makes: 1 suncatcher

Supplies

  • White craft glue or school glue
  • Plastic lid cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc
  • Liquid food coloring
  • Toothpick
  • Embroidery floss
  • Needle Parents handle this if creating with young kids
  • Pony beads
  • 3 4-hole buttons

Instructions

  • Place lid upside down on the table and fill it with glue. Add three drops of food coloring in three different places in the glue.
    plastic lid filled with glue and three dots of food coloring
  • Use a toothpick to swirl the food coloring around in the glue.
    dragging food coloring through glue with toothpick
  • This photo is an example of when is a good time to stop. The color will spread a lot more than this as it sits and if you swirl it too much you’ll end up with just a brown design instead of a colorful one.
    plasic lid with glue and food coloring
  • Now here’s the hard part. Put the lid somewhere it will remain undisturbed for 5-6 days. You can check it after 4 days by reaching into the lid then carefully pulling back the dried glue. Peel slowly and if you see wet glue, return it to its original position and let it dry longer. Once the design is completely dry, peel it out of the lid.
    glue suncatcher design spreading
  • Parents: Thread the needle and poke it through the bottom of the sun catcher.
    threading needle through plastic lid
  • Pull the thread through, take off the needle and line up the two ends of the thread.
    inserting needle into plastic lid
  • Repeat two more times for a total of three hanging strings about 8 or 9 inches long.
    three strings hanging from plastic lid suncatcher
  • Now have your little ones thread some pony beads onto each set of strings; I used eight beads on each one.
    pony beads on string
  • Thread the two strings through a 4-hole button, running the thread up through two holes and back down through the other two holes.
    threading string through button holes
  • Turn the button over and tie a knot in the string three times. Trim off the excess string.
    tying string in knot at back of button
  • Thread a needle with one strand of embroidery floss. Poke the needle through the top of the sun catcher, tie that it a knot for the hanger. Thread several pony beads onto the hanger. I used seven.
    string with pony beads
  • Loop the string back through the final bead.
    string looped through end of pony bead
  • Pull that string tight. Now all you have to do is hang it up and marvel at its beauty!
    pony beads on string

Expert Tips & FAQs

While this project doesn’t take long to make, it has a long dry time, about 5-6 days. While it is just regular white craft glue, a thick layer like this takes time to dry.
The outer layer will dry first, locking in the wet glue underneath, not allowing as much air to touch it. Hence the drying must rely on evaporation, and without a lot of room for the moisture to escape, it slows the dry time considerably.
I suggest turning this into two separate craft projects. The first one is making the sun catcher, and the second one a week later to embellish it.

 

I originally made this project for Kix Cereal.

This post originally appeared here on Jul 30, 2014.

  • Author
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Amanda Davis
Amanda Davis is the crafty, entrepreneurial mother of four children. She loves to bake, cook, make kid's crafts and create decorative items for her home. She is a crafting expert and guru in the kitchen and has appeared online and in print publications many times over the years.
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Filed Under: Camp Crafts, Easy Crafts for Kids, Recycled Crafts for Kids, Spring Crafts, Summer Crafts Tagged With: food coloring, glue, kix cereal, pony beads, recycle, sun catcher, suncatcher

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Comments

  1. Jem says

    February 19, 2023 at 7:20 am

    So pretty! I’m confused though about the glue. You say to pull it out after it dries. Does some still remain to keep the color on the lid?

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      February 22, 2023 at 11:40 am

      Hi there! Actually, the final product you see is ALL GLUE! :) It takes on the shape and design of the lid when it dries.

      Reply
  2. Nicole says

    August 12, 2019 at 3:43 am

    This looks lovely and doesn’t have too many materials either.

    Reply
  3. Tiffiny says

    July 30, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    How hot are the outside temperatures where you live? I’m concerned the glue would actually melt in a desert climate.

    Reply
    • Amanda Formaro says

      August 4, 2014 at 8:49 am

      Hi Tiffiny! Actually we’ve had a pretty mild summer with temps in the 70s and 80s. I have had this sun catcher handing in my front living room window since I made it and it’s still doing fine. That particular window gets full afternoon sun and if I don’t close the drapes in the afternoon it gets pretty hot in the room! I was worried about it melting too, but there have been no physical changes to it at all :)

      Reply
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