This rustic DIY Sea Glass Wind Chime Suncatcher is a unique outdoor decoration you can make to hang in the backyard or garden. Using glass beads and small cowbells makes this a simple beaded homemade craft. I’m in love with the fire and ice look that they bring to our patio. They look beautiful in any light… But they are magical when the sun hits them.

When I found the sea glass beads listed below, I knew that I wanted to make some suncatchers, and a wall hanging or a wind chime out of them. I was inspired by this beautiful ombre sea glass wind chime by Our Boat House, and this beaded wind chime by Garden Therapy to make my own wind chime using different materials and my own technique.

You may also like this collection of awesome rainbow suncatchers.

 

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DIY Sea Glass Wind Chime Suncatcher

My 3-year-old daughter and I made this together. She strung the sea glass bead strands, while I did everything else. Just because young children can’t make one of these on their own, doesn’t mean they can’t help.

My daughter loves to help mommy make crafts, and I love it when she wants to help because that means I get to sneak in a homeschooling lesson. Stringing beads is a simple way to develop the fine motor muscles in the hand necessary for writing and other more detailed handwork.

I get to craft, and my daughter gets a homeschooling lesson without even knowing it! That’s a quadruple win grand slam in my book! Shhh… don’t tell her it’s preschool. Let’s keep it our secret 😉

DIY Sea Glass Wind Chime Suncatcher: Materials

• Driftwood or small branch
• Monofilament Fishing Line, 30-Lb.
• Small cowbells
• Blue (Ocean Wave) Sea Glass Beads
• Red/orange (Burning Sun) Sea Glass Beads
• Crimp Tube Beads
• Garden twine
• Bead Crimper Pliers (An inexpensive and easy tool to use.)
• Drill

DIY Sea Glass Wind Chime Suncatcher: Directions

1. Drill holes in the piece of driftwood or small section of a branch that you will be using. I drilled five holes three inches apart. I laid a ruler down in what looked like the middle of the piece of wood I was using and used a pen to place a mark on the wood at each end of the ruler, and at 3, 6 and 9 inches. Easy peasy.

2. Cut sections of monofilament line about twice and long as you will need. Make them as long or short as you will like. When finished our sea glass bead strands measured 12, 14 and 16 inches long. My daughter beaded two 12 inch strands, two 14 inch strands, and one 16 inch strand. We began with 5 strands of monofilament 2 to 2 1/2 feet long.

3. Crimp each cowbell to the end of each piece of monofilament line that you have cut. Place a crimp tube/bead on one end of the line. Next place a cowbell on the monofilament line. Tuck the short end of the monofilament line into the crimp tube next to the long end of the monofilament line. Push the crimp tube towards the cowbell to make a small loop. Use crimping pliers to squeeze crimp tube shut around both pieces of monofilament line. This will hold the cowbell in place. Trim off the excess line from the short side.

4. String the sea glass beads directly onto the long end of the monofilament line. No needle needed. You can place them on randomly, or you can make a pattern in any color combination that you like. You can use only the blue (ocean wave) sea glass beads or only the red/orange (burning sun) sea glass beads or use a combination of both like my 3-year-old daughter did.

 

5. Secure beaded sea glass and cowbell monofilament strands to wood. Place monofilament line into the hole and pull it until the sea glass bead is flush with the wood. Place a crimp bead on the monofilament line followed by a sea glass bead. Tuck the monofilament line into the crimp bead and all the way through the wood. Hold the crimp bead and sea glass bead as you pull on the end of the monofilament line and push the crimp bead and sea glass bead as close to the wood as you can. Use crimping pliers to close the crimp bead shut and lock the sea glass beads into place. Cut off excess monofilament line.

6. Tie garden twine to wood to make a hanger. Tie a square knot at one end of the wood. Wrap garden twine around 6 – 12 times to cover the knot. Tie another square knot on top. Leave 2 – 5 feet of slack and tie a square knot on the other side. Wrap it 6 to 12 times and once again tie it off. Cut the twine and tuck the loose end into the wrapped garden twine.

Voila’ a beautiful sea glass wind chime suncatcher for your backyard or garden!

 

This easy DIY sea glass wind chime suncatcher will add a splash of color to any view. They also make a wonderful gift idea!

If you liked this DIY sea glass wind chime suncatcher you may also like:

• Top 10 Rainbow Suncatchers
• Heart Prism and Pony Bead Suncatcher
• Rainbow Window Star
• Top 10 Flower Suncatcher Crafts
• Pony Bead and Prism Suncatcher.
• Green Crafty and Creative

For more ideas follow my board on Pinterest.

Follow Nell @ Rhythms of Play’s board Best of Rhythms of Play on Pinterest.>

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