How to Make Halloween Suncatchers

Read all of the steps before starting.

Step 1: Choose a Pattern and Print It

Choose a suncatcher to make. Download and print the pattern.
Choose a ghost, bat or jack-o'-lantern pattern that prints in color, or select the black & white pattern and use your creativity to add color and designs.

Each suncatcher requires a front and a back, so print two copies of the pattern to make the bats or the large jack-o'-lantern. Print the leaf pattern to colored paper to make leaf-shaped decorations to hang in the windows with the suncatchers.

Bat Suncatchers

B&W - Colored

Ghost Sunctachers

B&W - Colored

Jack-O'-Lanterns

B&W - Colored

Leaf Patterns

B&W

Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.

All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter-size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.

Step 2: Cut Frames

Cut out on the box outline around the suncatcher. You need two frame patterns for each suncatcher.

Fold each rectangle in half on the dashed line. Cut out the centers of the frames. Now, open each piece flat. Trim the cut edges, if needed.

Tip: Save the center cutouts to use as decorations around the house, on greeting cards and gifts.

Step 3: Color (optional)

Color the suncatcher frames, or leave them white. You could draw dots or maybe wavy lines in Halloween colors—use your imagination!

Step 4: Cut Tissue Paper

Cut a piece of tissue paper about the size of the rectangle. Use white or colored tissue paper. You might also use cellophane, parchment paper or vellum.

Step 5: Glue

Glue the tissue paper to the back of a suncatcher frame. Glue another frame on top — back sides together. Carefully align the two frames. A glue stick works well.

Step 6: Trim and Decorate

Cut out the suncatcher, trimming away excess paper and tissue paper. You can add decorations to your suncatcher, if you like. How about gluing eye cutouts on the ghosts and bats, or eye, nose, and mouth cutouts on the jack-o'-lantern? You can also use a black marker to make the eyes, nose and mouth; just trace over the features on the center cutouts from Step 2.

Step 7: Hanger (optional)

Decide how you want to use your suncatcher. You may or may not want to add a hanger. To make a simple hanger, tape a loop of string or yarn to the top of the suncatcher. On the bat suncatchers, tape one end of the string to each wing.

Enlarge