Free Printable Butterfly Suncatcher

Kids of all ages will love making Butterfly Suncatchers to brighten up your home!!

I was thinking about everything going on right now, and how our lives are never really going to be the same again once this is over. For a moment (or a few), I felt defeated and overwhelmed by it all.  Soon enough, I came across a quote from Steven Aitchison: “A caterpillar must endure a season of isolation before it turns into a butterfly. Embrace the time you have alone, it will only make you stronger.”

This quote, along with seeing people adding bright colors to their windows and sidewalks, inspired me to create this Free Printable Butterfly Suncatcher project. It's a simple craft that kids of all ages can do, and like the butterfly, it's a great reminder that we will get through this tough time together. Plus, everyone who passes by your home will love seeing the pops of color on display!

To get started, print out the butterfly suncatcher printable on regular copy paper or cardstock. You will also need a variety of colored pencils and a pencil sharpener. Color each of the shapes inside the butterfly in any bright colors you want. Most importantly, have fun and take some time to relax!

Download Free Printable Butterfly Suncatcher

Some things you should know before downloading:

*Artsy-Fartsy Mama printables are for PERSONAL USE ONLY (home, school, libraries, etc).

*You may NOT modify, re-sell, redistribute, or claim the design as your own.

*Please do not remove the credits/watermarks.

*If you'd like to share this project, credit must be given to Artsy-Fartsy Mama & linked back to this post.

Now, for a little bit of magic! Did you know that you can blend colored pencil art with baby oil? It's actually a fascinating trick that makes your colored pencil projects look absolutely amazing! My husband did some projects in the classroom using this technique, and the kids loved it. It's also how I figured out that this is also a creative way to make suncatchers!

Grab a handful of cotton swabs and pour a small amount of baby oil (I prefer unscented) into the cap or a small container. You may also want to keep some paper towels on hand. Place a scrap piece of paper under the printable, and dip the tip of the cotton swab into the baby oil. Hold the cotton swab like a pencil, and rub it on the colored area with the same amount of pressure that you use to color. You can see in the image above how the colored pencil strokes smooth out and blend together like magic!

My best tip is to work slowly and start small with the oil. You can always add more. You can re-dip the colored cotton swab into the oil if you need to "reload". You'll notice you need more oil when the colored pencil isn't blending as easily. I also recommend using a different cotton swab for each color family.

The image dries almost immediately, and you can frame it that day if you want to keep the butterfly as artwork instead of a suncatcher.

If you hold the image up to the light, you will notice it's a bit splotchy where you might have gone heavy on the oil. After a little experimentation, I figured out how to let the sunlight shine evenly through the image. First, place a scrap piece of paper under your image to protect your workspace. Place your image face-down on the paper.

Use a clean cotton swab and dip the end into some baby oil. "Color" the entire back of the image until you see the color and design start to show through. It's kind of like those invisible coloring pages from when we were kids!!

Once the entire image has been revealed via the baby oil, use a paper towel to blot up any excess oil. It dries quickly, but any extra oil will just sit on top. Discard any unused oil, all of the used cotton swabs, and the scrap piece of paper.

Use some scissors to carefully cut around the outside border of the butterfly. Younger children will need help from an adult (or older child) with this step.

Stick your colorful butterfly to the window and enjoy the bright colors throughout the day! Kids of all ages are going to have so much fun with this butterfly suncatcher activity. As always, I would love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram and Facebook, and leave a comment or photo on my project pin!

Looking for more spring inspiration?

Check out this collection of OVER 100 creative spring craft ideas!!

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