Valentine's Heart Sun Catcher with a Paper Plate -

There are so many fun crafts you can make with your kids, but one of our favorites is the Valentine’s Heart Sun Catcher you’ll see below. It’s easy to make, uses common household items, and looks beautiful hanging in a window. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to get crafty! This paper plate heart sun catcher is a fun and easy craft that kids of all ages can make with minimal supervision.

Or, take this opportunity to spend some quality time with your kids and create something special together. It’s also perfect for homeschool moms who want to incorporate some hands-on learning into their lesson plans. Let’s take a look at the steps involved in making this festive home decor item. Let’s get started!

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How to Make a Valentine’s Sun Catcher with your kids

The supplies you need for this craft are simple – all you need is a paper or styrofoam plate, clear contact paper, colorful tissue paper, ribbon, and some simple tools such as scissors, a pencil, and, a hole punch. You can find all of these items at any craft store or online. Links for easy purchasing from Amazon are included below.

Supplies for your Heart Sun Catcher

Paper dinner plate or styrofoam dinner plate (contact paper sticks better to the paper plate)
Tissue paper in red, pink, and purple, cut into small squares
Heart shape stencil or cookie cutter (see a free download for a stencil below)
Pencil, for tracing
Scissors
Clear contact paper
Hole punch
Red ribbon

Directions for Making your Heart Sun Catcher

Using a stencil or cookie cutter, trace a heart shape in the middle of the plate.

Cut to remove the heart from the plate.

Trace a slightly larger heart on the contact paper backing. Cut it out and peel off the backing. Fit the sticky contact paper over the back side of the open heart on the plate.

Drop tissue paper squares on the sticky side of the contact paper and use different colors for more vibrant results!

Trace, cut, and place an additional piece of contact paper to cover the front of the heart, securing the tissue paper between the layers.

Punch holes around the edge of the plate using your hole puncher. This will be where you attach your ribbon so you can space them how you’d like.
Use ribbon to weave a decorative edge around the plate. Tie off the ends in a bow or by tucking to the back of the plate.

Hang up in a sunny spot and admire your beautiful creation!

Another fun idea: popsicle stick Valentine crafts.

Free Heart Templates

Get three heart outline templates in three different sizes in this free download. You may use these to make different sizes of Heart Sun Catchers. Or, use them as coloring pages, Valentine cards, or other crafts!

Adaptations for the Heart Sun Catcher

The Valentine’s Day Heart Sun Catcher craft can be adapted in many ways. Use smaller plates for some “mini” versions. And, also create the sun catcher for other holidays, such as a Shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day (find a free shamrock stencil here), an Easter egg, bunny, or cross for Easter, and a flower for Spring!

Conclusion:

Your kids will love making this craft with you – it’s easy enough for even younger children but also engaging enough that older kids won’t get bored either! And when you’re finished, you’ll have a bright and cheerful sun catcher that will bring joy every time you look at it!