DIY: Fourth of July Paper Pinwheels
I remember making paper pinwheels. They wouldn’t exactly stand up to a rainstorm but they were super awesome to take outside on a windy day. I think the first time I made them I was in the third or fourth grade. And we did the smartest thing… we made them with pencils for the rods. How smart is that?
So this genius idea is hardly my own. I’m borrowing it from one of my many wonderful primary school teachers from ages ago. Thanks, teach.
These fab spinners are great for fun for the kids but they also make some pretty awesome decor. Line them up in your flower bed for a little bit of colorful and festive decor or place them in jars and vases for “flowers” – either way, these little guys won’t break the bank or take ages to create!
For this project you will need:
- Scrapbooking paper
(not card stock) - Pencils with erasers
- Large head straight pins (from the sewing section)
- Spray adhesive
- Pushpin
- Small beads
- Paper cutter, scissors, marking pencil
(not card stock)
(from the sewing section)
, 
, 
Grab two pieces of paper that look awesome together.
Spray the backside of one with spray adhesive. Allow to become tacky and stick the two back sides together.
Cut out a 4×4 inch square. Mark the center with a pencil.
Take your pushpin and run it through the center point of your square.
Make cuts from the corners to the center, leaving about a quarter of an inch of paper uncut.
On the right side of each “triangle” section make a hole with your pushpin.
Fold each of the petals so that the hole at the corner meets the hole in the center. Do not crease the paper, simply loosely fold to get the needed bend to each petal.
Run your push pin through each of the corners, bringing them close to the center as you go. Finish by pulling the pin through the center hole. See how your pinwheel starts to form?
Place a small bead (not pictured) just behind the paper pinwheel and run the pin through the end of the eraser. Keep the pin as straight as you can. Use nippers to trim away the point and excess length on the pin. Use the backside of the nippers to make the metal flush with the eraser.
Set out in the wind or blow to make it go!
With lots of different papers, you can have quite a collection. And guess what? With scrap and pencils and pins being so cheap, these guys cost so little that they won’t bust the budget, either!
And if you’re looking for a neat centerpiece, you can cluster several together, just like a floral arrangement. How fun is that? Then the guests can take them and play with them once the festivities begin!
What do you think? Will you be making some of these cuties for the Fourth?
A crafter since her earliest years, Allison spends a little time every day making something. She crafts, sews, paints, glues things onto other things, and is a firm believer that a life spent creating is a life worth living. Visit Allison’s blog, Dream {a Little} BIGGER.