You're subscribed!
How to Make Paper Pinwheels
Use old book pages, flash cards, scrapbook paper or even sheet music to make these sweet pinwheels that can bring a festive, playful touch to parties and holidays. They're a snap to make so you can whip up an entire bouquet of them to display in flowerpots, baskets, buckets or pitchers.
Paper Pinwheels
Use old book pages, flash cards, scrapbook paper or even sheet music to make these sweet pinwheels that can bring a festive or playful touch to parties and holidays. Make an entire bouquet of them and display in flowerpots, baskets, buckets or pitchers.
Photo by: Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Materials Needed
- 5/16" dowel rod cut to 12"-14" long (one per pinwheel)
- paper that's printed on both sides
- silver head upholstery tacks
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
- white school or craft glue
- 1/2" flat artist brush
- glitter
- ruler
- scissors
- hammer
- paper cutter (optional)
Cut Paper
Cut pieces of paper to 4-1/2" square for small pinwheels or 6-1/2" square for large (Image 1). Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut from the diagonal on each corner about halfway to the center (Image 2). Repeat on all four corners.
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Cut Paper
Cut pieces of paper to 4 ½” square for small pinwheels or 6 ½” square for large.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Cut Paper
Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut from the diagonal on each corner about halfway to the center. Repeat on all four corners.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Glitter Edges
Use a small artist's brush to apply white school or craft glue to outside edges of paper (Image 1). Sprinkle glitter over wet glue until coated (Image 2). Tip: Shake excess glitter off into a container so it can be saved for later use.
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Apply Glue
Use small artist’s brush to apply white school or craft glue to outside edges of paper.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Apply Glitter
Sprinkle glitter over wet glue until coated. Shake excess glitter off into a container to reuse.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Fold In Points
Preheat hot glue gun. Apply dab of hot glue to the pinwheel's front center (Image 1). Attaching one corner at a time, add a dab of glue, then fold paper into the center (Images 2 and 3). Tip: Press and hold corners in place with the end of a pen or pencil to prevent hot glue burns.
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Fold
Preheat hot glue gun. Apply dab of hot glue in the front center pinwheel.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Fold
Apply another dab of glue and press down second corner. Repeat with until all four corners are folded in and adhered to pinwheel center. Tip: Press and hold corners in place with the end of a pen or pencil to prevent hot glue burns.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Fold
Preheat hot glue gun. Apply dab of hot glue in the front center pinwheel. Fold over one corner and stick it into hot glue.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Add Extra Sparkle
Apply white school or craft glue to the newly exposed edges of pinwheel and sprinkle glitter over wet glue. Tip: Handle carefully as glue is drying.
Apply More Glitter
Apply white school or craft glue to newly exposed edges of pinwheel and sprinkle glitter over wet glue. Tip: Handle carefully as glue is drying.
Photo by: Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Finishing Touches
Cut a 5/16" dowel to about 12"-14" in length. (This can be done at home with a hand saw or at a hardware store.) Press silver upholstery tack gently into dowel, about 3/4" down from the top (Image 1). Tap tack gently in with hammer, so it goes mostly through the dowel without coming out the other side (Image 2). Tip: Tap tack in slowly, being careful to not split the dowel. Remove tack from the dowel and push it through center of pinwheel, then press into dowel's pilot hole you just created (Image 3). Note: Don't push it in too far, so the pinwheels have room to spin (Image 4). These are for indoor use only, since they're made out of paper.
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Marian Parsons
Assemble Paper Pinwheels
Cut a 5/16″ dowel to about 12″ – 14″ in length. (This can be done at home with a hand saw or at a hardware store.) Press silver upholstery tack gently into dowel, about 3/4″ from the top.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Assemble Paper Pinwheels
Tap tack gently in with hammer, so it goes mostly through the dowel without coming out the other side. Tap tack in slowly, being careful to not split the dowel rod.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
Assemble Paper Pinwheels
Remove tack from the dowel and push it through center of pinwheel, then press into “pilot hole” made in the dowel. Tip: Don’t push it in too far, so the pinwheels have room to spin.
Photo By: Marian Parsons
