Summer Craft: DIY Seashell Wind Chime

Image via: NerissaShells (Etsyshop)

Supplies

• Seashells, preferable with a hole already naturally in them
• Twine
• Fishing wire
• Drift wood (branches will do, too)
• Scissors
• Hand drill
• Beads (optional)

Image via: Home Sweet Homemade

Instructions

The best way to start making this Summer Craft is to arrange all your items loosely on a working surface, so you’ll have an idea on how your wind chime will look at the end. This way you can interchange your items and arrange the wood pieces in an order you like. At this stage you will have to choose which wood piece will be the horizontally one on top, from which all other items are going to be hanging. While arranging your items, try to have one line of at least 4-5 seashells, then one piece of wood and so on. This will help your wind chime to make the characteristic relaxing sounds when you finally hang it outside.

The next step is to drill one hole into the upper part of each vertical wooden piece. You can also drill holes into the horizontal wood piece in even distance from one to another, but that’s optional.

Now take one of the vertical wooden pieces and thread a long piece of twine through the hole and just attach it near one end of the horizontal wooden piece. Repeat this with the other wooden pieces and attach them to the horizontal one, leaving even spaces between them, where the seashell lines will be hanging.

It’s time for the first line of seashells. Just thread a piece of twine through the hole of the seashell (if your seashells haven’t holes already, you will need to drill a small one into them first).  Attach 5-6 of them by tying simple knots to make a nice line. You can attach small beads to make a beautiful effect. Make as many seashell lines as needed and tie them to the horizontal piece of wood, each one between two vertical wood pieces.

The only thing that remains to be done now, is to attach a piece of twine to make a hanging string.

Watch the video to see how to easily make your own seashell wind chime.

Click here to watch the seashell wind chime video

Your wind chime is ready to be hung on your porch, a window or a branch of a tree to make the calming and relaxing sounds to keep you company on those warm summer evenings everyone longs for. You can make so many variations of this summer craft by simply not using vertical wooden pieces or using a sea star instead of the horizontal wood piece to hang the seashell strings. Make a few to give as beautiful gifts, too, because everyone will want one when they see them at your home!

Summer Craft – Easy Bumble Bee Party Piñata

Image via: Laverne Fourie

[ad#co-1]

Materials

Balloon (24-inch wide)

Large bucket

Newspaper

Pin

Twine or string

Knife

Glue

Water

Small plastic animal toys

Directions

1. Inflate the balloon and place it on top of the bucket. The narrow end should rest just inside the bucket.
2. Cut 200 strips from the newspaper (3-inch length and 1-inch width).
3. Mix equal parts of the water and glue.
4. Dip one strip into the mixture and attach it to the balloon. Repeat the same process for the other strips until you cover the top part of the balloon. Leave the strips to dry (for about an hour).
5. Turn the balloon upside down and cover the bare part with the newspaper strips. Leave a 4-inch wide opening where you will insert candy later.
6. Leave the balloon to dry for about 6 hours then add 2 more layers of newspaper strips. Leave to dry after adding each layer.
7. Pop the balloon with the pin and remove it from the piñata.
8. Place the piñata in the bucket and fill it with candy.
9. Cut 6-inch strips from the newspaper, dip them in the water-glue mixture, and cover most of the open end. Apply 3 layers in total.
10. Make small holes with the knife on each end of the piñata and thread a piece of twine through both ends.
11. Attach the animal toys with glue.
12. Hang the piñata with the twine/string.

Image via: Party City

A piñata adds fun and excitement to a party. Part of its allure comes from the fact that it is entirely temporary, no matter how beautiful it is. There is something deeply satisfying about smashing the colorful object to pieces till heaps of candy scatter everywhere. Unfortunately, many people think that piñatas are only for kids’ parties and want nothing to do with them after they grow up. Make this summer craft for your parties this year and see if your guests won’t be impressed.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, click here.