How to Make Suncatcher

You will need some inexpensive pony beads, the translucent kind. You will also need a disposable aluminum pie pan. Both things are cheap, and that's one of the best parts of this project :-) .

Visit Michael's of even Walmart, you should be able to find everything you need, and it will not cost you more than a few dollars.

If you plan to hang your piece of art, you may want to purchase a string or wire.

Place the beads on the pie pan. Make a nice picture or pattern - whatever you want!

Start your outdoor grill. If you have a temperature switch, set it up on 400 degrees. Place your pie pan on the preheated grill and let it "cook" for about 10-20 minutes, until the beads are melted, and form a nice picture.

They cook pretty quickly on a hot grill. You will most likely smell some cooking plastic, but since you are crafting outdoors, the smell will go away very soon and it won't be toxic by any mean.

Now all you need to do is to remove the almost-ready suncatcher from the grill - be very careful, it's hot! Use kitchen mittens or a towel. Let it cool for a while. Once it is cold, it should just pop out of the pan, when you turn it upside down.

Of course you would! :-) Before melting the beads on the grill, place one metal bead between the plastic ones, in a desired place. It will not melt, and it will be ready for a string to be pulled through.

This way you will not have to drill a hole, and probably make a mess :-) . I know I would!

You can use different shapes of pie or cake pan, you could also use aluminum muffin pans, if you would like to make smaller suncatchers, tie them all together and maybe make a wind chime? Use your imagination. Sky is the limit!

Enjoy! This is a really great activity for the entire family. Perfect for a rainy summer afternoon. Kids will love it, and you can have some very affordable decor for your home and garden.

Remember, every single piece is an original! Nobody else will have anything like it :-) .