Note that these are designs to create suncatchers using the acrylic I mentioned above. Using another acrylic from an alternate source of of a different design may require you to adjust your machine settings appropriately.

Also, if using a different machine, note that a CO2 laser (Such as the P2 used for this) is required to cut transparent acrylics like the stained glass acrylic I used for this project.

This project includes two canvases. The first contains the cores and is titled “Stained Glass” and the other contains the outlines and is titled “Black Acrylic”. On the 2nd canvas, there is two outlines of each. Some people use a border on the front and back of their suncatchers while others just use it on one. If you do both sides, copy and paste the pair as they are set to compliment each other when put back to back with the core in between.

NOTE: On the Cardinal Suncatcher, the border is cut with very fine lines. Be very gentle when removing this border from your black acrylic as it can easily snap. Also make sure all cut out parts are removed. Pay attention to around the beak and eye areas as sometimes the acrylic will stay in place and needs to be gently prodded out with a toothpick or other fine pointed item.

If using an acrylic that includes a paper coating, you should be fine to cut through it. If it includes a plastic coating, remove before cutting as plastic can be hazardous to your health when lasered.

After downloading the file, open it and choose which designs you want to do. Move those designs to another canvas and line them up to fit your material on the screen. Make sure no lines overlap. 

The settings included here are for the Stained Glass Acrylic from Smokey Hill Designs. If using an alternate acrylic, you may need to adjust your settings.

Once you cut your core, check to find the bright side of the Stained Glass. You will want that to be your primary side that has the border if doing only one side. Place that face up.

First thing is to apply your 3m Adhesive to the back side of your black acrylic. Once you have done so, place it in your machine.

Select your borders from the canvas that you want to use. Remember, if you are only doing one side, choose just one but make sure it matches with the bright side of your core. Do this by lining a copy of it over your core on the canvas and be sure the edges line up. 

If you are doing 2 sided borders, copy and paste both borders onto another canvas and line it up on the screen onto your material. Cut using the settings listed. Just as with the cores, if you are using a different material than the ones I am using, you may to adjust your settings appropriately.

Pull the pieces out and remove any excess black acrylic that stuck to the borders you cut. Remember to be gentle with the Cardinal due to the thin walls of the borders. They snap easily.

After all pieces are cut, do a dry fit and make sure your borders fit your core the way you would like. 

Once you are happy with how they line up, peel the 3m Adhesive backing from the reverse of the black borders and gently line it up. Use one hand to hold the core and the fingers on that hand to help guide in the border flush on one side of your suncatcher while holding up the other side off of your core. This will help ensure an even and smooth adhesion. After the first part is down, slowly lower the rest of the border on the core, pressing firmly once in place.

After you have created your suncatcher, you can use ribbon, string or suction cup hooks to go into the hole at the top to let it hang. You will want it to hang with the bright side facing away from the light source for maximum effect.