Rainbow Melted Bead Salt Dough Suncatcher

We are huge fans of salt dough melted bead suncatchers in our home.  They are so much fun to make and such a happy vision in our windows.  Despite the fact that it is March we still have 4 feet of snow on the ground (and more on the way).  Admittedly, we are quite sick of white and in deperate need of some more color.  This Rainbow Melted Bead Salt Dough Suncatcher is the perfect craft to brighten your day!

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WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE RAINBOW MELTED BEAD SALT DOUGH SUNCATCHER

translucent multi-colored pony beads
6 inch pipe cleaners (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple)
batch of salt dough (1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water, combined)
parchment paper
embroidery floss or twine
cookie tray
white paint
low temp glue gun

AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT

fine motor development
color exploration
creativity
scientific exploration (what happens when plastic beads are heated)

HOW TO MAKE RAINBOW MELTED BEAD SALT DOUGH SUNCATCHERS

Begin by making a quick batch of salt dough.  Combine 1 cup of flour, 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup water until a smooth dough is formed.  We used our electric mixer but you could also use a bowl and spoon.  Set out the dough, with an assortment of pony beads and 6 inch long pipe cleaners.

To make the arches of the rainbow string the pony beads on to the corresponding pipe cleaner color. Leave about a 1/2 inch on both sides of the pipe cleaner free of beads so that there will be room to stick it in the salt dough clouds.

Continue this process until all the colors of the rainbow are completed.  Place them on a cookie tray covered in parchment paper bending the pipe cleaners to make a rainbow shape.

Next take pieces of the salt dough and create cloud shapes on both sides of the rainbow.

Bake in a 350 F  oven for about an hour or until the pony beads are melted.  If you are uncomfortable with the idea of melted bead fumes in your home some readers have had success using their outdoor grill or a toaster oven in a well-ventilated area.  Personally, I find the smell to be minimal with our oven vent on and kitchen ceiling fan.  The salt dough will turn a dark brown, don’t worry, we are going to fix that in the next step!

Let cool for a few minutes and then use white paint to paint the clouds (I prefer acrylic paint versus tempera for this project).  Once dry attach a piece of embroidery floss or baker’s twine to the back of the suncatcher using a low temp glue gun.  Hang in a window and let the sun shine in!  Oh what a happy day!

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