If your family is like mine, we need extra motivation to get outside when the temperature drops below freezing.  Perhaps this craft will be just the thing to get your kids outside.  These frozen sun catchers can be made with a variety of items, are interesting to look at, and sparkle beautifully in the sun.  Plus, they were super easy to make; winter did most of the work for us!

How to Make Outdoor Frozen Sun Catchers

I’ve included photos and even a video below.  This craft is very straight forward.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Container to freeze the water in (metal pie plate, small baking tray, or larger plastic container)
• Natural elements (twigs, leaves, berries, pine cones)
• Water
• String
• Drill (optional)
• Freezer space or freezing temperatures

Directions:

Have your little ones hunt out some interesting treasures.  Maybe you’ve already collected some treasure on another walk that you could use today.  You may suggest leaves, berries, grasses, pine needles, twigs, and such.

These treasures all get put into the bottom of your vessel.  Pour water over top and freeze.  Once the disk is frozen, use your drill to make a hanging hole (not too close to the edge) and hang to catch the sun.

A few notes:

The first time I made these I tried to freeze the hanging string into the disks, it can work, but I found the string melted out quickly.  Also, if you actually hang them in the shade they’ll last longer, but then they won’t actually be sun catchers!

You can make ice ornaments that the birds can enjoy too.  By adding fruit, berries, and nuts, birds will have treats to snack on as the ornaments melt in the sun.

I tend to only put natural items in the ornaments because when they melt, everything will fall to the ground and I don’t want small pieces of plastic littering the ground.  Although, that being said, I had a hard time not wanting to add some glitter!

If this is an activity that you’d be interested in trying and you’d like to hear about other nature activities and crafts, you may want to subscribe to the Take Them Outside Newsletter.  You’ll get tips, activities, news, and goodies delivered right to your inbox every few weeks.  Make finding time for nature a little bit easier!

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Here’s a photo from Twig and Toadstool  who did a variation of this frozen sun catchers craft.  I really like how they are each a different color.  Check out their page to learn how their ice sun catchers were made.