Driftwood Wind Chime Tutorial
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 10:14 am
Here are the general directions for making a driftwood wind chime. I will try to remember to take pictures along the way the next time I start one from the beginning and will add them later.
Materials:
Driftwood: an interesting piece for the top ( I tend to choose pieces with a slight curve); an odd number of small cylindrical pieces for the chimes (3, 5, 7, etc)
small eye screws--at least 11; if you have more than 3 chimes you'll need 3 for each chime you add
decorative chain--for hanging
swivels--3 (1 for each chime); these are found in the fishing gear dept. or you steal (um borrow) from hubby's stash
split rings
jump rings
eye pins
jewelry wire
monofilament (fishing line)
beads, old jewelry, fancy buttons, small birds or bugs, flowers, ribbons, brads, eyelets, charms, diecuts (whatever you want to decorate with)
E6000 glue
jewelry tools; you'll need at least 2 small pliers for opening and closing jump rings and holding things; round nose pliers for closing loops on the eye pins; scissors
Start by setting all the eye screws; test drive one into each end of each chime (sometimes they crack the wood and you have to choose a different chime or glue it back together) back the eye screws out and put a dot of glue onto the end of the screw and screw back into place; set aside to dry.
Decide the orientation of your decorative top piece and screw 2 eye screws into the top, near each end for the hanging chain and 3 (or however many chimes you've chosen) evenly spaced across the bottom to hang the chimes from; test drive and then add glue; set aside to dry.
While the eye screws are drying, create a decorative bead element for the top and bottom of each chime. I usually use 1 large bead with 2 or 3 smaller beads on each side; whatever fits comfortably on a 2 inch eye pin. Create a dangle or use an old earring or other jewelry dangle and attach to the bottom of one of your bead elements with a jump ring (this will hang from the bottom of the chime)
Build each chime by attaching the decorative bead elements to the top and bottom eye screw with a jump ring; add a swivel to the top bead element with another jump ring; cut a piece of monofilament about 10-12 inches long (you may want to vary the length on each chime to create shorter or longer chimes, but you need enough length to tie a loop in each end); attach one loop to the swivel and the other loop to a split ring; repeat for each chime and set aside while you work on the top.
I usually start with a small bird or bug as a focal point and build a little bouquet or nest into the curve of the driftwood. Glue everything in place with E6000 and let dry for several hours; attach hanging chain to each eye screw with a jump ring.
Attach a chime to each of the eye screws along the bottom using a jump ring to attach the split ring. If you can see the eye screws at the top, you may want to glue a piece of jewelry or a fancy button over it to hide the eye screw.
It's ready to hang!
Tips:
Don't skip the swivels--if you decide not to put the swivels in the chimes will not rotate, they will spin until the monofilament kinks and breaks
Don't substitute jump rings for split rings, no matter how tight you think you can get the jump rings, the monofilament will find a way to slide out of the jump rings
E6000 is my glue of choice; you are welcome to use whatever glue you are happy with, just make sure it's strong and waterproof.
If it looks like I forgot a crucial step or you need clarification, please post your question here. I'll update as needed.
Materials:
Driftwood: an interesting piece for the top ( I tend to choose pieces with a slight curve); an odd number of small cylindrical pieces for the chimes (3, 5, 7, etc)
small eye screws--at least 11; if you have more than 3 chimes you'll need 3 for each chime you add
decorative chain--for hanging
swivels--3 (1 for each chime); these are found in the fishing gear dept. or you steal (um borrow) from hubby's stash
split rings
jump rings
eye pins
jewelry wire
monofilament (fishing line)
beads, old jewelry, fancy buttons, small birds or bugs, flowers, ribbons, brads, eyelets, charms, diecuts (whatever you want to decorate with)
E6000 glue
jewelry tools; you'll need at least 2 small pliers for opening and closing jump rings and holding things; round nose pliers for closing loops on the eye pins; scissors
Start by setting all the eye screws; test drive one into each end of each chime (sometimes they crack the wood and you have to choose a different chime or glue it back together) back the eye screws out and put a dot of glue onto the end of the screw and screw back into place; set aside to dry.
Decide the orientation of your decorative top piece and screw 2 eye screws into the top, near each end for the hanging chain and 3 (or however many chimes you've chosen) evenly spaced across the bottom to hang the chimes from; test drive and then add glue; set aside to dry.
While the eye screws are drying, create a decorative bead element for the top and bottom of each chime. I usually use 1 large bead with 2 or 3 smaller beads on each side; whatever fits comfortably on a 2 inch eye pin. Create a dangle or use an old earring or other jewelry dangle and attach to the bottom of one of your bead elements with a jump ring (this will hang from the bottom of the chime)
Build each chime by attaching the decorative bead elements to the top and bottom eye screw with a jump ring; add a swivel to the top bead element with another jump ring; cut a piece of monofilament about 10-12 inches long (you may want to vary the length on each chime to create shorter or longer chimes, but you need enough length to tie a loop in each end); attach one loop to the swivel and the other loop to a split ring; repeat for each chime and set aside while you work on the top.
I usually start with a small bird or bug as a focal point and build a little bouquet or nest into the curve of the driftwood. Glue everything in place with E6000 and let dry for several hours; attach hanging chain to each eye screw with a jump ring.
Attach a chime to each of the eye screws along the bottom using a jump ring to attach the split ring. If you can see the eye screws at the top, you may want to glue a piece of jewelry or a fancy button over it to hide the eye screw.
It's ready to hang!
Tips:
Don't skip the swivels--if you decide not to put the swivels in the chimes will not rotate, they will spin until the monofilament kinks and breaks
Don't substitute jump rings for split rings, no matter how tight you think you can get the jump rings, the monofilament will find a way to slide out of the jump rings
E6000 is my glue of choice; you are welcome to use whatever glue you are happy with, just make sure it's strong and waterproof.
If it looks like I forgot a crucial step or you need clarification, please post your question here. I'll update as needed.