Wind Socks & Wind Chimes

This picture is from a few years ago of my oldest son and his two 1st place crafts at the local county fair. Both the CD wind chime and fabric wind sock were made by him.

Here is how to make them:

CD WIND CHIME

multiple "junk" CDs

contact paper

fishing line

small round mirrors

stick or dowel

2 eye hooks

chain

We found a stick in the yard to use for the base. Drilled two VERY SMALL pilot holes in the ends of the stick for the eye hooks to go into. This should be a parents job! Screw in the eye hooks and attach the chain. You can also use ribbon or yarn instead of chain.

Hang the stick so you can add the chimes. We added different lengths of fishing line to the stick. Then "smooshed" the fishing line in between the CD and contact paper. We used contact paper to cover the writing on the front side of the CD, any color will work. Trim the contact paper without cutting the fishing line.

After all the CDs are hanging and the chime is balanced it is time to start adding the mirrors. You can pick these up very inexpensively at the craft store if you don't already have some. We hot glued one back of one mirror then placed it on the fishing line, and covered it with another mirror. May be a parents job too! Make sure it is still balanced while adding the mirrors.

YOUR PROJECT:

Use anything you have around the house, not just CDs. We were going for the reflective look. Use old silverware with holes drilled into the handles, use old small toys, use doll accessories. anything you have lying around would work, just think creatively, and think about your child's interests.

WIND SOCK

We had to purchase 2 metal circle wires, but you could probably make your own too.

You need:

2 circles of some sort

fabric

yarn or ribbon

needle & thread

First figure out how long you want your wind sock. Cut your fabric to fit around the hoops by how long you need it. Make sure to leave a inch to the width for sewing. Sew a quick hem on one side of the fabric. Attach the fabric around the hoop using clothes pins to secure it. Make sure the hemmed side is on the outside. Start hand sewing the fabric to the hoop. (My son did it himself, it isn't pretty, but he did it himself) When done do the same for the bottom hoop. When both sides are done, make a running stitch up the hemmed side to close the fabric. Now all that is left is to add yarn or ribbons for a hanger on one side and leave some hanging on the bottom for the wind to catch. This is where you can get real creative and use up what you already have.

YOUR PROJECT:

I am sure you can see thousands of possibilities with this one. Different fabrics, from cottons to novelty furs, and different ribbons to the bottom. Let your kids tel you what they want, and you will see their creativity come alive.