Bring a little bit of sunshine and nature indoors with this pressed flower suncatcher craft! Delicate blooms, bright light, and a touch of DIY magic come together to create something truly beautiful. Whether you’re preserving flowers from your garden or using store-bought petals, this simple project captures the charm of summer in a frame you can hang in any window.
Using real pressed flowers, clear contact paper, and a mason jar ring, this floral suncatcher is both easy to make and elegant. It’s a lovely activity for kids, adults, or anyone who enjoys crafting with natural elements — and it makes a thoughtful handmade gift too! Keep reading and we’ll show you how to make pressed flower suncatchers step-by-step, so you can start creating your own pretty, light-catching designs in no time at all.
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How to Make a Pressed Flower Suncatcher
Materials:
- Mason jar lid (seal and ring)
- Contact paper
- Pressed flowers
- Twine
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Plan your flower design
- Place the lid of a mason jar (the seal part) onto a piece of paper and trace around it.This is optional, but it allows you to plan your suncatcher design ahead of time
- Use tweezers to pick up a pressed flower and place it within the circle.
- Repeat, adding different sizes and colours of flowers to the circle. Rearrange until you’re happy with the design.
Step 3: Add flowers to contact paper
- Cut 2 pieces of contact paper the same size, large enough to fit the mason jar lid.
- Trace the mason jar lid onto one piece of contact paper. Be sure to trace it onto the actual contact paper and not the backing.
- Remove the backing from this piece of contact paper and place it onto your working surface with the sticky side up.Turn the corners down so that it sticks in place.
- Copy your flower design from the paper, moving the flowers one by one onto the contact paper. Press them down gently.
- Remove the backing from the second piece of contact paper and place it on top, sticky side down. This will sandwich the flower design between the 2 pieces.Smooth the paper down towards the outside, eliminating as many air bubbles as possible.
- Using the pencil line as a guide, cut the circle from the contact paper.
Step 4: Attach the flowers to a mason jar ring
- Add a line of hot glue inside the mason jar ring.
- Place the flower insert into the glue, with the good side facing down.
- Cut a 10 inch piece of twine and tie the ends together, creating an ornament hanger.
- Add a generous dot of hot glue to the inside top of the suncatcher (make sure you know where you’d like the top of your design to be). Press the knot of the hanger into the glue.
- Your pressed flower suncatcher is complete!
- Now have fun making more suncatchers in different colours and hanging them in your window!
Helpful Tips:
- Use flowers with thin petals for best results. Thicker flowers can create air gaps in the contact paper or may not stick as well. Flat blooms like pansies, cosmos, and ferns work especially well!
- Arrange your flowers on another paper before sealing. It’s a lot easier to plan your design first on non-sticky paper. Once you’re happy with the layout, transfer the flowers over carefully to the contact paper surface.
Where can I get pressed flowers to make this suncatcher craft?
There are a few great options! We bought our pressed flowers on Amazon, and you can also find beautiful, ready-to-use sets on Etsy in all kinds of colour themes.
If you’d rather make your own, you can press flowers from your garden or yard. Just keep in mind that it takes a bit of time for them to dry completely. For more details and tips and tricks, check out our full how to press flowers tutorial.
Can I make a pressed flower suncatcher without a mason jar ring?
Absolutely! While mason jar rings give the suncatcher a charming, polished frame, you can definitely get creative with other options.
Try using a mini embroidery hoop, small paper plate with the center cut out, or even a cardstock or scrapbook paper frame cut with scissors or a craft knife. As long as your contact paper is sealed behind a sturdy frame, it’ll work beautifully!
Will the flowers in this DIY suncatcher fade over time?
Yes, pressed flowers will naturally fade over time — especially if they’re in direct sunlight. That’s part of their delicate charm, but if you want your suncatcher to last longer, hang it in a spot that’s still bright, but doesn’t get direct afternoon sun.
You can also try using flowers that hold their colour well (like pansies or delphiniums), or coat the flowers with UV-resistant spray sealer before making the craft. This should help preserve the colours a bit longer.
Can I make pressed flower suncatchers without contact paper?
Yes, absolutely! While contact paper is an easy and mess-free option, there are a couple other creative ways to make pressed flower suncatchers.
- Lamination: If you have access to a laminator, you can sandwich your pressed flowers between two laminating sheets and run them through the machine. This creates a sturdy, sealed panel that’s great for long-term display. You can then trim it into a circle or square and add a frame or hang it with a ribbon.
- Mod Podge and Clear Plastic: Another method is to use clear plastic, like transparency film, acetate sheets, or even clean packaging from salad greens or a bakery clamshell container. Simply brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the plastic, gently press on the dried flowers, and seal with another layer of Mod Podge. Let it dry completely, then frame as desired.
Both options work well and are a fun way to repurpose materials you might already have on hand!
Pressed flower suncatchers are such a lovely way to hold onto the beauty of the blooming season. Whether you make one as a homemade gift or just to brighten up your window, this easy floral craft brings a little nature indoors and fills any room with cheerful charm. So grab some flowers, gather your supplies, and enjoy creating something naturally beautiful!
Here’s even more pressed flower craft ideas:
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Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
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