How to Make a Rainbow Wind Chime from Recycled Cans

I love crafting with recycled cans and wind chimes are one of my  favorite things to make with them! (check out my Fourth of July Wind Chime and my Halloween Ghost Wind Chime posts!) 

Wind chimes are fun projects to make with kids and a fun way to decorate your porch or garden. Make this rainbow wind chime for St. Patrick's day, to celebrate the arrival of spring (AKA "rainbow season") or just because!

Supplies

• 5 tin cans in different sizes which nest together
• Thin painters tape
• Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan OR a zero VOC white primer
• Paint brushes
• FOLKART Multi-Surface or Outdoor Paint in rainbow colors:
• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Purple
• Dremel Micro Rotary Tool (or a hammer and nail)
• Metallic gold pipe cleaners (approx 3)

DIY Recycled Rainbow Wind Chime Step-by-Step Directions

Rainbow Windchime Craft Step 1: Prime

Prime the cans using either primer or chalk paint. I had some Chalk Paint Decorative Paint by Annie Sloan on hand from a previous project so I used that.

Rainbow Windchime Craft Step 2: Paint

Before painting, use the patterning tape to mark off the sections you'd like to paint. Each of my cans had two sections. 

Once sectioned off, go ahead and paint the cans. I painted mine like this:

• Can 1 (largest): red (top) // orange (bottom)
• Can 2: orange (top) // yellow (bottom)
• Can 3: yellow (top) // green (bottom)
• Can 4: green (top) // blue (bottom)
• Can 5 (smallest): blue (top) // purple (bottom)

Set the cans aside to dry. If needed, add a second coat of paint once the first coat is dry. Removing patterning tape once all paint is dry.

Rainbow Windchime Craft Step 3: Assemble

Punch holes in the tops of each can by either using a Dremel Micro Rotary Tool (my personal preference) or a hammer and a nail.

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 fourth can, you will need to connect the second pipe cleaner to the first. Make the join large and bulky so the can rests on it. Continue stringing the cans together. For the final can. make a hanging loop with the pipe cleaner.

About the Author:

Carissa B is a lifelong crafter and mom of two creative boys. Her goal is to empower families to make easy projects and healthier choices that are beautiful and delicious! 

The owner and lead writer at Creative Green Living, she is an award-winning writer and most recently won the ShiftCon Media "Best Green Lifestyle Blogger" award in 2019.

She is also the author of several books including Beautiful Smoothie Bowls (Skyhorse, 2017), Proven Techniques for Keeping Healthy Chickens (Skyhorse, 2018) and The Little Green Book of Mothers' Wisdom (Skyhorse, 2020). Follow her on TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, or join the Creative Green Living Community Group on Facebook.

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