DIY Wind Chimes
Beaded wind chimes are such a beautiful decoration for your porch, patio, or gazebo. They’re perfect for placing in the garden and make a lovely gift for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or a summer birthday. I love the soft clinking sound of the beads brushing against each other and the subtle chime of the bells when the strands move back and forth. Learning how to make a beaded wind chime is the perfect summer activity for both kids and adults. Kids of all ages can enjoy organizing and stringing the beads. Although younger kids might need some help with tying the knots at the end. You can make a rainbow coloured wind chime like we did, or you can place the beads in a random order on each strand. That’s what’s so great about homemade wind chimes. There’s no wrong way to make them – it’s such a simple, yet creative, craft!
Check out our Homemade Wind Chimes video tutorial:
*Note: Scroll down for the step-by-step photo tutorial.
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers How to Make a Dreamcatcher 4 Strand Pipe Cleaner Bracelets
Here’s what you’ll need:
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Glass beads and/or clear pony beads Driftwood/stick Fishing line Jingle bells Twine
What is the best string to use for beaded windchimes?
We used single strand nylon fishing line to make our DIY wind chimes. Fishing line is great for this type of project because it’s super strong, thin, clear, and good at holding knots. It’s also stiff enough that you can thread the beads without using a needle. To hang the beaded wind chime we used twine to match the rustic look of the natural stick. Twine should last a full season outside, but you may need to replace it eventually. You can use nylon twine instead if you want something that is weather resistant.
Where can I get a stick to make DIY wind chimes?
Check your backyard for fallen branches, or go for a walk in a wooded area and see what has fallen to the ground. We picked up a loose stick (14 inches long, 1/2 inch diameter) while on a walk a few days after a windstorm.
Where can I buy beads and jingle bells?
If you don’t like shopping online, Michaels and other craft stores sell a good selection of beads and bells. Walmart also sells a few options. Another great resource would be a local bead or jewelry supply store.
Do I have to use beads on my homemade wind chime?
We love the look and sound of the beads, but you can definitely make a similar style of wind chime using other materials. For instance, you can make a homemade wind chime out of tin cans, bottle caps, spoons, seashells, and/or keys. There are so many options when it comes to customizing a DIY wind chime!
I love the look and the sound of these DIY wind chimes. The bells and beads make such a pretty sound in the wind, and the glass beads sparkle in the sunshine allowing the wind chime to double as a suncatcher!
Here’s even more beaded craft ideas:
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Flowers
How to Make a Dreamcatcher
4 Strand Pipe Cleaner Bracelets
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
