How to Make Shell Windchimes
Taking a trip to the shore often means coming home with a bucket full of seashells collected from the sand to remind you of your vacation at the beach. If you don't figure out something to do with the souvenirs, it is highly likely that they will sit in the bucket until you finally just throw them away. A perfect way to use these trophies is to turn them into a natural wind chime to hang on a patio or deck.
Things You'll Need
- Seashells
- Bowl
- Bleach
- Water
- Drill
- Masking tape
- Ceramic drill bit
- Scissors
- Nylon cord
- Driftwood
- Hook and eye
Instructions
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1
Sterilize the sea shells by placing them overnight in a bucket with an equal mix of bleach and water. Rinse well, clearing them of any debris, and allow the shells to dry.
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2
Drill a small hole in the shell at the spot where you'd like to hang it on the wind chime. Using your fingers, lightly hold it at the spot you'd like to drill to make sure it will hang the way you'd like it to. Use a ceramic drill bit to bore through the shell, making sure not to break the shell by applying too much pressure.
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3
Cut the nylon cord with scissors into varying lengths, depending on how many shells you have. You can space the shells as close or as far apart as you'd like, and the more strands of shells you have, the more music your wind chime will generate.
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4
Thread the cord through the shell and tie it off. Repeat with other shells until you have a strand of as many shells as you'd like. Complete the other strands in the same manner.
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5
Screw a metal eye into a piece of driftwood to serve as the hanger. Attach more eyes on the opposite side of the wood to serve as attachment points for the strands of shells.
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6
Hang the wind chime in a spot where the breeze will rustle the shells, creating a soothing background noise from your work of art.
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Tips & Warnings
If the shell is slippery, add a small piece of masking tape to give the bit something to bite into. If you don't have driftwood, you could use any piece of wood you find. Your wind chime can also be hung inside your house. If you hang it in front of an air conditioning vent, the moving air will be strong enough to create the same effect as the natural breeze.
