DIY Wind Chime Made From Recycled Marker Caps
Create your very own wind chime using recycled marker caps for a unique and eco-friendly touch to your outdoor space. Hang your DIY wind chime in a sunny spot outside and listen to the soothing sounds it creates as the wind gently blows through the caps. This project is not only a fun and creative way to repurpose old markers, but it also adds a whimsical touch to your outdoor decor.
How to Make Chimes Using Recycled Marker Caps
Supplies Needed
- Recycled marker caps from dried-out markers
- 4″ Embroidery Hoop
- Yarn
- Blue acrylic paint – like Deco Art Patio Paint if you plan to hang it outside.
- Outdoor sealer like Outdoor Mod Podge
- Hot glue or outdoor Gorilla Glue
- Jewelry Pliers
- Needle – I used a plastic canvas needle that could fit through my beads
- Something to poke holes in the tops of the markers (I used a sharp embossing stylus)
- Beads for sparkle! (optional)
- Looseleaf paper binder rings
Step One: First poke a hole in the top of each marker cap that doesn’t already have a hole. I used the sharp end of a stylus to carefully poke the plastic. Sort your marker caps to decide on a design for each strand. My chime used 8 strands with 11 caps per strand. I organized them in rainbow order and shifted the pattern down one cap each time. So, for example, if my first strand started “pink-red-orange-yellow….and ended with purple” the second strand started with “purple-pink-red-orange…and ended with Blue”.
Step Two: Cut a long length of yarn double the length you of want your strand to be. Place a bead in the center of the yarn and tie double knot the yarn.
Next, thread the marker caps working from the bottom of the chime to the top. Add beads in between the marker caps for extra sparkle!
Step Three: I found it was difficult to push and pull the needle through the marker caps with my fingers. My needle nose jewelry pliers was perfect for grabbing the needle from inside the marker cap and pulling it out.
Continue adding marker caps and beads until you complete a strand. Set it aside and repeat for all strands.
Below are some fun pictures of my strands laid out. You can see how the pattern shifts by one cap.
Step Four: Paint a wooden hoop with acrylic paint. I used a 4″ embroidery hoop and painted it blue using Deco Art outdoor Patio Paint in Bahama Blue. Cover with a layer of sealant, outdoor varnish or outdoor Mod Podge.
Step Five: Finally, tie the strands to the hoop spacing them out evenly. I secured them at the top with a small amount of hot glue at first and then went back with a little Guerilla Glue that is water proof.
Bring all of the yarn strands up and tie a piece of yarn around them to secure them all together. It worked best for me to hold all 8 strands (16 pieces of yarn) evenly and my husband tied yarn around them. Secure the knot with glue and then attach key chain rings or a metal hook for hanging!