April showers bring May flowers…and plenty of bluster to go with them. To make the most of our windy conditions, we decided it would be fun to make our own wind chimes so we could have music carried on the breeze each time we stepped outside.

You can use a variety of items from around the house and yard for the chimes. Or, if you have any shells, driftwood or sea-smoothed glass from visits to the beach, these make wonderfully gentle sounds as they tap each other in the breeze. It’s fun to experiment with found objects or recycled items and paint or decorate them. You can also add small bells or tiny dried gourds for an especially unique resonance.

You’ll need:

~ A circle of wood, plastic (we used an otherwise un-recyclable large plastic bucket lid) or sturdy, painted cardboard (rain-resistant) about ¼ inch thick and 4 inches across

~ A hand drill and small bit for wood, a craft knife for plastic, or a Phillips-head screwdriver to safely poke through cardboard

~ String, twine, or yarn

~ Scissors

~ White or craft glue

~ Smallish objects for chimes: twigs, cans, shells, bottle tops (another un-recyclable item), driftwood, smooth glass, etc. Use your imagination! Even old CD’s work, as they make a beautiful rainbow-like shimmer as they twirl.

To get started, drill, cut, or poke nine small holes around the outer edge of your wood, cardboard or plastic. Adults should do the drilling or cutting, or carefully help children. Next, tie a piece of string, twine, or yarn 1 foot long into every third hole. Tie the free end of these strings all together in a double knot. You’ll hang the finished product from this knot. The other six holes are for hanging your chime pieces. Attach strings that dangle down from these holes. The strings don’t need to be the same length. Then tie or glue on your chime items to the chime strings. When the glue dries (if used) your wind chimes are ready to hang in a breezy spot for weeks of lovely outdoor music.

A variation on this theme is to create a mobile with various favorite objects to hang indoors, perhaps near a child’s bed. If a child is having difficulty sleeping due to fears of monsters or other scary night-creatures, this “magic” mobile can help them feel safe. This works especially well if the child makes it her/himself with favorite small objects, and then sprinkles it with magic anti-monster dust or spritzes it with special “Monster Away” spray.

These are just a few ideas to get you started making your own chimes or mobiles. Experiment with a variety of materials and designs until you find what works best for your home. Older kids can get really creative with all sorts of wind chimes or mobiles, tailoring the designs to fit their personality and preferences. Have fun with it!