Add a pop of color to your windows this Valentine's Day with this Free Printable Valentine Heart Suncatcher!
To help get you and the kids ready for Valentine's Day, I'm excited to share this Free Printable Valentine Heart Suncatcher! It's such a fun activity to celebrate the day and the finished project will add a pop of color to your windows at home. Kids of all ages will love coloring in this geometric heart design, and the process of turning opaque paper into a translucent suncatcher is truly magical!
To make your own Valentine Suncatcher, you'll need these supplies:
- Valentine Suncatcher Printable (for personal use only)
- Cardstock
- Colored Pencils
- Baby Oil
- Cotton Swabs
- Scissors
Printables from Artsy-Fartsy Mama are for personal use only. You may use these in an educational setting, but you may not sell them. If you'd like to share this printable digitally, share a link to this post/website only. Do not share a direct link to the printable.
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 gives colored pencil projects a whole new look! I helped my husband with 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!
Download and print the Valentine heart suncatcher printable on cardstock. You will also need a variety of colored pencils and a pencil sharpener. For best results, use bright colors to fill in each of the shapes inside the heart. I used a variety of pinks and purples, and got creative by layering colors to create new shades.
Not matter what colors you use, one of the most important things is make sure to fill the areas all the way with colored pencil!
You will need a small, disposable cup filled about halfway with baby oil, a bunch of cotton swabs, and paper towels. If you are working with a large group, like in a classroom, I would recommend using unscented oil instead to keep the smell from becoming too overpowering.
Place a scrap piece of paper or a paper towel under the printable. 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 paper dries almost immediately, but you can lightly blot the surface with paper towel to remove any excess oil. If you want to keep this as a work of art instead of a suncatcher, the project is complete once all of the colored areas have been blended.
If you hold the paper 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 entire image. Place a clean paper towel under your paper to protect your workspace. Turn the printable face-down on the paper towel.
Dip a clean cotton swab into some baby oil. "Color" the entire back of the image until you see the colors and design start to show through. It's kind of like those invisible ink 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. The paper dries quickly, but any extra oil will just sit on top. Discard any unused oil, used cotton swabs, and paper towels.
Carefully cut around the outside border of the heart with scissors. Younger children may need help from an adult (or older child) with this step. I prefer to do the cutting after the coloring and oil steps because it's not a problem if you go outside the lines. However, you can cut the image beforehand if you want to save some time.
Use clear tape to stick your colorful Valentine Heart Suncatcher to the window and enjoy the bright colors throughout the day!
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