Buzz
A pinwheel is a charming decorative piece and a fun toy for children of all ages. You can use it to decorate your yard for parties or watch the children mesmerized by the spinning colors. Once you master the basic pinwheel design, you can create more elaborate versions with additional blades. You can also make a disc-shaped pinwheel. While it doesn’t spin, it still makes for an adorable decoration.
Steps
Making a Simple Pinwheel
Start with a square sheet of paper. You can use paper of any size, but a square with sides around 15 cm works best. Choose vibrant-colored paper; double-sided paper with themed patterns is ideal because both sides feature attractive designs.
Draw 4 diagonal lines from the corners of the square to the center of the paper. Place a ruler on the paper, connecting the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner. Draw a neat line using the ruler. Repeat this step from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner.
- You can also fold the paper along the diagonal twice to create an X-fold pattern.
Cut along each line to about the middle. Stop cutting about 1cm – 2.5cm from the center point of the paper. Don’t cut all the way to the center, or your pinwheel will fall apart.
Fold the alternating corners towards the center. Now each corner of the paper has been cut into two smaller corners. You will fold each alternating corner toward the middle of the paper. Ensure that all the corners meet neatly in the center.
- Don’t crease the paper. Let the pieces of paper bend naturally.
Push a pin through the center of the paper. Make sure to go through all four corners, and the pin should be at the exact center of the paper. Twist the pin to widen the hole.
Attach a few small beads to the end of the pin. You will only need 1-3 beads. Be sure that the beads are of the same shape and size. The beads will help lift the pinwheel off the wooden stick and allow it to spin.
- Avoid using large plastic beads meant for jewelry, as they are too big.
Make a hole in the wooden stick for the pinwheel. Use a nail to punch a hole about 1.5 cm from the top of the wooden stick. Press the nail into the stick and gently tap it with a hammer. After making the hole, remove the nail.
- You can soak the wooden stick in warm water for a few minutes before making the hole to prevent cracking.
Attach the pinwheel to the wooden stick. If the hole is too loose, pull the pinwheel off and apply a drop of glue to the hole, then reattach it. Test the pinwheel by spinning it and adjust the pin if needed. If the sharp end of the pin sticks out the back of the stick, use pliers to bend it down.
Making a Decorative Pinwheel
Cut the paper into a hexagon. Draw or print a hexagon shape on the paper that you will use for the pinwheel. Cut out the hexagon using scissors or a sharp metal ruler.
- Patterned paper is great for this project, especially double-sided designs.
Draw lines connecting the corners so they meet at the center of the hexagon. Use a ruler and pencil to draw straight lines connecting opposite corners of the hexagon. Once finished, you will have a star-shaped (*) design in the center.
Cut along the lines you've drawn. Stop cutting about 1/3 of the way to the center of the hexagon. Do not cut all the way to the center, or your pinwheel will fall apart.
Fold each alternating corner into the center. Start from the top, and fold each alternating corner in a circular motion towards the center until you return to the starting point. Ensure that the paper corners overlap at the center of the pinwheel. Do not press down the folds; let the pinwheel blades curve naturally and elegantly!
Insert a pin through the center of the pinwheel. Make sure to pin all the folded corners into the center. Push the sharp end of the pin through the back of the pinwheel. Wiggle the pin slightly to enlarge the hole.
Place a few beads at the end of the pin. You’ll only need 1-3 beads. These beads will lift the pinwheel off the stick and allow it to spin. Avoid using jewelry-making beads.
Create a hole at the top of the wooden stick to attach the pinwheel. Use a nail to make a hole about 1.5 cm from the top of the stick. If necessary, tap the nail with a hammer to create the hole, then remove the nail.
Insert the pinwheel onto the stick. Test the spin. If it gets stuck, move the pin slightly farther away. If the sharp end of the pin is sticking out from the back of the stick, use a hammer or pliers to bend it down. If the pin is too loose, pull it out, add a drop of glue to the hole, and reinsert the pin.
Decorative Pinwheel
Cut a patterned craft paper into 4 pieces. Take a square sheet of paper with 30 cm sides. Use a metal ruler and a craft knife to cut the paper into 4 strips, each 7.5 cm wide.
- Some craft papers have white stripes along the bottom edge for labeling and pricing. It’s best to cut this part off before cutting the paper into pieces.
- This type of pinwheel is meant for decoration on gift boxes, walls, or as ornaments. It does not spin like regular pinwheels.
Fold the paper pieces in a fan-like style. Take the first piece and fold one short edge over about 1.5 – 2.5 cm. Use this fold as a guide to continue folding the rest of the paper in a fan pattern. Repeat this with the other 3 pieces of paper.
Consider adding a decorative twist to one end of the folded paper stack. Fold the paper so it resembles a closing paper fan. Cut one end of the stack diagonally. Cut each stack individually, as the thickness makes it difficult to cut neatly.
- This step is optional. It’s simply an added decoration for the pinwheel.
Glue the paper pieces together to create a longer strip of paper. Apply a piece of double-sided tape to one end of a strip of paper. Position the other strip's end close to it and press the two strips together. Continue this process until you form a long paper strip.
- If both ends of the paper strips are folded in opposite directions, they will form a V-shape when glued together. Trim one end so the folds match in the same direction.
Glue the paper strip into a circle. Apply glue or double-sided tape to one end of a paper strip, bring the ends together, and press them firmly to stick.
Flatten the paper circle into a disc shape. If the pinwheel doesn't stay flat, apply glue to the back to keep it secure. Flip the pinwheel so the back is facing up. Choose a wooden stick, straw, or a skewer that is as tall as the pinwheel. Use hot glue to attach the stick in the center of the pinwheel, along the groove where the two pieces of paper meet.
Decorate the front of the pinwheel. To enhance the pinwheel's appearance, you can cut a small circle from the same paper and glue it onto the front to cover the hole. If you prefer a more rustic look, you can attach a large button instead.
Cut a circle from cardboard to glue onto the back of the pinwheel. This circle will help you attach the pinwheel to a wall, gift box, or other items more easily. It’s best if the color matches the pinwheel, but using a different color works too.
- Use a cup, bottle, or jar lid to trace a circle shape.
Use double-sided tape to attach the pinwheel. Place a few pieces of double-sided tape on the back of the pinwheel, directly on the circular cardboard piece, then stick the pinwheel onto the ribbon of the gift box you want to decorate.
- If you'd like to attach the pinwheel to a wall, consider using foam double-sided tape.
- You can try linking multiple pinwheels together to create a long strip of ribbon.
You're done.
Advice
- Create the pinwheel using thin plastic sheets like acetate or file dividers.
- To enhance the pinwheel, consider painting the stick with acrylic paint or spray paint before attaching the pinwheel. Allow it to dry before proceeding.
- Wrap a pretty ribbon in a spiral pattern around the stick before attaching the pinwheel.
- A straw can be used instead of a wooden stick. Though not as durable, it makes attachment easier.
- For extra flair, add beads, buttons, or decorative charms to the head of the pinwheel’s pin.
- To create double-sided craft paper, glue the backs of two pieces of craft paper together.
- Stamp a design with rubber stamps to decorate plain, single-colored paper.
- For a simpler pinwheel, you can attach a pinwheel to the eraser of a pencil using a push pin.
What you need
Creating a Simple Pinwheel
- Colored paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Push pin
- Small beads
- Thumbtack
- Hammer (if necessary)
- Short, thin wooden stick
Creating a Fancy Pinwheel
- Colored paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Push pin
- Small beads
- Thumbtack
- Hammer (if necessary)
- Short, thin wooden stick
Creating a Decorative Pinwheel
- Colored paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Stapler
- Cardboard or button
