How to make your SPiT Sparkle

If you’ve got a tired old wind chime hanging in your garden, this colourful DIY might be just the inspiration you need. In today’s post, How to Make Your SPiT Sparkle, I’ll show you how I transformed a dull wooden wind chime into a sparkling piece of garden art using Unicorn SPiT and mica powder.

This simple but stunning makeover adds shimmer and colour using materials you might already have. It’s also a great way to experiment with layering effects that look different depending on the angle and light. Perfect for brightening up your outdoor space!

Before we dive into this tutorial, be sure to subscribe to my bimonthly newsletter to be the first to see my latest projects.  You can also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook, where I also include my unique mixed-media art projects.

How to Make Your SPiT Sparkle: Wind Chime Makeover

**This post may contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission on links used at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.**

Materials Needed

• Wooden wind chime (any style)
• Unicorn SPiT gel stain – Purple Hill Majesty
• Mica powder – purple and blue
• Outdoor oil-based polyurethane
• Paintbrush
• Small containers for mixing
• Detergent and a small cleaning brush
• Hairdryer or heat gun (optional)
• Unicorn spit sparkle stain

Clean the Wind Chime

Before applying anything, I gave the wind chime a good scrub using detergent and a small brush. Years of dust and mould needed to go before any paint could stick properly. Make sure your piece is completely dry before moving on. I did try and repair the bamboo, but it seemed to split more.

As much as I love Unicorn SPiT I could not justify buying the sparkling range when I still have a full set of plain colours. So my idea was to try and make my plain colours sparkle by adding Mica powder.

Add the Base Coat with Unicorn SPiT

I used Purple Hill Majesty Unicorn SPiT for the base colour. I applied it with a foam brush, then hung the wind chime on the clothesline to dry in the sun. SPiT dries fast—mine was touch dry in five minutes. You can also use a hairdryer or heat gun to speed things up.

Mix the Mica Powder and Polyurethane

I first discovered this effect by accident when I accidentally spilt blue mica powder onto a project coated with wet polyurethane. I tried to wipe it off, but instead, the powder spread and created a shimmering finish. That unexpected mishap turned into one of my favourite techniques.

Here’s where the magic happens. I poured some oil-based polyurethane into a container and added a small amount of purple mica powder—just a mound on the end of a spatula. Mix thoroughly until the sparkle is even throughout.

Apply the first coat of mica/polyurethane mixture with a paintbrush. I was so caught up in the project I forgot to take a photo of this step!

Add Layers for Colour Shifting Sparkle

Next, I mixed blue mica powder into another batch of polyurethane. I applied this as a second coat over the purple. Depending on the light and viewing angle, the wind chime now shifts between purple and blue—a stunning effect.

Because this piece will be outdoors, I added a third protective coat for durability.

Final Result

The boring old wind chime now catches the light beautifully. It has a subtle metallic shimmer and vibrant colour that makes it a real feature in the garden.

For extra protection, I added a third coat because it will be sitting in the sun all day. And that was the makeover complete.  Ignore the mess in my shed, I have projects on the go all over the place.

More project ideas for your garden

These garden planter stakes will brighten up any garden and make a great gift.

This wooden wall gecko was made from a recycled tabletop and given a shou sugi ban makeover.

If you’d like to find any of the items used in this project, we’d greatly appreciate it if you used our affiliate links. These links provide us with a small commission at no extra cost to you, allowing us to continue creating and sharing more inspiring projects. We’d also love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or share this post!