Make your own aluminium foil Sun Catcher

There's still time for some summer sun shiny-ness!

Let’s capture some of the last of this summer shine with a homemade sun catcher! 

Perfect for adding a pop of sparkle and personality to your garden, this shiny favorite is fun and easy to make with just a few materials.

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Materials:

• Aluminum foil
• Scissors
• Adhesive spray
• Printed templates of drawings
• Pencils
• Sewing needle or safety pin
• Fencing wire
• Picture hanging wire
• Pliers

Image: supplied

Method:

Step 1: Create a Thick Aluminum Foil Sheet

1. Tear 8 sheets of aluminum foil, each 30-40cm long.
2. Apply adhesive spray to two sheets and carefully press them together.
3. Repeat this process until all 8 sheets are stacked and bonded together, forming a thick, sturdy piece of foil.

Step 2: Design Your Ornaments

1. Choose your design by either printing templates or drawing freehand. (I found my templates on Canva and added extra details!)
2. Lay the template over a cut-down piece of your prepared aluminum foil.
3. Firmly trace over the template with a pencil to emboss the design onto the foil. You may need to go over the design multiple times to ensure the imprint is clear.
4. For added detail, use a sewing needle or safety pin to carefully perforate the outline of the design. This creates a stunning effect when sunlight shines through!
5. Cut out your design to complete the foil ornament.

Step 3: Construct the Sun Catcher’s Frame

1. Cut three lengths of fencing wire:
   • 30cm
   • 25cm
   • 20cm
2. Bend each piece into a semi-circle and loop the ends to form small U-shaped hooks about 1cm long.
3. Connect the 30cm and 25cm wires with a piece of picture hanging wire. Leave a loop above the top piece for hanging.
4. Wrap the picture hanging wire around the center of each semi-circle, spacing them about 15cm apart.

Step 4: Attach the Ornaments

1. Attach each foil ornament to the wire frame using short pieces of picture hanging wire.
2. Distribute the ornaments evenly on the 30cm wire to maintain balance.
3. For the second tier (25cm wire), attach two ornaments on one side and connect the 20cm wire with an ornament on each end. This arrangement will balance the second tier while adding dimension to your sun catcher.

Final Touches

Once all your ornaments are attached, your beautifully balanced aluminum foil sun catcher is complete! Hang it in your garden or near a window to enjoy its sparkling effect in the sunlight.

Share Your Creations

Make sure you tag @stellarperformingarts and @kidspot so we can see all your beautiful creations!

Originally published as Make your own aluminium foil Sun Catcher