Whimsical Repurposed DIY Wind Chimes
These whimsical DIY Wind Chimes use repurposed items to make a beautiful outdoor decoration that sings in the breeze! It's fun kids craft project that is easy to make with this step-by-step tutorial.
Servings: 1 Wind Chime
Cost: $5
Equipment
- Drill and Drill Bit or Hammer and Nail Used to create holes in items to hang
- Needle nose pliers Used to twist wires
Ingredients
- 1 Large Anchor Item For Example: a metal bowl, large tin cans from the recycling bin, a metal flower pot, wooden circles, or even a piece of driftwood
- Small Repurposed Items For example: old spoons, forks, jello molds, cookie cutters, sieves, funnels, wrenches, nuts, bolts, washers, old keys
- Beads and Buttons
- Fishing Line For light items and low wind
- Light to Medium Wire For heavier items and higher wind
- Fishing Swivels Swivels with interlock snap (size 5 worked well for me)
Instructions
- As a basic structure, the larger item will be the top support for the entire wind chime. The smaller items will be hung from this larger item and will need to balance once those smaller items are connected.
- Use a nail and hammer to punch (or drill and drill bit) small holes as needed throughout the project.
- Make the necessary holes to hang your anchor, then use a loop of wire, a chain, or fishing line to balance the large item. Add some decorative beads as well, if you'd like!
- Drill holes in the items as needed, then attach to the end of the fishing line or light to medium weight wire to hang the pieces. Depending on the item, it may hang vertically or horizontally on the end of the string.
- Tie each top of the wire or line to a fishing swivel and clip. The swivel will allow the wind chime to rotate when blown by the wind. As you create, you can string and twist on beads and other items as desired for decoration.
- Depending on the design of your top item, drill holes around the outside edge (or choose locations along the item) to tie the lengths of string or wire.
- Now attach your smaller items to the holes in the larger anchor, one by one. Again, you can use wire that is strung or twisted with beads for decoration.
- Work to balance the smaller items so that the larger anchor remains balanced, attaching with those fishing swivels as you go.
Notes
This is a great craft to upcycle extra craft supplies.