diy projects | The Savvy Housewife

So with the 4th of July approaching I wanted to do a fun patriotic themed craft with the kiddos. I’ve been saving vegetable cans for a while and thought that this would be a great time to use them. I remembered that a few weeks ago I saw a pin on Pinterest where old soup/vegetable cans were used to create a wind chime. What an awesome idea, unfortunately I didn’t repin it…ugh! So I decided to search Pinterest in hopes to find it and of course I found several. I swear Pinterest never disappoints. So after reading through several crafters post on DIY wind chimes I decided to pull out my fav tips and wing it. Check out what the kiddos and I came up with…

Materials used:

Soup/vegetable cans (labels removed, cleaned and dried)
Spray paint
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes
Stickers, glitter, etc. used to decorate the cans
Ribbon
2 wire hangers
Hot glue gun
Nuts and bolts (to add variation in the sound of each can)
Hammer & nail (to poke holes in the top of the can)

Spray painting the cans red, white and blue.

Hammering a hole in the top of each can.

Close up of the hole.

The oldest getting creative.

My youngest decided that he wanted to paint his blue can with blue paint…lol

The middle son adding on the details.

I decided to use a two wire hangers to create the top portion of the wind chime. However, I did seen on Pinterest where someone used an old crochet loom and someone else used the top of an old lamp. I suggest that you get creative with this portion too…

The first hanger was fashioned into a circle.

Close up of the closure.

I decided to wrap the hanger with ribbon.

The top portion of the wind chime completely wrapped.

After the kiddos decorated theirs cans, I sprayed them with a clear protective gloss in hopes to protect the wind chime from the outside elements. I also added ribbon and washers/bolts inside each can.

I used a “washer” at the end of the ribbon inside the can.

The finished cans.

I simply tied each can to the top portion of the wind chime and hung it outside.

Our Patriotic Wind Chime.

The boys love it and I do to! Now if the wind would just blow…lol!

What fun things are you doing for the 4th of July?

Like I mentioned in a previous post, I have become totally obsessed with Pinterest. I’ve been on the social site for quite some time but never really understood or appreciated its purpose until recently. I mean Pinterest is filled with some the most amazing and simple DIY projects, so what’s not to love.

Anyway, I moved last year and my new neighbor always has some of the cutest holiday/seasonal wreaths on her door. I asked where she got them from and she said that someone had made them, which is what inspired my latest DIY. After searching and repining several wreaths on Pinterest I came across one that was simple, affordable and super cute.

The inspiration (Photo credit: Pinterest)

Now let me say this, I can be a bit impulsive sometimes, especially when I get excited, lol. So about two months ago, in my excitement, I headed to Hobby Lobby and purchased some burlap ribbon with a black paisley(ish) print on it. The dilemma was deciding what color artificial flowers I wanted to add, then I discovered that those flowers weren’t cheap so I decided to create my own but I still had no idea what colors to make them. Well, I was sitting at the kitchen table one day looking at these beautiful flowers from my wonderful hubby (insert kissy face) and it hit me…pink is my fav color so pink flowers it is.

My flower inspiration

So after deciding on the color for the flowers I went back and forth about how I wanted to make them. The inspiration wreath used felt material, which is easy to find and affordable. But when I attempted her method, it looked a mess. I then decided to use fabric but I was a silky/satiny look, but I wasn’t trying to spend too much money. And one day while dropping off my son, a few crafty moms were talking about a local fabric shop that had inexpensive fabric. So being the impulsive person that I am I went there that day and I found exactly what I was looking for well within my budget.

The naked wreath, printed burlap and scrap fabric.

The process I used to create the flowers was a bit time-consuming but well worth it. I don’t know how many circles I traced and cut out. After burning my fingers a few times with the hot glue, I even contemplated giving up and just buying some. But I personally think the end results are more rewarding.

The process of creating the flowers.

I used the same technique for all the flowers. I burned the edges of the pink flowers for texture and I added rhinestones to the white one for a little extra sparkle.

I think I wrapped the wreath too tight because I ended up running out of burlap and I refused to purchase any more. I ended up covering the empty space with flowers. I think it turned out nicely and I don’t think you can tell at all. I’ll definitely be prepared next time though.