Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers – Free Templates
Create these super easy Rosh Hashanah suncatchers using a free template! When you’re done, check out this apple card craft too. This post contains affiliate links.
Tissue paper suncatchers are one of my favorite preschool crafts. While it does require a minimum of prep, the actual “coloring” part is so easy that even young toddlers who can’t yet do stickers can do it! And it’s hard to make it NOT come out nice.
I’ve shared suncatchers as sukkah decorations and for Purim and Hanukkah in the past. While those holidays are more focused on things like decorating, I decided to go for some Rosh Hashanah motifs as well – both for the decorating aspect and to combine with Sukkot!
Yes, you can totally hang these in the Sukkah too! So if you’re looking for more designs to add to your Sukkot stash, try these. Either way, they’re super fun.
I recommend starting with pre-cut tissue paper squares. Go for small (1-inch) ones so kids have more area to fill. These things are so cheap and come in good, big, multi-color packs. It’s not even worth cutting it yourself because these are so affordable.
I’ve been sticking to black paper for contrast on all of these. You can definitely use colored paper, but I find that if you want something that’ll look pretty no matter how kids do it, black is your best bet.
While you might think that older kids are better at following directions, that isn’t always the case. As A gets older and more independent with her crafts, she follows instructions LESS. The cool thing about these Rosh Hashanah suncatchers is that it just doesn’t matter.
A decided that she needed to scrunch up the squares before putting them on. And it added a fun little dotted effect. That’s totally fine! (You can see that I did the apple more carefully).
When it’s on a window, the sun shines best through the flat, translucent tissue paper, but it looks great on the entire thing.
How to make Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers
Supplies
- Black paper or cardstock
- Tissue paper squares (or sheets, cut into pieces)
- Clear contact paper
- Scissors (or cutting machine such as Cricut) Tip: if hand cutting, use a pencil to trace on black – it shows up beautifully!
- If using in the sukkah: Laminator with pouches OR cold laminating pouches
- Rosh Hashanah suncatcher template (free download at the end of this post)
Process
1. Print out the template and cut the shapes out of black paper. Or, upload the SVG and cut using your Cricut. If you want both sides to look pretty, make two copies of each shape.
Tip: Older kids can make this too – and do the tracing and cutting part as well! For younger kids, an adult can prep the outline.
2. Choose one template piece to start with – I’m using the Shofar. Cut a piece of contact paper a little larger than the template picture.
3. We’re using the hinge method here. Peel the backing halfway. Place your shofar on the exposed part.
4. Continue peeling the backing away, pressing down the shofar as you go along. Once you’ve applied the whole shofar, stop peeling – leave the rest of the backing on.
5. Press the backing back into place. This makes it MUCH easier to cut.
6. Cut around the edge of the template so that you’re trimming your contact paper to size. Note: since the backing won’t adhere to the edges once you cut it (because the black paper outline is blocking) you’ll find it peeling away – that’s fine.
7. Store it cut out with the backing on until it’s ready to craft. When it’s ready, peel off the backing, and give it to kids sticky side up with tissue paper to apply. This is the prepared “craft kit” that kids can now make.
8. Kids can now apply tissue paper squares to their Rosh Hashanah suncatchers. They can do it by color and neatly or just randomly. The main thing is to have fun!
9. It’s ideal for them to cover ALL the exposed sticky parts. While this will take a few minutes for some kids, others will sit and work with it for a while. Overlap doesn’t really matter – the outline will still show the shape. Like I said, this craft is FORGIVING and always looks nice.
If there’s any overlap sticking outside the whole design, an adult (or older kid) can trim it away with scissors afterward.
10. Flip it over and see your beautiful design!
If you’d like, you can laminate the whole thing for durability or to make it weather-proof.
Now make the other designs!
Download the free printable Rosh Hashanah Suncatchers
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