How to Make Mirrored Wind Spinners

Mirrored wind spinners are a great way to add whimsy and light to your room, porch or garden. The mirrors will flash light as the spinner twists in the breeze. Making your own wind spinner is cheaper than purchasing one and allows you to design a spinner to suit your décor, to use up miscellaneous beads in your bead stash, or feature or recycle some pieces of old jewelry.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fishing line
• Beads, buttons, and other items that can be strung
• Small mirrored tiles ranging from 1/2-inch to 1-inch
• Waterproof silicone adhesive
• Key rings or S-hooks
• Long piece of cardboard
• Low-tack tape
• Binder clips

1. Cut a length of fishing line 6 to 12 inches longer than twice the length planned for wind spinner.

2. Choose a large bead or pendant to use as the feature at the bottom of the spinner. Arrange beads, buttons and mirrored tiles for the length of the spinner. Thread your pendant or bead onto the middle of the fishing line. Draw the ends of the line together so that the feature hangs at the bottom of the line.

3. Begin to thread beads onto the doubled length of fishing line working in order from above the pendant up to the hanging end. Make sure to thread the beads onto both lines simultaneously. Continue to thread the beads skipping the mirrors.

4. Tape the entire string onto the cardboard by using tape to fix the feature down and to fix the two ends of the fishing line down. Arrange the beads along the line, leaving gaps for the mirrors.

5. Slide a mirror in place below the line so that the line runs through the center of the mirror. Use the adhesive to glue the top mirror onto the bottom mirror, capturing the line between the two tiles and fixing it in place with the glue. Press the mirrors firmly together. Hold in place with a binder clip. Continue inserting tiles until all the mirrors are glued in place.

6. Once all the mirrors are glued, place the spinner in a well-ventilated area so that the gasses from the drying adhesive do not accumulate.

7. When the adhesive is dry, attach an S-hook or key ring to the remaining thread at the top of the spinner.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a great project for recycling old jewelry. Large pendants from necklaces make great features at the bottom of the spinner. The bigger the feature, the more the spinner will catch the breeze and twist around.
• Try using an odd number of mirrors; two to five mirrors is ideal.
• Don’t worry if the mirrors aren’t perfectly centered on the line; if they are slightly off center, they twist more easily.
• If using glass beads or a heavy feature element, make sure to include plenty of lightweight beads to prevent the spinner from become too heavy.
• Most silicone adhesives release dangerous gases when they dry. Make sure that the spinner dries in a well-ventilated room or outside.
• Make sure to read the instructions on the adhesive so that you know how to remove it if it gets on your skin.