Wind chimes are unique in that you can make so many different types of wind chimes out of some many different materials that it would be difficult to make the same wind chime twice. There are a lot of different emotions that different wind chimes can evoke. A soft or subtle sounding wind chime gives off a calming serene feeling. While larger clanging bells give off a sound that may remind someone of their home on the coast or back east. Whatever type of wind chime you like, there are ways to make one yourself for very little money. Of course you always have the option of buying a custom made wind chime, but when they are this easy, why not save your money.
Here is an example of wind chime project that is simple to make. As you read through these instructions you may come up with ideas of your own for how you can make the wind chimes more personal. To begin, you will need to gather some supplies. For this project you will need a pair of scissors, 2 large sheets of heavy-duty cardboard (about 18 inches by 8 inches), a heavy duty sheet of poster board, string or clear thread, tape, a heavy-duty paper punch, craft glue, a pencil, and items to create sound. These items can be sea shells, pipes, even silverware! As long as you like the sound that they make when they clang together, you have got yourself the makings of a wind chime. You also have the option of painting and decorating your chimes. If this is something that you want to do you should also have some enamel paint on hand.
You start your wind chime project by making the top portion of the wind chime. Draw and cut out triangles approximately 18 inches wide by 8 inches tall. They should be exactly the same. You then need to locate the exact center of the first triangle and make a 4 inch slit from the straight edge towards the point. On the other triangle, make the 4 inch slit from the point towards the straight edge. Next, you will need to punch holes about 1-½ inches apart all the way across the bottom edges of both triangles. Position them approximately ¾ of an inch above the edge. Put glue on the edges of the 4-inch slits, and fit the pieces together. Set it aside to dry. Balance is an important aspect of making a wind chime, you can change the dimensions of the pieces that have just been explained to you, but it is important to maintain the proper proportions of the pieces. Next, make a 5-inch by 1 ½ inch strip of poster board for every hole punched in the cardboard. Punch the holes about ¼ inch from the edges to prevent the strings from pulling through the cardboard when the chimes are suspended there. Attach string to each of the holes. Make them all the same length (approximately 14 inches long). Tie the strings to the top piece, and then tie them to the upper hole in each strip of poster board. Tie them down through the second hole, and then tie on your chimes.
If you choose to paint your chimes you will want to use an enamel paint as they will provide a finish that will last longer and be better and withstanding the elements. If you are using other materials for your chimes, a latex paint may be more appropriate. You can ask someone at your local paint or craft store what type of paint would work best for the material that you are painting and for outdoor conditions. You can then place your wind chime in a window or doorway. Any place where it can catch a breeze will work out nicely.