Melted Crayon Stained Glass Cross Sun Catcher Craft

This melted crayon stained glass cross sun catcher craft is a beautiful project for Easter, Sunday school, or spring decorating. The finished cross looks bright and colorful in a sunny window, and each one turns out a little different. Because this project uses a warm iron and a craft knife, it is best made with older kids, teens, or with close adult help. It also makes a thoughtful handmade gift for grandparents, nursing home residents, or anyone who could use a cheerful keepsake.

Supplies

• Bits of crayon
• Warm iron, with adult supervision
• Craft knife and scissors
• Tacky glue
• White cardstock
• Black cardstock, optional
• Black permanent marker
• Waxed paper
• Fishing line or double sided tape

Instructions

1. Print the cross window pattern at full size.
2. Place the pattern over black cardstock and staple around the outside edges and inside sections to hold everything in place while you cut. If you do not have black cardstock, you can use white cardstock and color it with a black permanent marker.
3. Carefully cut out the inside sections of the cross design first. A craft knife works best for the straight lines, but this step should be done by an adult or older teen. Leave the outside edge uncut until the inside pieces are finished. If any white edges show, trace along the cut lines with a black marker.
4. Lay a piece of waxed paper over the pattern. Sprinkle small crayon shavings onto the waxed paper, following the design areas on the pattern. Use one color for the whole cross or several colors for a stained glass effect. A few stray shavings in other sections will still look pretty once melted.
5. Place a second piece of waxed paper on top of the crayon shavings. Cover that with a blank sheet of paper or a thin cloth.
6. With adult help, gently press a warm iron over the top. The crayon will melt very quickly, so only a light press is needed.
7. Once the waxed paper has cooled, staple the pattern to the melted crayon sheet outside the design area. Cut out the full shape.
8. Spread tacky glue lightly on the back of the cardstock pattern and attach it to the melted waxed paper. Tacky glue works well for this step because it sticks better to waxed paper than many other glues.
9. For a finished look on both sides, cut out a second cardstock cross and glue it to the back, sandwiching the waxed paper in the middle.
10. Punch a hole at the top and thread fishing line through for hanging. You can also use double sided tape to stick the sun catcher directly to a window.

Fun Facts

Stained glass art has been used for centuries in churches, homes, and public buildings. Artists create the design by fitting colorful pieces inside dark outlines, which is why this craft has a similar look. Real stained glass uses colored glass, but this kid-friendly version creates a bright window effect with melted crayon shavings instead.

Patterns, Templates and Printables

Click on the pattern to open it in a new window and print it at the correct size.