Playful Paper Pinwheels

May 1, 2011


Playful Paper Pinwheels
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    Pinwheels twirling in the wind—doesn’t the thought fill you with childlike glee? No matter the season or setting, these spinning toys say good old-fashioned fun. Make your own with our easy step-by-step instructions and downloadable templates, then get ideas for using them in imaginative ways.

How to Make a Paper Pinwheel
Before you get started, download and print our step-by-step instructions. We’ve also included a template for making pretty-edged pinwheels.

pinwheel materialsMaterials
Square pieces of lightweight paper*, size, colour and pattern of your choice
Ruler
Pencil
Hole punch
Scissors
Plastic drinking straw
Paper, ribbon or fabric strips, optional
Double-sided tape, optional
Flat head brass fastener**

*Tip: The thicker the paper, the harder it is to shape the pinwheel. Look for thin sheets coloured or patterned on both sides, or use rubber cement to create your own double-sided paper.

**Tip: For best results, use gold-coloured fasteners with thin ends, like the kind often found in elementary school classrooms.

Directions
  1. With a ruler or other straight edge, draw a line from one corner of the square piece of paper to the other. Repeat for the other corners, creating 4 triangles that form an X.
  2. Punch a hole in the centre of the X. On each line, make a mark 1.27 cm (1/2”) from the hole. Starting at the corners, cut along the lines you drew, stopping at the marks you just made.
  3. Punch a hole in one side of each corner, keeping them consistent. For example, if you punch one hole to the right of the cut, punch the next hole to the right of the cut, too.
  4. With scissors or the sharp point of a pencil, carefully poke a hole through a straw, about 1.27 cm (1/2”) from the top. For prettier (and sturdier) pinwheels, wrap straws with double-sided tape, then paper, ribbon or fabric strips prior to poking the holes.
  5. Working one at a time, bend the holed corners of the paper toward the centre, aligning the holes. Push the ends of the brass fastener through the holes, then slide the ends through the holes in the straw. Bend back the ends of the fastener to secure to the straw.
Tip: For a pinwheel that spins perfectly, be sure the paper and straw holes are big enough. Use the ends of your brass fastener as a point of reference—they should be able to easily slide through the holes.

Unique Uses for Pinwheels
Put your pinwheels on display in creative, one-of-a-kind ways:

  • Before a big celebration, line the perimeter of your yard with pinwheels. Pick paper that reflects the occasion: A graduate’s school colours, the birthday girl’s favourite hues or shades from the bride-to-be’s wedding palette.
  • Arrange petite pinwheels in a vase or mason jar for an instant, out-of-the-ordinary arrangement.
Tip: When decorating with pinwheels indoors, they don’t necessarily need to spin. Simply secure the paper with a brass fastener, then hot glue finished pinwheels to short, thin dowel rods, small straws or even twigs.

  • pinwheelFor a touch of whimsy in the garden, line flowerbeds with a row of pinwheels or tuck them into potted plants.
  • Hand out pinwheels as party favours, alone, tied to a goody bag or even pushed into topiaries.
  • Make mini versions to use as treat toppers. They’re the perfect way to give the cupcakes in our article, White Cake Mix Makeover, that extra special touch.

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