DIY Wednesday: Pinwheels

These adorable pinwheels from Once Wed are an easy way to add a little pizzaz to your wedding. They can be used in any number of ways – from ceremony decor, to ceremony programs, to place cards, to favors. Just be sure and personalize the pinwheel to meet your needs!

What You’ll Need
Several sheets of 12″ x 12″ double sided scrapbook or decorative paper (a lighter weight paper, not stiff, heavy card stock)
Round-headed pins
12″ wooden dowels
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
A push pin
Flower shaped craft punch
A pair of scissors
A ruler

Pinwheel Instructions
1. Begin by measuring and cutting several 6″ inch squares out of your paper.
2. Find the center of your one of the squares and mark it by poking a hole through it with your pushpin.
3. Lay your paper pattern side down, and use your ruler to draw diagonal lines from each corner to make an “X”.
4. Cut along the diagonal lines, from all four corners, stopping one inch before you meet the hole in the center of your paper.
5. Use your pushpin to make a hole in the right hand corner of each side of the square, just to the left of the line you just cut.
6. Use your punch to cut out a paper flower. Stick your round-headed pin through the center of the flower.
7. One by one, bring each of the four pin-holed corners to the center and stick the flower and pin through each of the four holes.
8. Next, put the pin through the hole in the center of the square and set aside.
9. Make a pilot hole, using your pushpin, 1/2 inch down from the end of the dowel.
10. Put a drop of hot glue on the hole, and quickly insert the pin that runs through the pinwheel center into the glue and dowel. Be careful not to let the pinwheel paper touch the glue on the dowel while it’s drying. If it sticks, it can’t spin.
11. Arrange your completed pinwheels in a vase or container like flower stems.

What it Costs
(to make 12 pinwheels)
4 sheets of paper @ $.50 each = $2.00
Package of 12 dowels = $2.00
Box of pins = $2
Total = $6

Check out how one of my fabulous Fall brides used her pinwheels as her place settings for her long, family-style dinner table. Everyone really enjoyed walking around to see where they would be seated.

{Photo courtesy of Schmitt Photography}

Have fun creating, and Happy DIY Wednesday!

XOXO
The 36th Street Team