How to Make a Winter Sun Catcher

Winter is most often associated with cold weather and snow. But even though it’s chilly outside, the sun still shines beautifully on some days. This frozen sun catcher takes advantage of both the sub-freezing temperatures and the sunshine to add beauty to your porch or lawn.

What You Need:

* Water
* Food coloring in a color of your choice
* Shallow disposable aluminum pan (pie pans work nicely)
* Round orange slices
* Dried flowers
* Pressed pine needles
* Small pine cones
* Cranberries
* Sturdy twine
* Scissors

Instructions:

1. Run enough water into a pitcher or bowl to fill the aluminum pan. Add food coloring until the desired color is achieved.

2. Pour colored water into the pan until it is about a quarter of an inch deep. Keep the rest of the water for later use. Place the pan in the freezer or outside overnight so that it freezes solid.

3. Cut two pieces of twine, each about a foot long. Place the end of one piece about halfway down one side of the ice, and run it along the side up to the top, leaving the remainder outside of the pan. Do the same on the other side with the other piece of twine.

4. Arrange the orange slices, flowers, pine needles, pine cones and cranberries on the surface of the ice. When you have arranged them to your liking, slowly pour another quarter inch of the colored water into the pan. The pieces might move around a bit when you pour the water in, but if you pour the water slowly, they shouldn’t move too much.

5. Place the pan back in the freezer or outside overnight so that the new layer of water will freeze into ice, locking your design in place.

6. Sit the sun catcher out in your home at room temperature until you can easily remove it from the mold. Or if you prefer, run warm water over the back of the pan until the sun catcher is released.

7. Find a nice spot outside, and tie the pieces of twine together to hang your sun catcher!

Tips:

* For best results, use a light color of food coloring. Darker colors could soak into the orange slices and change their color.

* Keep in mind that the sun catcher will eventually melt. Consider putting it in a spot where it will be in the shade for at least part of the day to keep it looking good longer.

* If it’s nice and cold outside, consider doing the entire project on the porch or patio. That way you won’t have to move it after adding the decorations and the water, and the items won’t shift around as much.

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