By Jasper Bailey There seems to be no shortage of fans of the wind spinner. Whether you are a gardener or just somebody who likes a little whimsy and beauty in your yard space, wind spinners have something to offer you.
But the sheer number of choices can be overwhelming! One visit to a garden supply store can leave your head twirling. Do you want the dolphin-shaped spinner or the trolley car one? Maybe you just need some wind chimes. Or hey - how about a dragon-shaped wind sock complete with flapping wings!
One way to get back to the basics of these garden wind ornaments is to build your own. You don't need any special tools or skills. That's part of the joy - and it's a perfect craft to share with your kids.
In fact, once you start down the DIY Wind Spinner road, it's awfully hard to come back to buying somebody else's work!
Start be examining as many samples as possible. If you have an old one around, bring it into your house and study it under a magnifying glass. Can you figure out how it works? Can you see what you might need to fashion one of your own?
Study the materials. How are they cut? Are they shaped a particular way so that the wind will have a certain impact? Try and think outside of the proverbial box. Could you build one out of something that's just laying around the house?
One easy project is the soda bottle wind spinner. It only takes an hour or so. You can whip up a couple in just an afternoon. This particular spinner is a great reminds that keeping wind spinners basic is important. That has always been a big part of their attraction.
You want to take a clean, dry - and obviously empty - 2-liter bottle of soda. Be sure you still have the cap. Using a paper clip, create a hook (not unlike the kind you use to hang Christmas ornaments) and affix it through the cap. Next, attach a ball bearing swivel to the clip - you can buy one of these at any outdoor supply store. They are used primarily by fishermen.
Now you have the wind spinner body. Here is the fun part - decorate it! You can use just about anything under the sun. Try colored tape, construction paper, glitter paint or markers, tin foil, even crepe streamers. When you're done - go hang it from a tree or garden post.
Be careful, though. Once you get one successful DIY wind spinner under your belt, you're not likely to stop there. Before you know it, you'll have a whole yard and garden full of these homemade ornaments.
Got a hankering to learn more about wind spinners Check out Jasper Bailey's Guide to Wind Spinners a one-stop resource for garden ornaments of all kinds! |
