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Terracotta windchime

Kids will have fun decorating these pots and you’ll be able to hang them up to show off their colourful artwork.

Make a terracotta windchime for your garden

You will need:

Terracotta pots of different sizes (as many as you like)
Resene Terracotta Sealer
Resene testpots
Drop cloth or newspaper to protect your work surface

Paint brushes
Rope 8mm width, the rope needs to be thin enough to fit through the hole in the bottom of the pot but wide enough that went you tie a knot it doesn’t slip out.
Washers 3-4

Our colours: Resene Adrenalin, Resene Bright Spark, Resene Wellywood, Resene Havoc.

Another idea: You can make this with as many pots as you would like, just continue repeating the steps. Try going from smallest to biggest or experiment for yourself!

Something pretty: Why not try adding colourful beads to your pots to shine in the sun. Glue these on or attach them to your rope!

What you need...

Step one

Step one contd.

Before you start: This could be a great opportunity to use up some of those old pots hanging around the garden, wash old pots of dirt if needed. Make sure all your pots, old and new have a hole in the bottom or else the rope won’t fit through. For best durability, first seal the terracotta pots inside and out with Resene Terracotta Sealer.

Step one: Then paint pots with your chosen colours, we used Resene Adrenalin, Resene Bright Spark, Resene Wellywood and Resene Havoc. Have fun with this, get creative with different colours and patterns. Kids can paint their own funky designs. Wait for the paint to dry.

Step two

Step three

Step four

Step two: Tie a loop knot in one end of the rope. You can place something inside the loop, such as beads, sea shells or an extra washer. this provides a bit of weight at the end of the rope and something to pull on when you want the chime to make noise.

Step three: Measure along the length of your rope about 30-40cm. At this spot tie a knot with a washer in the middle. This will hang inside of the first pot like a bell.

Step four: Measure against the side of the smallest pot. Note with your fingers where the bottom of the pot sits against the rope. Making sure the washer knot you made in step 3 is inside the pot.

Step five

Step six

Step six contd.

Step five: Tie a knot where you have noted.

Step six: Thread a washer through the rope until it sits on top of this knot.

Step seven

Step eight

Step seven: Follow the washer with your smallest pot.

Step eight: Repeat with next pot, making sure to measure so the pot already on the rope will be inside the slightly larger pot.

Step nine

Step nine contd.

Step ten

Step ten contd.

Step nine: Tie a knot in the rope where noted and thread a washer through, followed by the pot.

Step ten: Once your wind chime is done hang is from a tree, pagoda, over hang or off the side of your house. Thread the excess rope over your chosen place before tying it securely. Cut off any extra rope.

Paint tips:

Get every family member to choose their favourite colour and paint a pot each. Remember to invite your extended family to help too.
Use Resene FX Metallic paint for a shimmery metallic finish that will glisten in the sunlight.
Paint designs onto selected pots using Resene FX Nightlight for a cool glow-in-the-dark effect.

Words Alice Bush. Photos Louise Bush.

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Resene Paints (Australia) Limited – www.resene.com