Handprint Suncatcher: Mother's Day Craft for Your Girl Scout Troop

April 6, 2025

Time to read 4 min

Mother's Day in May offers a wonderful opportunity for your Girl Scout troop to engage in a meaningful and creative activity. While there are countless craft ideas, this handprint suncatcher is truly special. It captures the girls' unique handprints in a vibrant display that Mom can cherish for years to come. This craft is perfect for indoor and outdoor troop meetings using simple materials and easy-to-follow steps.

Inspired by a fantastic idea from The Best Ideas for Kids blog, we've expanded on it to make it even more useful for Girl Scout leaders, complete with Amazon product suggestions to streamline your supply gathering.

What You Will Need for the Mother’s Day Craft

The materials needed for this suncatcher craft are quite easy to find. Head to your local Walmart, craft store, or Dollar Tree to find everything. Here’s what you will need:

Colorful Tissue Paper
Contact Paper, Laminating Paper, or Clear Sticker Paper
A pen to trace the hands
Scissors

See, I told you the materials were pretty simple! They are small and simple enough to bring to outdoor or indoor meetings. Some of the parents may even have the supplies needed.

How to Make the Mother’s Day Craft

Follow these simple steps with your Girl Scout troop:

Prepare the Tissue Paper: Have the girls cut or tear the colorful tissue paper into small squares or irregular shapes. This is a great activity to keep little hands busy. Encourage them to use various colors to create a vibrant mosaic effect. If you have younger scouts who struggle with scissors, tearing the paper is an excellent alternative that still contributes to the craft.

Create the Tissue Paper Design: Have the girls place the small pieces of tissue paper all over the sticky surface of the contact paper. Remind them to fill in most empty spaces so the colors will be vibrant when light shines through. Encourage them to overlap some pieces for a richer visual texture.

Seal the Tissue Paper: Carefully lay another sheet of contact paper on top of the tissue paper, sticky side down. Smooth it out gently to avoid wrinkles and air bubbles.

Trace the Handprints: Have each girl place both of their hands on the protected tissue paper (now sandwiched between the contact paper or inside the laminating pouch), with their pointer fingers touching and their thumbs touching. This creates a natural heart shape in the center where the palms meet. Use a permanent marker to carefully trace around their hands, including the connected pointer fingers and thumbs to maintain the heart outline.

Cut Out the Handprint Suncatcher: Carefully cut out the traced handprint shape, making sure to also cut out the heart shape in the center. Crucially, ensure that the pointer fingers and thumbs remain connected during the cutting process. This connection is what will form the heart shape when unfolded.

Contact Paper Issue: You might notice that the edges don't perfectly stick due to the tissue paper. You can either carefully tape the edges closed with clear tape for a more secure finish or, as suggested in the original blog post, place another layer of contact paper over the entire craft, cutting it slightly larger than the handprint to allow the sticky sides to adhere.

Hanging the Suncatcher: Use a hole punch to create a small hole at the top of one of the handprints. Thread a piece of colorful ribbon or string through the hole and tie it in a loop for easy hanging.

Give the Craft as a Mother’s Day Gift

Once the girls are finished, let them give their crafts to their moms for Mother’s Day. They are easy to tuck inside a card or to write a message on with a Sharpie marker.

The moms will love getting this sweet gift. Who doesn’t love a handprint craft from their child? It will bring mothers joy as they look at them hanging in the window this spring.

Extending the Activity for Girls

Discuss the Meaning of Mother's Day: Before starting the craft, briefly discuss the importance of Mother's Day and why we celebrate the special women in our lives.
Personalize the Gift: Encourage the girls to think about what makes their moms special and how the colors they choose might reflect their personalities.
Card Making Integration: This suncatcher fits perfectly inside a handmade card. Have the girls create cards to accompany their suncatchers, writing heartfelt messages to their mothers.
Presentation Matters: Discuss ways the girls can present their gifts to their moms to make the moment even more special.
Adapting for Other Occasions: As mentioned in the original post, this craft can be easily adapted for other holidays or special occasions by simply changing the colors of the tissue paper. Think red and green for the holidays, pastel colors for spring, or even a loved one's favorite colors for their birthday. This reinforces the versatility of the craft and encourages the girls to think creatively about how they can use their skills for different purposes.
Connecting to Art Badges: This activity can contribute towards earning various art-related badges, depending on the age level and specific requirements. Be sure to check your Girl Scout badge guidelines for potential connections.
Reflection and Sharing: After completing the craft, have the girls share what they enjoyed about the process and what they hope their mothers will think of their gifts. This fosters reflection and communication skills.