How many mouse pads have you gone through in your computer life? One or two? Many, many? Even if you’re still using the only mouse pad you’ve ever owned you may be interested in a fun project for kids that uses mouse pads to create easy wind chimes that never break. The craft is so easy and inexpensive you’ll want to make several different ones. Lay some newspaper down on a flat surface, get the kids and mouse pads, and get started with the whimsical creations.
Mouse pads are available in many different designs. Generally, the image is screen-printed onto one side of the pad while the other side remains blank. You’ll need two mouse pads for each set of wind chimes and the images printed on them can be the same or different. Both mouse pads must be exactly the same size, though.
Use fishing twine to create the dangling items for the chimes. Fishing twine is nearly invisible and creates the illusion of the dangling items floating in midair. If you don’t have anything similar to fishing twine use any string or thread. The string will connect the novelty items to the set of mouse pads. To begin, lay one mouse pad, face down, on the newspaper. Cut one piece of twine, fold it in half, and tape or glue the ends to the top of the mouse pad. This will create the hanger for the wind chimes. The hanger should be somewhat long so that the chimes will easily blow in the wind.
Cut various lengths of the twine and glue or tape them to the mouse pad. You’ll decide how many novelties you want to dangle from the mouse pads. To create a different design make all the twine pieces the exact same length. When you’re finished adding all the twine pieces glue the second mouse pad, face up, onto the first one. This will trap the twine between the mouse pads and leave both mouse pad images facing outward, back-to-back.
There are any number of things that kids can glue to the dangling ends of the twine. Beads, bells, small wooden shapes, and other novelties work great for this project. Kids can glue the tiny things onto the ends of the twine to make the actual wind chimes. They can select items that coincide with the theme of the mouse pads or create a different theme with the novelties. Purchase items to use for the wind chimes or use things you already have at home.
Short, sharpened pencils, soda bottle lids, spice jar lids, broken costume jewelry pieces, plastic characters, and similar items can all be used to create the wind chimes. Large buttons, ping-pong balls, game markers or fake coins are other options for the wind chimes. Look around the house – especially the toy box – to find other choices.
To make the chimes look completely different thread coffee stirrers onto each twine piece. Cover each twine piece completely in the plastic straws before attaching the novelty at the end. The straws will protect ordinary thread or yarn but also gives the chimes a totally different design. Coffee stirrers are now available in many brilliant colors that will look great on the new wind chimes. Thread assorted colors to make specific patterns or just make all the stirrers the same color.
Screw a “C” hook or “S” hook into the ceiling of the porch or other area where you will be hanging the wind chimes. Use the hanger you’ve created to set the wind chimes out in the breeze. The mouse pads are so lightweight that they easily blow in the wind. The fishing twine and novelties will bang and clang together to form the actual chimes.
Kids will have lots of fun making the mouse pad wind chimes for their own homes or to give as gifts. Grandma, Mom, Teacher and others will appreciate the unique and whimsical gift. Purchase cheap mouse pads at dollar-theme stores or implement old mouse pads you no longer use. This project is very inexpensive, unlike other wind chimes you’ve seen, and tons of fun for kids of any age.
Reference:
- Purchase mouse pads here: www.ebay.com
