FAMILY SUN CATCHER
By Dorothy!
In these days when we can’t be together, this is an activity that reminds us all that we are family even when we aren’t together.
This is a fun project that can be spread over several days.
MATERIALS NEEDED
- Tissue paper, different colors
- Gloss Medium (for art projects)
- Elmer’s Glue will work
- Sturdy paint brushes
- Paper for patterns,
- Saran wrap – this is your work ground so tape down securely or everyone will whine.
Let the children tell the story – How many of us live together in this house?
Parents, Siblings, Pets? Draw patterns if you want. Everyone can make a tissue paper figure of themselves or some other member of the family who lives in our house. Cut out the figures and, using big brush and medium or Elmers generously to glue them together and give them translucence.
Add family members who don’t live with us but are still dear – grandparents, friends. Don’t be fussy about the shapes. Bumpy is fine. Add animal friends, if you want.
Finally,– who is in our family who doesn’t live on earth anymore? We invented this activity for my daughter Gina who was six when her Daddy died. These dear people can be represented in different ways – either as people of angels or flowers, or kites. Anything at all that reminds they’re not lost to us..
These figures are added to the sun catcher with a final layer of Gloss Medium. When it’s dry, Peel it off the saran. Easiest way is to loosen the suncatcher as you add layers, leaving at least enogh space to get a table knife between the sun catcher and the saran wrap. Loosen and lift until it’s free though if your creation is very stubborn, just cut down to figures and leave it. Hang it in the window to catch the sun and remind us of what a wonderful family we have.
This technique can be used to make all sorts of designs. The important thing is to periodically check to see that you have an open place between sun catcher and saran wrap so that you can lift it off without ruining your creative effort.
For more information:
Dorothy Wilhelm
253-582-4565