Learn How to Make Paper Pinwheels with just a few supplies. These are so fun and whimsical!

Paper Pinwheel in a child's hand.

You can make an adorable paper pinwheel in just a few minutes. We love to make an assortment of colors and designs.

The kids have a blast selecting the paper they want to use. It’s fun seeing how each pinwheel turns out. The kids and I have been making these for years. We also love to make Tissue Paper Flowers.

Table of contents

Why We Love This

The kids will have a blast making these fun and whimsical paper pinwheels. Each one will reflect the kid’s personality, and it will be neat to see how each one turns out.

There are so many fun ways to make a bunch of paper pinwheels. It’s a great craft for little hands and kids of all ages. I also love to make these for birthday party decorations.

Materials Needed

Supplies for pinwheels- decorative paper, scissors, paper trimmer, pencils, push pins, glue, ruler.
  • Decorative Paper (card stock, scrapbook paper, construction paper, wrapping paper or craft paper.
  • Scissors. Make sure they are sharp.
  • Paper Trimmer. This will make it easy to cut the squares.
  • Pencils. New, unsharpened pencils with erasers. You can also use a dowel.
  • Push Pins. This is for the center.
  • Glue. White Glue or hot glue
  • Ruler. You need this to accurately follow the instructions.

Step By Step Instructions

Paper trimmer cutting paper.

Step 1. Use the paper trimmer to cut a 6″ square out of the decorative paper. Use a ruler and pencil to drawl light lines from each corner of the squares to create 4 triangles.

Lines on paper ready to cut.

Step 2. Cut on each of these lines almost to the center. Leave about 0.25″ uncut before the center cross mark.

Paper pinwheel template ready to use.

Step 3. This will be your paper pinwheel template.

Paper folded back to make pinwheels.

Step 4. Carefully place a small amount of hot glue in the center of the paper. Bring one corner of the diagonal line to the center of the paper and hold in place until the glue keeps it there.

Each corner folded back to form pinwheel.

Step 5. Continue bringing in each of the triangle strips to the center of the square and attaching it with glue to every other point. After bringing the corner of the paper to each corner, set aside to dry completely.

Pencil attached to pinwheel.

Step 6. Attach the pencil to the center with glue using the hot glue gun.

Thumb tack inserted into the center of the pinwheel.

Step 7. Once the glue is dry, press a thumb tack into the center of the pinwheel. Press this into the unsharpened pencil eraser.

Child holding pinwheel.

Step 8. Now, it’s time to enjoy the pinwheel! Make sure the glue is dry before you spin the windmill.

Pinwheel ready to use.

Pro Tips

  • Card Stock. I used card stock and I think it would be easier with just regular decorative paper. The card stock worked fine. However, it will be easier to push the pin through the center of the paper if the paper is not as thick.
  • Push Pins. Also, the longer push pins worked better with card stock than the smaller push pins.
  • Cutting. If you’re struggling not to cut into the center of the pinwheel, you can use a quarter and trace it in the center. Just make sure to stop when the cut mark reaches the center circle.
  • Multi-Colors. For the two color pinwheels (purple and polka dot) I used 2 pieces of paper . I lightly glued them together before cutting and shaping into a pinwheel shape.
  • Straws. If you don’t have any extra pencils, try using a straw instead. They are not quite as sturdy, but they work just as good.

More Fun Ideas for Kids

Let us know how your pinwheels turn out. I think everyone will have a blast making these. Please leave a comment once you try them.

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Comments

  1. Kimberly says:

    I made some in different sizes out of card stock, and I have laminated them, thank you so much for the instructions!!

    Reply
  2. Kim says:

    Thank you VERY MUCH for this post ! Pre school is out after this week and soon regular school is out for summer , all neighborhoods kids seem to gather here to play with my dog so we need crafts to do ! Love “surprising” the kids , can’t beat the smiles when I have a great boredom buster 👍🏼With a cool snack and sun tea 💕. Awesome awesome awesome 😎 Thanks again !

    Reply
  3. Paulette Wright says:

    The pin wheel won’t spin. I backed off the push pin to make it spin and it fell off the
    pencil. Does anyone have an idea. THANK YOU

    Reply
    1. carrie says:

      We didn’t have any trouble with our. Our push pins had a long pin part on them so we just barely inserted it into the pencil and it worked great.

      Reply