Here’s another install­ment in the sum­mer crafts fea­ture from Mer­rilee of Mer Mag. This super fun DIY pin­wheel neck­lace is per­fect for a beach trip!

This is a great craft to bring the lit­tle ones in on as well. I’d say 6yr olds and up could do these sim­ple shapes and pat­terns. The lit­tler ones can have fun with this as well, just let them go at it and then see what fun col­ors and shapes emerge!

What You Need

• 1 slab wooden wheel (avail­able from most hobby stores)
• A lan­yard made from yarn, string, rib­bon, etc., sized to fit your child’s neck
• Acrylic craft paints
• Paint Brush

Paint­ing The Wheel
To get started, select an assort­ment of fun paint col­ors for your neck­lace. I chose to go with neon pink, sage green and nat­ural tan.

To begin paint­ing your neck­lace in a “pin­wheel” type fash­ion, start with a sim­ple tri­an­gle shape. Con­tinue paint­ing all the way around the wheel. I might sug­gest mix­ing up the widths of the var­i­ous col­ors and leav­ing a bit of the wood show­ing through for inter­est. You can then flip the wheel around and do an entirely new design on the back. We went with more tri­an­gles but this time kept them around the outer rim with the points fac­ing the cen­ter. But you can do what­ever inspires you. Have fun with it!

Putting It All Together
Once the wheel is painted and dry you can attached your lan­yard (or yarn, string, rib­bon, you name it). We went with a neon pink lan­yard for our neck­lace and attach with sim­ple slip knot. Tie off the top of the neck­lace with a knot as well.

Now your neck­lace is com­plete and ready to wear! And what’s more fun is that you have two neck­laces in one. Just pick which side you are in the mood for and then turn it around the next day wear the other side.

Meet The Contributor

Mer­rilee Lid­di­ard (aka Mer Mag) is an illus­tra­tor, crafter, and mother of two boys and a wee lit­tle girl.

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