Easy DIY Pinwheels

Good morning, guys!  I’m recovering from our girls’ trip to Chicago today (we got back around midnight last night) so today’s project is going to be a VERY simple one, but it’s a whole lot of cheerful fun!  I made up these Pinwheel props with one of Sizzix’s new Echo Park dies, and if you’re a party planner, then you want to add this die to your list because you can make some adorable decor.

Now, as much as I wanted to get these to spin, you can’t blow on them unless you set an eyelet when you assemble it. I still need to find a good eyelet setter for scrapbooking, so you won’t see that in my photos, but these will turn easily by hand, or you can make them stationary.  For bright decor, they’re totally perfect!

I’ll leave affiliate links below in the supply list, in case you’re looking to do some shopping (and if you do make a purchase, thank you!  I get a small commission when you shop my links.  It’s what keeps me in supplies and allows me to share free tutorials a few times each week!)  Oh, and if you’re shopping the Sizzix website, be sure to enter SZB2015 when you check out – that’s a special code for Happy Hour Projects readers to save 15% on regularly priced items.

Supplies:

• Sizzix Big Shot and Acrylic Cutting Pads
• Sizzix Bigz Pinwheel Die
• Sizzix Bigz Starburst Die
• Bright papers – 2-3 patterns per pinwheel
• 1/16 Hole Punch
• Small Wooden Dowels (mine are 1/4 inch)
• Small Nails and Hammer
• Washi Tape
• Optional: Eyelets and Eyelet Setter

The pinwheels are super easy  – and much quicker to put together than some paper craft dies.  I layered two colors together for contrast, and when you do this, you can even die-cut both layers at the same time.  Place your papers on top of the die, and create your Sizzix “sandwich” by placing it between a pair of acrylic cutting pads.  Roll it through your Sizzix Big Shot to die-cut your pieces.

Fold the corners with the holes down , and align them together.  I topped of my pinwheel with a starburst design that I punched a 1/16 inch hole in the center.

Next, I fed a nail through the pre-punched holes, and hammered it into a small wooden dowel.  If you don’t need your pinwheel to turn, you can also use brads with paper straws for this step.

Wrap a bit of washi tape around your dowels to decorate them, and make as many as you like!  They’re pretty for parties and for cheerful decor.

As a 2015 Sizzix Design team member, I receive certain Sizzix products free of charge in order to share inspiration projects and tutorials.  Select dies and accessories were provided to me in order to create new design ideas each month.  My designs and opinions are, of course, all my own.