Paper Pinwheel Tutorial!
This pretty pack of "scrapbook paper" can be purchased at Target.
List of things needed for project:
*1 pad of scrapbook paper $10
*1 hot glue gun $3
*1 pack of hot glue sticks $2
*1 pair of scissors
*1 stapler (and A LOT of staples)
*1 box of small frame hanging nails
*A variety of a bunch of buttons!
*A large area to work on.
Optional items:
*Rad music list.
*Beer.
*Handsome boyfriend to help you fold your pinwheels. (and possibly help glue) :)!
*Precious puppy for snuggling at break time.
You'll need two pieces of paper per pinwheel.
Be sure you place a piece of cardboard or heavy paper under your hot glue gun!
Choosing a button is the hardest part!
When you glue, this will typically require more than one person. One to hold the pinwheel in place, and one person to drop the glue down the center. However, I winged it by myself, you should be able to too! The trick is to pull the pinwheel in close to your body, using one hand to hold the pinwheel against you on a flat surface, and one hand to glue.
After you pour the glue down the center of the pinwheel, the trick to make the glue cool faster is to pull the pinwheel apart and press it back together. Do this a few times and then...
Place the cooling pinwheel under something fairly heavy to hold the pinwheel together and let the glue cool. (typically takes less than five minutes)
I glue the pinwheel from the backside. Once its cool, I flip it over and glue on the button.
After hours and hours of folding and stapling and gluing your pinwheels, you are done! These pinwheels are about 5in in diameter.
Watch out for hot glue! If you get it on your skin, get it off immediately!
Otherwise, you'll get a nasty burn :(
Its a good idea to keep a cold beverage near by to use as a cold compress...and for pain relief. ;)
Back to the pretty pinwheels! :)
Now how the heck do you hang these things?
I used small frame hanging nails. The kit was purchased at Lowe's with the idea of another craft in mind, but the small nails in this "frame hanging kit" worked great!
Notice the gold nail in the middle top of each pinwheel.
I made a hole in the pinwheel, and hammered it into the wall.
Very simple, and quick hang.
You can feel free to get creative with this. Some other ideas I had were to hot glue them all to a long board and then nail the long board. Another idea was hanging them from clear wire from the ceiling.
Try whatever you like and what may work for your space.
