Although it may not be the most relaxing noise that has ever entered a backyard, it is a great way to showcase your child's art work outside. It also allows children to begin thinking of different ways to reuse items that around the house.
Supplies for the project.
- Regular aluminum can
- Smaller aluminum can
- Several spaghetti jar tops
- Plastic beads
- Fishing wire
- Paint (we used acrylic)
The first step is to paint all of the jar tops and cans. We used primer on some of them but the paint was thick enough that it did not matter.
How to assemble the Windchimes.
I am sure many of your ten year olds will devise a better way to put this together, but this was the best I could come up with.
- Cut three pieces of fishing wire approximately 2 1/2 to 3 feet long. Punch holes in all of the metal items after they have dried. I found it easiest to use a nail and hammer.
- Tie all three pieces of fishing wire to a plastic bead. Then thread all wires through the large can and one spaghetti top. This one will not be seen so it does not have to be decorated.
- Tie a bead to two of the wires in order to keep the spaghetti top in place. I pushed the can up to the first bead and then tied the second bead in a place so that the spaghetti top is at the opening of the can. The can will rest on this spaghetti top and will add a little noise when the wind catches the chimes.
- Now feed all of the wires through the smaller can. I wanted mine to hang where half of it would show when displayed but after a few attempts at getting it the right lengh my kids became impatient, so mine is not perfect.
- If you get it in the right spot, tie a bead to the wire in the inside to keep it from moving to far down the wire when it is hung up.
- Seperate the wires and start tying the spaghetti tops to each wire. Thread the wire through the hole and then bring the wire up to the wire that is coming out of the cans. Tie it off tightly up against the top so that it will hang vertically. Space the tops out and add a few to each wire.
- It is now ready for display. Hang the windchime by the loop that was created by the first bead.
Making upcycled windchimes is a great summer craft that kids can do to learn about recycling. Most kids can paint by themselves but the assembly of the windchime may require a lot of adult's help.
To make it more decorative, you could draw patterns on each spaghetti tops or stencil pictures on it.
April Black - April was the assistant editor, as well as, reporter and photographer for a small daily paper until the birth of her first child. She ...
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