How to Make Patriotic Recycled Tin Can Wind Chimes

It always happens to me. The Fourth of July sneaks up on my last minute. Every. Single. Year. 

This year, I put my Fourth of July wreath on my pantry door so I needed something new for my porch. In addition to this stylin wind sock I made for Dollar Store Crafts, I wanted to make some windchimes. Inspired by this project on Parents.com I decided to transform some cans into festive Independence Day decor.

Supplies

• Empty cans in various sizes that will nest
• Primer
• Craft paint in red, white and blue
• Foam brushes
• Star shaped stickers
• 2 pipecleaners
• Hammer
• Nail

Directions

Step 1: Prime Your Cans

Confession: I hate priming things. But when it comes to painting cans, make your life easier and just do it. Give your cans a good coat of primer and set them aside to dry.

Step 2: Paint Your Cans

Place the star stickers in random positions on the largest can. Press down well to ensure they are stuck especially if your can has grooves like mine does.

Load a foam brush with a small amount of blue paint. Gently pounce up and down on the stars (PRO TIP: Don't move your brush side-to-side or you will push paint under the stickers) to cover the stickers and edges. Once the sticker edges are painted, paint the rest of the can blue.

Once the can is painted and before the paint dries, gently peel up the star stickers and discard them.

Paint the smaller cans with red stripes. Set aside to dry.

Step 3: Construct Wind Chime

Once the cans are dry, use a hammer and nail to punch a hole in the center of the bottom of each can.

Tie a knot in the bottom of one of your pipe cleaners and thread it through the smallest can so that the inside of the can is resting on the knot. Figure out where you would like the top of the second can to hang and tie another knot and thread that can onto the pipe cleaner. By the time you get to the last can, you will need to connect the second pipe cleaner to the first. Make the join large and bulky so the large can rests on it.

Make a loop in the top of the pipe cleaner for hanging.

Do you like this post? Consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter!