I’m watching my brothers this summer, which helps my parents because they aren’t paying for them to go to daycare, but it also helps me because they’re paying me to entertain them. Win win!
My brothers like to watch television and play their Nintendo DS though, and I’m not a fan. They’re good kids, but they’re boys, and have short attention spans. They would rather go places and see things, but it isn’t always an option. I have been collecting kid ideas for a while now on Pinterest to use on Isaiah, but my brothers are the right age now to do a lot of them.
They recently went to a horse camp, and while they were there they made dream catchers. I decided that it might be fun to make these super easy sun catchers with them.
Pony beads
Cake pan
Cookie cutters (optional)
Set oven to 400°. Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on how many you’re baking at once. You don’t need any non-stick spray. I was so nervous that these wouldn’t come out of the pans. Especially when I pulled them out of the oven and they seemed super sticky. Once the plastic cools though it is completely non-stick. I was amazed.
I gave them each a pan and set the carton of beads in front of them. I went ahead and let them pick cookie cutters to use as the hole by which they would be hung. This also helped us to finish faster because they didn’t have to fill the whole thing. I made them flip all the beads so the center hole faced up, and it was pure torture for them. In the end they enjoyed it.
The cookie cutters can be a bit tricky to get out of the plastic. I had to do a bit of wiggling, but finally got them all out. I’ve seen other people say that they drill a small hole in theirs for the string, but I think ours are fun.
nectarine / 2600 posts
Super cool! Could you also put the beads just inside the cookie cutters to make the shapes that way?
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@TheSwissWifeStyle: absolutely! One of my brothers broke his this weekend, so when we remake them we may do it that way so they don’t lose their minds placing beads.
nectarine / 2600 posts
@Mrs. Polish: neat-o!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
That’s really cool. How long does it tske to cool before you can start handling & removing the sun catchers?
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: about 10-15 minutes. It was much faster than I thought it would be.
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts
I remember making things like this when I was younger. So fun!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
This is soooo fun looking!! This would be a perfect wintertime activity to make for Christmas presents… doing it.
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
I have been wanting to try these!! I was wondering why do hey all have to face hole up? Is it just for uniformity or does it change how they melt?
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Mrs. Train: I don’t know if it’s necessary or not. Once they’re melted you can still see where the hole was, so yes, maybe uniformity. It would be much easier if you didn’t lay them all the same way!
GOLD / nectarine / 2884 posts
@mrs. wagon: oh yes great idea! I’ve been trying to think of unbreakable Christmas ornaments. This would be perfect!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Mrs. Sketchbook: these are breakable. There was a catastrophic event involving a slamming door at my parents house and one of them broke. If you’re careful and leave them alone though you would be fine.
apricot / 346 posts
Commenting so I can come back to this later…….Very very cool! Looks easy and fun! DD1 would love this.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
Neat!
guest
Fun project, but needs to be done when lots of windows can be opened. Gets kinda smelly from the melting plastic.
guest
Spray your cookie cutter with Pam before you put it in the beads.
guest
I’ve made them inside cookie cutters before and made them deeper (more beads) I didn’t have them all facing the same way this didn’t even occur to me! Much stronger if they are thicker! Now to find some Christmas cookie cutters!
guest
these would make cute ornaments for the tree.
guest
you think I can use perler beads??
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@meg: I don’t see why not.
guest
We made these with glow in the dark beads, they soak up the sun all day & glow pretty bright at night. My girls adore them
guest
Hey!i just love this idea!!! Anyone tried this idea with buttons?
guest
Hello,
do you think I can make this activity with HAMA pearls ?
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@magali: I’m not sure. Hama beads look smaller than pony beads. I would say if you try it to keep a close eye on it.
guest
You can use any type of plastic bead for this project but remember not all beads have the transparency that the pony beads used here have! It is not necessary to have the holes facing up eithe,super project!
guest
I use my craft oven to bake these – too afraid of using the range oven as I know these give off fumes big time and who knows what else that could contaminate food. These sun catchers aren’t cheap — 2 big bags at Michaels craft store was 14.00. I place small metal washers inside near the top which leaves a hole to tie the string
guest
I tried using the copper, gold and silver colored beads and they do not melt like the others. They are kind of rubbery ,,,,just don’t melt. I read somewhere that it only took 10 to 15 min but mine took at least 25 to 30 but I did have several in at one time.
guest
Hi ladies i am in the middle of making one now in a casserole dish. I am finding mine not wanting to stick to the sides as they kept slipping, let alone melt beads. They have been in he oven on 180%c for 1 hour & hey are still rock hard. What have i done wrong? Please help. Lol Cheers
guest
how is the smell indoors?
for smaller sun catchers I was using a toaster oven in garage work table.