Ramadan Moon Sun Catcher Tutorial

Ramadan lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths. 

Making a sun catcher of a crescent moon is a fun way to share the story with the kids of how the Islamic calendar is lunar based.

Ramadan Moon Sun Catcher

(My middle daughter injured her hand this weekend, but still wanted to make this craft. So please excuse her bandage in the photos, but trust me, she is fine. :)

Supplies
Stacks of newspapers
Three sheets of wax paper
Towel
Iron
Star punch
Yarn
Hole punch
Ball point pen
Scissors
Pencil sharpener
Crayons in various colors

Lay out your stack of newspapers.  We had three layers and they still bleed through the first ironing, so feel free to put about 20 layers if you value your table. Lay your first layer of wax paper and start sharpening your crayons over the wax paper.  Try to lay out the shavings as random as possible.

Once you are satisfied with the amount of shavings and color variations, lay the second sheet of wax paper over the first and lay a towel over those two layers.

Totally panic when you realize your child is using your good towels (aka, the ones for taking food to neighbors) as a craft supply.  Try to remember that you are not allowed to scream on Ramadan and calmly take the iron away to replace the towel. Resume ironing.

Use your star hole punch to punch out seven letters with your white cardstock.  It might be cuter to also have your kids cut out the stars on their own. But with our hand injury (caused by an older sister, natch) we thought the punch would be easier today.

Using the ball point pen, write out the letters R A M A D A N. You can use different color markers, but do not use the crayons.

Lay out your letters on top of the two melted pieces of wax.  We used an old glitter visor as a guide on where to place the letters.

Place the third piece of wax paper over the letters, the old raggy towel that now has wax all over it (make sure the was is paper side down if you do have some on the towel).

Once all three pieces are ironed on each other, draw out a circle design with your ball point pen  outlining the letters.  Then draw a smaller off center circle inside.  Make sure you keep the circles apart (look at the first photo if you need to see how this is done). Cut out both circles and again, make sure you do not cut all the way through.

Add a hole punch at the top and tie a piece of yarn to hang in your window.

Here is what ours looks like now hanging in our window.

And a close up of the melted crayons around the letters.

Ramadan 2014 Kareem!!