How to Make a Wind Chime From Shells

You can use seashells to make wind chimes.

Wind chimes allow the wind to create a natural song on your front porch or outdoor tree. There are several different types of wind chimes, each with their own sound. If you are interested in having your children make their own wind chimes during the summer months, you can have them collect an assortment of seashells. The seashells make a nice sound, and the craft is easy enough for children who are at least eight years old.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Seashells
• Dish soap
• Water
• Toothbrush
• Coffee can lid
• Hole puncher
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Take a bucket down to the beach one nice afternoon. Collect about eight seashells for each wind chime you plan on making. These shells should be free from cracks, and shouldn't be chipped.

2. Clean your seashells in a bucket of soapy dish water. Use a toothbrush to get the sand out of any crevices in the seashells. Let the seashells air dry before continuing.

3. Punch eight holes (depending on how many seashells you collected) going around in a circle 1/4 inch in from the edge of the coffee can lid.

4. Cut yarn for each hole with scissors. Each strand should be 18 inches in length. Then tie one piece of yarn at a time to each hole in the coffee can lid.

5. Apply a dab of hot glue to the bottom end of each string and then press it up against each one of the seashells. Do this one at a time and be careful because the hot glue is hot enough to burn you.

6. Punch a hole 1/2 inch in from the left edge of the coffee can lid, and 1/2 inch in from the right edge of the coffee can lid.

7. Cut your yarn so that you have a piece that is 2 feet long. Tie one end it in the left hole, and one end in the right hole. You now have a loop you can use to hang up your homemade seashell wind chime.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a small drill bit you can drill a tiny hole in the top of each seashell. Then tie the bottom of the yarn to the shell instead of gluing it.

References

• Craftown: Seashell Wind Chimes Kids Craft