Pinspinners!

Here is a fun and easy little craft I devised, so I could use up some of the sheets and sheets of scrapbook paper I bought when I was semi-obsessed with that pasttime (passtime? How do you spell that?). I am partially committed to Use What You Have although with my current semi-obsession with the dollhouse redo, there's no way I could keep myself from scrounging up any materials needed for that.  But at least maybe for Easter decorations, I can limit myself to what I have on hand.  How does that sound?  Okay I hear you all muttering out there, so I'll get back to the craft.  They're what you might call pinwheels, but since I rassled with the basic concept and came up with some variations of my own, I am calling them pinspinners.  I am pretty bad at giving tutorials, but I'll do my best to explain how to make them, and patterns can be found at the end of this post, which at this rate will be around next Tuesday.

The one above is the basic four-petal pinspinner, and here is the scallop-edged wingspinner:

Here's what you need to make a pinspinner:

1. Two sheets of patterned paper (at least one needs to fit in your printer)
2. Spray adhesive
3. Detail Scissors
4. A longish pin and a thickish needle
5. A couple of beads
6. A pencil with an eraser (or a pencil-width dowel and one of those erasers you buy to stick on the end of a pencil)
7. A flower shaped punch (optional)

Instructions:

1. Download the pattern, print it onto the patterned side of one of your pieces of paper (choose the lightest one, the lines are very faint and won't show well on a dark color).
2. Don't cut on the lines yet, just trim it down so its easier to manage.
3. Spray back with adhesive and affix to the back of your other sheet of paper.
4. Poke your needle through the dots, (tip - place the paper over a pincushion, this helps keep the paper from bending).
5. Cut out the spinner along the printed lines.
6. Cut out a flower shape, either by drawing your own, or using a punch, and poke a hole in the center with the needle.
7. Now for the fun part.  Take your pin, and slide one of the beads onto it. 
8. Slide the flower shape on next.
9. Then one by one, slide the wings of the spinner onto the pin, then poke the pin through the hole in the center of the spinner (note - there should be space between the back of the spinner and all the petals, that is what allows it to catch the wind and spin!).
10. Add one more bead, then push the pin into the pencil eraser, make sure it doesn't poke out the other side and stick you.

Tada!  A pinspinner!

The fun thing is that by varying the papers, you can create a whole garden of spinners!  Like this one:

And not satisfied with four-petal spinners, I worked out a pattern for a five-petal spinner!  I also added a larger flower shape in the middle as well as a few more beads to hold it out from the other parts.  It spins like crazy on its own!  However, this one is a bit more challenging to assemble.  Be prepared for beads flipping and flying off as the whole thing has a tendency to want to unassemble until you get it stuck into the eraser.  Here is the one five-petal spinner I managed to make:

The five-petal spinner takes up most of a sheet of 8.5 X 11 paper, but the four-petaled ones can be doubled up on one sheet if you fiddle with them in Photoshop, and create two of the same combo like these.  Its interesting how different they look turned one way or the other:

 

So here are the patterns.  Click to open the full size version and download them to your computer for printing.  If I could make one teensy request, please feel free to use these patterns for your personal use, but respect my ownership of the pattern design and do not use for resale.  I didn't want to put my copyright on there since you will be printing the pattern on the paper and it would show.

Four-petal pinspinner and wingspinner patterns:

Five-petal pinspinner pattern:

So there ya go!  I hope you enjoy them!  My plan is to use some on my patio tables for Easter, arranging them in ice cream sundae glasses filled with colored buttons!  Hopefully I'll remember to take some pics!

Cheers,

Jenny

ps - Since this involves pins and stuff, I would suggest if you have little kids play with these you watch them so they don't stick themselves.  Also if you make these with kids, you might do the pin part, just to be safe.

Comments

[laurie]

oh jenny, these are adorable! great craft for spring :)

[lisa]

oooh, these are fantastic. thank you.

[gkgirl]

these are beyond cute...
i would love to try to do one
(or ten)
to include in my sister-in-laws
b'day gift...
what a great idea
and the tutorial
seemed very clear...

:)

[Blair]

These are so darn cute, a perfect Spring craft. I may just have to go out and buy....uh....I mean use some of the pretty papers I have to make some. Thanks for the instructions.

[jen]

Super cute. thanks for all the info :)

[Ninotchka]

These are SOOO cute. I just have to try one. You clever gal, you!

[sally]

What beautiful pinspinners! Thanks for the templates and tutorial!

[Elaine]

Those are really pretty. I think on the one's Martha Stewart did, they used brads for the center which would be safer for kids but I'll bet don't spin so great.

[~Vicki]

I love what you've done with these! the colors are so pretty too. thanks for sharing the patterns and how-to's. there are two happy girls here that are so excited about making these.

[sunni]

The photos of these on flickr caught my eye and I am so glad! I can't wait to try making some of these tomorrow night (have to buy pretty colored pencils after work tomorrow!). Thanks for the tutorial, it sounds like it'll be easy to follow. And your paper stash is amazing! :)

[mijk]

In Dutch we call them windmills and my 3 year old is completely obsessed with them. Oh he will be so thrilled if I can do what you did . Thaknks for the tutorial

[Anna-Maria]

Have you seen this for helping with ideas for the dollshouse?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156247667X/qid=1144315392/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-4249996-2239839?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

[Lors]

Wowwwwww! these are really cute!I'm gonna try making some! GREAT blog by the way! :)

[Gina L]

There great!
Cutest ones I've seen to far. And with the spring winds we are having those would be perfect.

[beki]

Those are so cute, much more so than those metallic looking ones you buy at the store.

[Gillian Greding]

HOLY CUTENESS! These are BEYOND a touch of Spring. I HAVE to make them for Easter too. I'm so doing this over the weekend. THANK YOU for your ideas. I ADORE your site!

[paula]

these are so beautiful and girly that i would kiss them! i have two little daughters (3 and 4 years) they will love them!

[donna]

love it! Hum...my windowboxes need some cheering up...these just might be the thing!

[Ellen]

Should I add another "cute"? It seems to be the perfect adjective to describe these though. Love the blue & pink one 'specially.

[Chaotic Mom]

Just found your place via Owlhaven. LOVE this pattern! Will have to check out more... ;)

[Chaotic Mom]

Ooops! I found you through Randi of Simple Things. Her stuff is GREAT, too! I'm in LOVE with her purses! ;)

[Isabel Galanaki]

FANTASTIC!!!Thank you so much!!

[Kristin]

Thank you so much for those great instructions and pattern! My dd will LOVE this new project for us to do! I can see her planting them all over the yard already...

[Pam in Colorado]

What a sweet idea. Your tutorial was very good, I just need my husband to help me through the computerized part and I will be good to go.

Thanks for the idea, I know it will be a hit. Perhaps this will be part of a certain June birthday party around here!! :)

[Alicia P.]

Wow! Those are lovely! How generous of you to share the pattern!