Learn how to make these pretty tin can wind chimes using recycled cans from coffee, and vegetables. It's an easy fun upcycle project you can enjoy creating.

Three tin cans in descending sizes hanging from twine.

Upcycling with tin cans is a fun craft and a great way to recycle trash. Today I'm making this beautiful wind chime with three tin cans nested inside each other.

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What You'll Need

3 Aluminum cans in different sizes that will fit or nest together.
Pretty paper napkins
Mod podge or white glue
White craft or chalk or spray paint
Twine for outdoor use
A large nail and a hammer (or an electric drill)
Scissors
Nail file or sandpaper

How to Make Tin Can Wind Chimes

Paint your cans with white paint. I used chalk paint mainly because it dries quickly. Spray paint would be pretty quick too. The white paint will make a nice backing for the napkins.

Hammering a large nail in the lid of a can.

Punch a hole in the middle large enough to feed the twine through. Alternatively, you can use a drill for this part.

Pulling the backing paper of a floral napkin off.

Separate the napkins removing the plain backing paper.

Gluing a decorative napkin to the sides of a large can.

Cut the napkin to cover the can leaving a little bit of extra paper on top and bottom.

Apply mod podge or thinned white glue to the can and carefully place your napkin on top smoothing as you go.

Adding mod podge to the top of the napkin glued to a tin can.

Then coat the top of the napkin with more glue.

A nail file is used to file off the extra napkin from the top edge of the tin can.

Next, use a nail file or a piece of sandpaper to file off the extra napkin paper on the top and bottom.

Protective polyurethane is sprayed outdoors on the cans.

Use a couple of coats of polyurethane spray to protect the cans.

A piece of masking tape marks the place you want the second and where you can place a knot.

Thread the twine through the largest can first leaving enough twine to hang the wind chime and then tie a knot inside under the hole to hold it in place.

For the next can try using a piece of masking tape to mark where you want the knot so that the large can just overlaps. Then push the second can out of the way to tie the knot at that spot.

Tin can wind chimes complete and hanging in front of a chalkboard.

You can overlap the cans as much or as little as you like.

Hang them on your porch or patio for all to enjoy.

Note: These cans do make a noise but it's not the twinkling noise of a typical wind chime. However, you could add some bells or shells or anything you like at the bottom for extra musical sound.

DIY wind chimes with cans hanging outside.

I think they look pretty just as they are.

More Tin Can Projects

Set of three cans hanging nested inside each other to create a decorative wind chime.

Tin Can Wind Chimes

Make beautiful outdoor decorations with this wind chime craft, basic tin cans, and pretty napkins.

Prep Time1

Active Time1

Total Time3

Cost: $5

Equipment

hammer
large nail
Scissors
Sponge brushes
Nail file or sandpaper

Materials

Instructions

Clean the cans and remove the labels.
Paint the bottom and sides with white paint
Use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the center of the bottom of each can, large enough to thread your twine.
Separate your napkins into 1 ply.
Carefully glue the napkins onto the cans with mod podge or watered down white glue. Leave a little overhang on the top and bottom.
Coat the top of the napkins with more mod podge or glue.
Use a nail file or sandpaper to file off the extra napkin on the edges.
Spray each can with a couple of coats of polyurethane to protect them
Thread a long piece of twine through the largest can from the bottom.
Leave enough twine to hang the windchime from and then tie a knot underneath to hold the can in place.
Thread the next largest can under the first can.
See where you want it to hang and place a small piece of tape there. Then pull the thread back out to tie a knot where the tape is.
Thread the last can and this time you'll just have to work with the twine to make a third knot to hold it at the spot you like.
Trim off the excess twine under the 3rd can.
Tie a loop at the top and hang it where you like.

Notes

These cans knock around and make a sound but not like a typical windchime. Feel free to add some shells, bells, metal washers, or other things to the bottom for a more whimsical sound.

Polyurethane will help with the elements. However, you should try to make sure it is hung in a place where there is some protection and bring it indoors during the winter.

Though I used a basic hammer and a nail for the holes you could use a drill and the appropriate-sized drill bit for the holes.