Wednesday, May 26, 2010

DIY Paper Pinwheels & Garlands

It's Wednesday, and we have a fab new DIY project for our Swanky Chicks! Check out these adorable paper pinwheels. They have been popping up in swanky parties all over the place. With this little tutorial we found on Style Me Pretty (one of our fav wedding blogs) you can create them for your next party!




















Step #1: Supplies.
Pick your paper and buttons. *Hint*: text weight paper works best. Choosing coordinating patterns and colors for the paper is fun, and choosing different sizes and shapes in the buttons is cute, too. Choose scissors or a paper cutter, and adhesive. Cut 2 strips of paper, equal length and width, depending on the size of the pinwheel you want (thicker strips = larger pinwheel).
pinwheels
Steps #2 and #3: Folding + Combining.
Evenly fold (like an accordion) the 2 strips of paper. Make sure the widths match! (Note: smaller folds make tighter pinwheels. Larger folds are more loose and show more of the pattern. We like to make several of each size – makes for an adorable display). Line up one end of the folded accordion with the end of the other accordion. Fit together and adhere securely. Permanent adhesive squares work nicely, and lie flat.
pinwheels
Step #4: Securing.
Pull the loose ends of the accordion strip around towards each other and adhere securely. The pinwheel will look like a cardstock “circle” (similar to the coffee sleeves they give you at Starbucks). You will need to pop the pinwheel out and push it down (work with it until it looks like a pinwheel should look), holding it in place with your fingers. In the photo, the paperweight is doing the job of holding the pinwheel in place.
pinwheels
Step #5: Finishing Touches.
Choose your button and secure *tightly* with glue dots (you may need to use several!). Note: we recommend weighing the pinwheels down for several hours once they are fully assembled). This will help to ensure that they are secure.
String several pinwheels together to create a pinwheel garland. Scrap book paper, old sheet music and vintage books are great resources for gorgeous paper for this project. 


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9 comments:

Unknown said...

I love these! So many possibilities!

Kim @ http://frostmeblog.blogspot.com
party inspiration

Chris @ Celebrations At Home said...

Love the tutorial. These little pinwheel fans are so cool!

BridalHood said...

Love these - they seem so labor intense and given the paper flowers at my own wedding I know that they are!

Life,Styled said...

You had me at paper pinwheels! I just adore these. So fabulous...for any occasion!

xoxo
kristi

Maytina said...

So pretty!! I can think of so many fun uses for them! :D

Annia said...

Thanks for the tutorial. I'll be trying it out over the weekends.

caters said...

WOW! I love DIY Paper Pinwheels & Garlands! So many possibilities! I am very inspired from your blog..
Thanks for sharing with us..

Pear Tree Greetings said...

These are so lovely! I agree with Kim... so many possibilities! -Steph

Love Bird Ceremonies said...

Thanks for this lovely post.

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