Transform Thrifted Teacups Into The Most Adorable Garden Decor In No Time

There is something so whimsical about teacups and tea pots — as if Wonderland exists within these decorative and unique pieces, bringing a little magic to your home's aesthetic. If you love thrifting antique teacups, you may find that simply displaying them in a cupboard isn't enough. Thanks to the internet (and people's ingenuity), there are plenty of clever ways to repurpose old teacups around the house. While DIY wreaths and planters are great ideas, turning one (or a few) of these porcelain pieces into a wind chime for your garden may be the most whimsical project around. Not only does this give you a way to show off your favorite cups, but it also livens up your space with the soothing sounds that come with wind chimes.

Unlike DIYing a unique wind chime using items from a junk drawer or around the house, this project already gives you a pre-made base that is both stylish and easy to work with. Pick at least one teacup to be your "base," and then consider if you want a matching saucer. Keep in mind that you may need to drill a hole through the middle of the cup if you plan to hang your chimes from the interior of it. Otherwise, you could hang your "chimes" from the bottom of the saucer, so the cup remains upright. You will also want string and either beads, shells, rocks, or any other small items that will create the chimes. You can mix and match these, using wood and shells for a more natural finish or beads to bring a colorful and kitschy aesthetic.

A strong adhesive is necessary since it's the simplest way to secure your hanging pieces to your cup. If you're using beads, these can be laced onto string or twine – any material that will move with a breeze to make the sounds you want. Drill tiny holes in your shells and tie the string around your rocks and wood. These can be as long or short as you prefer, just ensure they will hang down enough to catch the wind. You should make enough hanging chimes that they will vibrate off each other, but not so many that they don't have space — about 4-5 chimes to start and add more if needed. Should you find an old wind chime at a thrift store, consider reusing the pipes for your DIY version, too! If you do use these, keep them rust-free with one simple trick: WD-40! 

The tricky part may be securing them to your cup. You want to use a strong adhesive like super glue or Gorilla Glue, attaching one end of your strings to the interior of your teacup or the saucer. Hold each one in place while it dries, maybe adding another layer of glue over the top to hold them against the porcelain. If your teacup is hung upside down, these strings come out from "inside," creating a bell shape. Should you decide you want to decorate your teacup with more elements, you can use faux florals around the hanging string or the saucer on the top side opposite the chimes.