How to Make Suncatchers for the Rear View Mirror in a Car

A suncatcher can help decorate your car mirror.

Rear view mirror suncatchers are a nice decorative touch that can help personalize the interior of your car. It is important to make a suncatcher that is an appropriate size to hang in the windshield of your car so it doesn't obstruct your vision while driving.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Colored tissue paper
• Freezer paper
• Cardboard sheet
• Clear-drying glue
• Paintbrush
• Foam plate
• Construction paper
• Push pin
• Thread or string

Instructions

1. Cut the colored tissue paper into small squares. Each square should measure about one square inch. Make sure you cut enough pieces to cover the entire sheet of freezer paper.

2. Tape the freezer paper to the cardboard, making sure the shiny side of the paper faces upward. Make sure to seal the edges of the freezer paper over the cardboard to keep the paper from wrinkling or buckling.

3. Pour glue onto a foam plate. Only pour out a small amount at a time to keep it from drying up before you use it. You will need enough glue to cover the sheet of freezer paper twice.

4. Dip the paintbrush in the glue and paint it on a section of the freezer paper. Stick the pieces of tissue paper to the freezer paper, making sure the tissue paper overlaps. Repeat this step until the entire piece of freezer paper is covered with tissue paper. Coat the tissue paper-covered freezer paper with another layer of glue to hold down any loose ends of tissue paper.

5. Set the freezer paper aside for a couple hours to completely dry. Cut the construction paper in the shape of your desired suncatcher. Cut out the inside of your design, leaving a 1/2-inch border. You will want to cut out two identical outlines of your shape to serve as the front and back of the suncatcher.

6. Peel the dried tissue paper collage from the freezer paper. Trace the construction paper outline onto the tissue paper collage with a pencil, then cut out the shape from the tissue paper collage and glue it to one of the construction paper outlines. Glue the second construction paper outline to the other side of the tissue paper collage, being sure to line up both construction paper pieces. Trim any excess tissue paper collage that sticks out from the construction paper outline.

7. Punch a hole in the top of your suncatcher with a push pin and run a piece of thread or string through the hole to create a hanger. Tie the ends of the string around the stem of your rear view mirror, making sure it hangs low enough to dangle, but not so low it will obstruct your vision.

Tips & Warnings

• Use contact paper instead of the freezer paper with the glue to hold the tissue paper and create a suncatcher more quickly if you don't have time to wait for the glue to dry.

• Be very gentle when peeling the tissue paper collage from the freezer paper. It is very delicate and may rip easily.

References

• Free Kids Crafts.com: Tissue Paper Star Craft
• Wee Folk Art: Tissue Paper Stained Glass Hearts