I find that suncatchers are a charming item and people always seem to admire them. They can be made in endless ways and with different items. Stained glass appears to be in great demand, but they are quite often made from plastic sheeting, which I am about to explain for novices. These items are so artistic yet often so very easy to make yourself and you will find that old and young people alike, really appreciate them!
One advantage with these is that they are fascinating in the way that they catch the light and, of course, the places you can actually hang them is endless. Your hallway, bedroom window, outside, wherever you like. It is easy to recognise why they might be popular!
So, let us start and this one is meant for a window! And here is a list of what you will need to make this. A roll of lead tape, a paintbrush, a hook of the rubber suction kind, 1x2cm of string in length, water pot, glass paints and thinner and a tube of glass outliner. On top of this you will also need an A5 size acrylic sheet and a pattern to work from.
If you are artistic you can draw your own design, but if you are not that way inclined, your local handicraft shop will probably have designs they will sell you.
Where do I start on this? First take the film off the plastic sheet. Then you need to cut a length of the lead taping. Next you peel the back off this and continue by sticking this all along the edges of your sheet of acrylic.
Now you will require something to hang it by. To do this cut about 4cm of your lead tape and your string needs to go in the centre. Then the tape needs to be wrapped around the string and be left open at the end. All you do then is to stick this to one edge of your acrylic sheet to make your hanging hook!
Next step, place your pattern sheet under the acrylic sheet and then you can draw your design with your tube of outliner from the pattern. Wait for this to dry.
Using your glass paints you can then start filling in your designs. This could take a little while to dry, so I would most probably leave it overnight. Now, if you have used glass paints with solvent in them, you will need to wash and clean your brushes with the thinner.
Some paints only have a water base, so these can just be washed in water. So, now we are getting near the end. You have to be able to hang the suncatcher, so this is where your suction hook comes in. Go ahead, stick this to your window and then attach your suncatcher. You will get great satisfaction when you see the light reflecting on and through it. If you have cracked it don't stop there, try different designs and make a few more!
One advantage with these is that they are fascinating in the way that they catch the light and, of course, the places you can actually hang them is endless. Your hallway, bedroom window, outside, wherever you like. It is easy to recognise why they might be popular!
So, let us start and this one is meant for a window! And here is a list of what you will need to make this. A roll of lead tape, a paintbrush, a hook of the rubber suction kind, 1x2cm of string in length, water pot, glass paints and thinner and a tube of glass outliner. On top of this you will also need an A5 size acrylic sheet and a pattern to work from.
If you are artistic you can draw your own design, but if you are not that way inclined, your local handicraft shop will probably have designs they will sell you.
Where do I start on this? First take the film off the plastic sheet. Then you need to cut a length of the lead taping. Next you peel the back off this and continue by sticking this all along the edges of your sheet of acrylic.
Now you will require something to hang it by. To do this cut about 4cm of your lead tape and your string needs to go in the centre. Then the tape needs to be wrapped around the string and be left open at the end. All you do then is to stick this to one edge of your acrylic sheet to make your hanging hook!
Next step, place your pattern sheet under the acrylic sheet and then you can draw your design with your tube of outliner from the pattern. Wait for this to dry.
Using your glass paints you can then start filling in your designs. This could take a little while to dry, so I would most probably leave it overnight. Now, if you have used glass paints with solvent in them, you will need to wash and clean your brushes with the thinner.
Some paints only have a water base, so these can just be washed in water. So, now we are getting near the end. You have to be able to hang the suncatcher, so this is where your suction hook comes in. Go ahead, stick this to your window and then attach your suncatcher. You will get great satisfaction when you see the light reflecting on and through it. If you have cracked it don't stop there, try different designs and make a few more!
About the Author:
The author of this article, Anna Meenaghan, runs an interactive internet art community where artists and art enthusiasts alike have a meeting point. Here you can discover more or less anything about art from canvas art through to abstract paintings as well as vast amount of "Help" guides for budding future artists.
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