How to Design Artistic and Earthy Wind Chimes

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These earthy botanical print chimes add a touch of whimsy to your outdoor space, but can also double as wall art. It's subdue yet interesting appearance becomes a conversational piece.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

It's also suitable for all ages and stages and makes for a great afternoon craft as you prepare to welcome summer.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Things You'll Need

  • Cold porcelain (recipe here) or air drying clay

  • Rolling pin

  • Scissors

  • Botanical clippings such as pine, etc.

  • Acrylic paint

  • Old cotton rag

  • Jute twine or cotton rope

  • Straw

  • Branch, driftwood or dowel

  • Optional: Sealant spray or ModPodge

Step 1

Set a ball of clay onto a counter or table and roll it with a rolling pin to your desired thickness.

Choose leaves or botanical springs and press onto the clay, making sure they make a good indentation onto the clay.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 2

Gently remove the leaf from the clay and cut around it with scissors.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 3

Repeat this process until you have your desired amount of pieces.

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Tip

To give your piece more interest, choose varying botanical sizes and shapes.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 4

With a straw, pierce a hole through the top of each shape and allow to dry completely over night.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 5

Once the clay is completely dry, use a brush and paint a light layer of desired color, ensuring it fills in the grooves of the imprint.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 6

Promptly take a damp rag and remove paint from the top of the clay, leaving the residual paint in the imprint.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 7

Continue this process until all of your pieces are complete and allow to dry for 30 minutes.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 8

OPTIONAL: Apply a layer of sealant spray or ModPodge if desired and allow to dry.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 9

Take a piece of twice or cotton rope and tie a knot at each end of your dowel or branch.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 10

Tie some twine through hole of your clay piece and tie it around the dowel or branch.

Tip

Laying out your pieces in the desired pattern prior to attaching to the dowel or branch helps you visualize your end result.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 11

Hang each piece along the branch, staggering the size and height of each.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 12

Continue tying the pieces onto the branch.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Step 13

Once all of the pieces have been tied onto the branch, cut off any excess string.

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Image Credit: Lucy Akins

Tip

As previously suggested, using varying shapes and sizes adds interest to your piece. Use uneven numbers and stagger the pieces for balance.

Image Credit: Lucy Akins

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