Let's make a handmade wind chime! Summer craft & interior decor
Wind chimes that catch the breeze and produce beautiful sounds soothe our hearts while easing the summer heat.
Many people may find the sound of wind chimes pleasant, even if they’re not fond of the summer heat.
In this article, we introduce handmade wind chime ideas.
From kids’ crafts using recycled materials to stylish ideas perfect for interior decor, you’ll find a variety of wind chime ideas with different shapes and sounds.
We hope this serves as a helpful reference for anyone who wants to make their own wind chimes.
Let's make a handmade wind chime! Summer crafts & interior decor (1–10)
Origami wind chime
Back in the days before air conditioners—or even electricity—the idea of keeping cool with the refreshing sound of wind chimes almost seems elegant, doesn’t it? If you like wind chimes but aren’t keen on things that make noise, I recommend origami wind chimes.
They don’t make a sound, but just watching them sway in the breeze can make you feel cooler.
The folding steps are divided into parts, so a third-grader should find them easy to make.
There are tutorial videos on video sites as well, so please use them as a reference! It might be nice to decorate lots of them in places where they’ll be seen, like the living room or the entrance.
A wind chime made of thread
There are people who make accessories and small items using yarn or string, right? You might imagine that it involves a lot of endlessly wrapping string around and around, which can feel a bit overwhelming.
But don’t worry—this wind chime made with thread is surprisingly easy to make.
Here are the simple steps: First, inflate a water balloon.
Wrap yarn or thread around it in spirals.
It doesn’t have to be wrapped super tightly or completely.
Dip it into glue thinned with water so it soaks through evenly.
After it dries, pop the balloon inside and cut the shape of the wind chime as you like.
That completes the bell portion.
Finally, attach a string and tie on a paper strip, and it’s done.
The breeze passing through the gaps in the thread creates a wonderfully cool, refreshing effect.
paper-mâché wind chime
The papier-mâché tiger you see at folk craft shops, with its gently bobbing head, is so cute, isn’t it? Making complex-shaped papier-mâché takes some skill, but the round top part of a wind chime is easier to make than you might think.
All you need are a polka-dot balloon, shoji paper, and glue.
First, inflate the balloon, then paste small torn pieces of shoji paper onto it in overlapping layers.
Imagine the bell part of a wind chime as you apply the paper.
After it dries, pop the balloon inside and you’ve got the bell portion of a papier-mâché wind chime.
Then just thread a string through and attach a tanzaku (paper strip).
It’s a recommended wind chime project that even beginners can make.
Plastic bottle wind chime
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9XVaaDzTnE/Let’s make use of scrap materials! Here are some ideas for PET bottle wind chimes.
In summer, we tend to use a lot of PET bottles both at preschool and at home.
This time, let’s try making a wind chime using a PET bottle.
Cut near the bottle’s mouth with a utility knife, then decorate it colorfully with permanent markers.
Since the cut edge of the bottle can easily cause injury, it’s a good idea to cover it with vinyl tape for protection.
For the paper strip (tanzaku), it might be fun to decorate it with round stickers.
lantern wind chime
Perfect for summer festivals! Let me share an idea for lantern-style wind chimes.
Many people probably want to decorate with lanterns for summer festival decor, right? This time, let’s make a wind chime shaped like a lantern.
You’ll need craft bands, glue, clothespins, washi (thin Japanese paper), a spray mister, and paste.
It seems like a great chance to learn the steps of making a lantern together with children as you build it.
Adding a little bell will let you enjoy a refreshing sound, too.
Suzuran Tape Wind Chime with Tassel
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRX9mJpn6Rc/Make it with raffia tape! Here are some ideas for a wind chime with tassels.
Raffia tape is an easy-to-find material you might already have at school or at home.
This time, let’s mix different colors of raffia tape to create a colorful wind chime with tassels.
What you’ll need: a jelly cup, an awl, string, small bells, large beads, and raffia tape.
Even if you pick tapes in similar shades, the number of strands will change the gradient and make it extra fun.
Give it a try!
[Origami] 3D Wind Chime
https://www.instagram.com/p/CumIw8OJjZP/Make it with origami! Here are some ideas for three-dimensional wind chimes.
These days, you can easily find stylish patterned origami and even see-through designs at 100-yen shops.
Once you find a pattern you like, why not try making a wind chime out of origami? Even with the same folding method, the look and feel can change completely depending on the pattern and material—that’s part of the fun.
Add a bell and some string, and you can almost hear a refreshing chime as it sways in the breeze.
Give it a try!
Water Marble Wind Chime
https://www.tiktok.com/@mery.jp/video/7126853596204862721Make it with nail polish! Let me share an idea for a water-marble wind chime.
This summer, some of you might be thinking about making your own wind chime.
If so, this water-marble wind chime idea is perfect for you.
You’ll need a glass wind chime, nail polish, water, origami paper, string, and so on.
Fill a bowl with water, drip in nail polish, and swirl the colors with a toothpick.
Then dip or apply the pattern onto the glass wind chime, let it dry, and you’re done!
stained glass wind chime
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuopWoovBka/It looks even more beautiful in the sunlight! Let me share an idea for a stained-glass-style wind chime.
On hot summer days, just having a wind chime with a cool, refreshing look can make you feel pleasantly refreshed.
This time, let’s make a stained-glass wind chime using transparent origami.
You’ll need transparent origami paper, a plastic cup, an empty capsule, double-sided tape, an awl, string, and so on.
The step where you cut the transparent origami into your favorite shapes and stick them on to create a design seems like something you could enjoy doing with kids.
A wind chime made of a paper cup and jute twine
Unique and stylish! Let me introduce an idea for a wind chime made with a paper cup and jute twine.
If you’re going to make a handmade wind chime, many of you probably want to create something that won’t be the same as anyone else’s.
This time, let’s make a wind chime using a paper cup and jute twine.
What you’ll need: a paper cup, measuring tape, wooden clips, masking tape, pencil, ruler, scissors, jute twine, glue, an awl, cotton swabs, lace, colored paper, a hole punch, cotton thread, tape, bells, beads, and so on.
Give it a try!