Kids Wind Chime Crafts
Wind chimes lend a celestial aura to the garden, their gentle jingle on a breezy summer afternoon is dream-like and enchanting to children, and the young at heart. Making wind chimes is an engaging project for kids, requiring imagination and attention to detail. Half the fun is gathering the materials for the chimes, which can be anything from beads and cutlery to CDs and old keys.
-
Key Wind Chimes
-
Old keys are the focal point of a recycled wind chime project that is suitable for kids of all ages. Collect those old keys lurking in drawers, gathering dust on bookshelves and hanging on your key ring. Brass, nickel and other base metal keys harmonize in the breeze to produce a fascinating melody that delights young and old alike. To make these wind chimes, punch holes every inch or so around the outside diameter of an aluminum pie plate. Make a tripod hanger by threading string through three of the holes, make knot stoppers and tie the three strings together at the top for hanging. Cut equal lengths of string for each of the rest of the holes, whatever length you wish. Tie a key to the end of each string and hang in the breeze.
Cutlery Wind Chimes
-
Cutlery wind chimes are made with white or colored plastic spoons, forks and knives that have the top of the handle pre-drilled by an adult, a paper plate or aluminum pie plate, a sharp pencil, a pair of scissors and some ribbons or string. Poke holes around the outside perimeter and the top of the plate, as many as you like. Cut the string into 6-inch lengths, enough for all the cutlery. Make the tripod hanger first, as with the Key Wind Chimes. Thread all the other strings through the holes and make a knot stopper for each on the top of the plate. Tie the cutlery to the end of each string and hang from a tree branch in a breezy corner of the garden.
-
Silver-plated Cutlery Wind Chimes
-
For a more elaborate take on the plastic cutlery wind chime, silver-plated or metal eating utensils, prepared beforehand by an adult, are used instead of plastic ones. Place one piece of cutlery at a time in between two tea towels and hammer to flatten. Drill a hole through the ends of the handles with a metal drill bit. Replace the aluminum tripod hanger with a piece of wood, drilled with holes to hang the strings to suspend the cutlery from. Fishing line may be used in place of strings for this or any wind chime project.
Leaf Wind Chimes
-
You need a pair of scissors, clear plastic lids, a hole punch, acrylic paint, glitter Mod Podge, Mod Podge for outdoor use, fishing line, a stick or dowel and some jingle bells. Cut out several leaf shapes from the inside of the plastic lids. Punch a hole at the top and bottom of each leaf. Paint the leaves desired colors. When the leaves are completely dry, paint a second coat. When dry, coat each painted leaf with glitter Mod Podge and let dry. Seal each leaf with outdoor-use Mod Podge. Tie a jingle bell to the bottom hole of each leaf with a short piece of fishing line. Thread a longer length of fishing line through the top hole of each leaf and through the holes drilled into the dowel or stick. Tie each end of the twine around each end of the stick or dowel and hang in a breezy spot in your yard.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
