Frozen Sun Catcher

When I ran across the idea for this frozen sun catcher, I was hooked by the idea. Take advantage of the natural winter conditions to try this out for me. Living in Arizona, I am not going to get the opportunity to try it out myself. I would love to see the results if you try it out. Let me know if I can post your pics of it here with the instructions!

When you think of winter, most of us think of cold and snow. I think of beautiful scenes of the sun glistening of off the freshly fallen white snow. This sun catcher is bound to suit the bill and take advantage of the freezing temperatures and the winter sunlight. It is bound to add beauty to your porch or lawn, or anywhere you grace with it's presence.

This sun catcher uses the crystal clearness of frozen water to encase your treasures and display them in the sunlight.

Supplies Needed

• Water
• Any color of food coloring
• Shallow disposable aluminum pan (pie pans work nicely)
• Round orange slices
• Dried flowers
• Pressed pine needles
• Small pine cones
• Cranberries
• or any other tidbits you want to use 
• Sturdy twine
• Scissors

Directions to Make a Frozen Sun Catcher

1. Run enough water into a pitcher or bowl to fill the aluminum pan. Add food coloring until the desired color is achieved.
2. Pour colored water into the pan until it is about a quarter of an inch deep. Keep the rest of the water for later use making the second half of the sun catcher.
3.  Place the pan in the freezer or outside overnight so that it freezes solid.
4. Cut two pieces of twine, each about a foot long. Place the end of one piece about halfway down one side of the ice, and run it along the side up to the top, leaving the remainder outside of the pan. Do the same on the other side with the other piece of twine.
5. Arrange the orange slices, flowers, pine needles, pine cones, cranberries, or other tidbits on the surface of the ice. When you have arranged them to your liking, slowly pour another quarter inch of the colored water into the pan. You can either pour the water over your layout, or arrange your layout in the freshly poured layer of water.
6. Place the pan back in the freezer or outside overnight so that the new layer of water will freeze into ice, locking your design in place.
7. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
8. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.
9. Find a nice spot outside, and tie the pieces of twine together to hang your sun catcher!

Tips

• You can use lemons or lime slices in addition to or instead of the orange slices.
• For best results, use a light color of food coloring. Darker colors could soak into the orange slices and change their color.
• Keep in mind that the sun catcher will eventually melt. Make sure you put your sun catcher somewhere that will not be affected by the dripping water as it melts.
• Consider putting it in a spot is shady for at least part of the day to keep it frozen and looking good longer.
• If it's nice and cold outside, consider doing the entire project on the porch or patio. That way you won't have to move it after adding the decorations and the water, and the items won't shift around as much.
• You may want to try running the twine right down the middle of the pan. It might hang onto your frozen treasure just a little bit longer this way.

Enjoy trying this green nature project by yourself or with your kids. Find more green craft projects in Green Crafts for Children: 35 Step-by-Step Projects Using Natural, Recycled, And Found Materials to try out all year long with your kids.