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DIY Mason Jar Lid Sun Catcher

These little beauties are a fantastic way to bring a splash of color and light into your home, and they're so incredibly easy to make, you'll be whipping them up in no time. Perfect for a rainy day activity, a charming handmade gift, or just a fun project to brighten your space.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 1 sun catcher
Course: Craft
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Colored art page or coloring page Or construction paper, patterned scrapbook paper, or print out your favorite coloring pages.
  • Mason jar lids The metal insert part of the lid.
  • Wide mouth mason jar bands Optional, but give a more finished look and make hanging easier.
  • Olive oil or other cooking oil A little bit of oil is our secret to making the paper translucent.
  • Cotton balls Perfect for applying the oil evenly.
  • Scissors For cutting out your colorful designs.
  • Twine To tie everything together and create a loop for hanging. Natural twine adds a lovely rustic touch.
  • Glue (e.g., Aleene's Tacky Glue) A reliable craft glue will hold your paper securely in place.
  • Paper towel To blot away any excess oil.

Equipment

  • Mason jar lids (metal insert)
  • Wide mouth mason jar bands (optional)
  • Cotton balls
  • Scissors
  • Paper towel

Method
 

  1. First things first, let's get our paper ready to shine! Take your colored art page or coloring page and grab a cotton ball. Dip the cotton ball into your olive oil (just a little goes a long way!). Gently coat the entire surface of the paper. You want it to be evenly oiled, but not sopping wet. Think of it like a light glaze. Then, take a paper towel and gently blot away any excess oil. This helps prevent the paper from becoming too greasy. Let your oiled paper dry for about 5 minutes. You'll notice it becoming a bit translucent – that's the magic happening!
  2. Now, grab one of your mason jar lids. Place it on top of your prepared, oiled art page. Using a pencil, carefully trace around the inside edge of the lid. You want to cut the circle slightly inside the line you just traced. This ensures your paper piece will fit snugly within the metal lid without peeking out the sides. Grab your scissors and carefully cut out your circle. It's okay if it's not perfectly round – we're going for charming, not machine-perfect!
  3. Time to bring it all together! Take your mason jar lid insert. Apply a small amount of glue around the inner rim of the lid. Carefully place your cut-out paper circle into the lid, making sure the artwork is facing outwards, ready to catch the sun's rays. Gently press it down to secure it. If you're using the wide mouth mason jar band, you can now place the lid insert into the band for a more defined edge.
  4. Almost there! Take your twine. Wrap it around the outer edge of the mason jar lid (or the band, if you're using one). Tie a secure knot. Leave a good length of twine – about 4 to 6 inches – and then tie another knot at the end to create a loop. This loop is what you'll use to hang your beautiful new sun catcher. Trim any excess twine.

Notes

Different Papers: Try using tissue paper for a softer, more diffused light effect, or even pressed flowers for a truly natural touch. You could also try using the stained-glass effect from melted crayons on a piece of parchment paper, similar to how we make DIY melted bead suncatchers. Glitter! Who doesn't love a little sparkle? Add some fine glitter to the glue before you place the paper for extra shimmer. Paint: Instead of oiling, you could try painting your paper with watercolors or even diluted acrylic paints and letting them dry completely before cutting. Embellishments: Glue on small beads, sequins, or even dried leaves for unique textures and patterns.