How to Build a Wind Chime

Many people enjoy wind chimes for the pleasant sounds they produce when hung in their homes and gardens. You can quickly and easily make a seashell wind chime, and your kids will love sharing this project with you.
Load up the kids and head for a day at the beach. While you're there, look for a piece of driftwood or a branch about a foot or so long and around an inch thick for the top of your wind chime. Ask the kids to collect lots of shells for the project, especially those that already have holes in them. Pick different shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Collect small colorful stones and sea glass, too. You'll be able to use all of these materials to make a wind chime reminder of a great day at the seashore.

Things You'll Need

• Seashells, small colorful stones, bits of sea glass
• Driftwood, branch, or 12" piece of dowel ½-1" thick
• Fishing line, yarn or string
• Phillips or ratchet screwdriver, small craft drill, or power drill with a tiny bit
• Marker
• Glue

Instructions

1. Clean the seashells well when you get home from the beach. Scrub them well with hot soapy water to remove seaweed, sand and other debris that might be stuck to them. Allow them to dry completely.

2. Lay the driftwood or dowel and the seashells out on a flat working surface, and move them around until the design's arrangement pleases you. Position the shells in vertical rows that nearly touch each other.

3. Drill holes in the driftwood or dowel base, making sure that they correspond with the positions of the rows of shells. Add a hole at each end of the base for hanging the wind chime.

4. Make a dot on the shell with a marker where you want the hole to be. Make a hole in each seashell that doesn't already have one in it. Use a twisting motion to bore the hole if you're using a Phillips or ratchet screwdriver. A craft drill or power drill with a very tiny bit also will work.

5. Cut lines from which to hang your shells. Make them about six inches longer than your arrangement plan calls for because you'll need the excess for tying knots. If you plan to hang the wind chime outside, use fishing line. If your wind chime will be used for indoor décor, you can use any string or decorative yarn.

6. Slip the line through the hole in a shell that you have chosen for the bottom of one of the rows, and slide it to the end of the line. Secure it with a knot. Tie a wrap knot if you're using fishing line, otherwise the shell will easily slip free. Poke the line through the hole from the back of the shell. Pull the free end behind the vertical line. Thread it downward through the circle, and then pull it tight.

7. Add the other shells to the line as per your design, repeating Step 5. Be sure to leave 4 to 6 inches free for securing the lines to the wind chime's base. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 to make all the strings of shells.

8. To make a hanger for the wind chime, cut a piece of line or cord about 18 to 24 inches long. Tie the ends to the holes at either end of the wood base.

9. Tie the strings of shells to their corresponding holes in the base. Decorate the base and hide the knots by gluing tiny shells, stones and bits of sea glass to the top of it, if you like. Let the glue dry and finally hang your wind chime.

Tips & Warnings

• Collect more seashells than you think you'll need because you're sure to break some while you're drilling. Thick heavy shells make deep sounds and light thin shells make more delicate tones. Children can drill thinner shells easily and safely with a ratchet screwdriver.