This Pringles Can Windsock is a fun spring craft for toddlers and preschoolers! It’s quick and easy, and requires just a few basic supplies including a Pringles can, tin foil and Sharpie markers.
RELATED: Pringles Can Telescope.
The hooligans and I love making outdoor ornaments for the backyard. We have a number of homemade wind chimes, whirligigs and bird feeders decorating the corner of the yard that we play in.
We make most of our ornaments with found or recycled materials. It keeps our crafting costs down and it teaches the kids to reuse and repurpose.
Pringles cans are great for crafting with. We’ve used them to make binoculars, dolls homemade games, and now, this windsock.
To make our Pringles can windsock, you’ll need:
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- Pringles can
- aluminum foil
- Sharpies
- Hole Punch
- ribbons
- rubbing alcohol & craft stick (optional if you want the tie-dyed effect)
- yarn (for hanging)
& 
(optional if you want the tie-dyed effect)How to make a windsock from a Pringles can:
- Wrapping your Pringles can in a piece of foil: Take the lid off the can and line up the open of the can with edge of the foil so there’s no over-hang. Roll it up.
- Scrunch/compress any excess foil at the other end of the can, pressing it flat to the bottom of the tin.
- With your hand, quickly smooth the foil on the sides of the can. Don’t worry about wrinkles. They’re fine.
- You might need to run a bit of glue along the lengthwise seam to seal it if it gapes at all.
- Have your child colour the foil with the Sharpies. Completely cover the foil in a multitude of colours.
Once your foil is covered in colour, you can do one of two things. You can leave it as is, and add your ribbons, OR, you have fun creating this rubbing alcohol and Sharpie tie-dye technique that we recently learned how to do!
How to create a tie-dye effect with Sharpies and rubbing alcohol:
To get this marbled tie-dye effect on your aluminum foil, you need to drip a little rubbing alcohol on your coloured foil:
Dip a craft stick or the handle of a paintbrush (or something similar) into the rubbing alcohol and tap a couple of drops on the can. You don’t want the alcohol it to run down the side of the can, because it will take your colour with it. You just want it to puddle and evaporate. You may have to twist the can a bit to counter any running should it occur.
When the alcohol evaporates, repeat the process with a couple more drops of alcohol, and keep repeating until all of the colours are blended.
Attaching ribbons to your windsock:
I LOVE how easy this process is!
- Punch several holes around the edge of the Pringles lid.
- Cut several long lengths of ribbon in various colours and sizes.
- Thread the ribbons up through the holes in the lid and knot them together on the “inside” of the lid to secure them in place.
- Pop the lid back on the can.
To finish, poke a couple of holes near the top of the windsock, and thread some yarn through for hanging.
Voila! Instant Windsock! Wasn’t that easy?
We couldn’t wait to see ours in action, so we quickly took it out to the tree beside our playhouse, and hung it on a low branch, where the girls had fun swatting at the ribbons.
Isn’t it beautiful! I just love how those ribbons dance in the wind!
More Wind Crafts and Ornaments:
Recycled Wind Chimes
Twirling Ribbon Sticks
Rainbow Stick Windchimes
Summer Stars Ornaments
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Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
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