Pinwheels

We love pinwheels! The metallic kind (from the dollar store) flash all kinds of light reflections around our backyard. The more expensive hard plastic type make louder rrrrrrring sounds. Our pinwheels made from card stock, hung from twine with cute little clothespins, adorns our daughter's room. There must be 25 or more pinwheels in bright colors strung across from wall to wall that greeted her when she arrived at home the day of her birthday. Her squeal could be heard miles away! Our thanks to cousin Christine for the great idea! I'm going to make more from card stock but laminate them for water proof reasons. These I'll try in the back yard and maybe attach some ribbons....we'll try one or two to start with, to make sure we can get lots of free movement with the lamanation and ribbons. There will be some wildly playful cats in our backyard attacking the ribbons shortly. It will will be fun for all! We love to watch the cats and their antics, plus they will be having fun chasing after the blowing ribbon. Sounds like picture fodder to me!

1. Begin with a square of paper.
2. Fold your square, corner to corner, then unfold.
3. Make a pencil mark about 1/3 of the way from center.
4. Cut along fold lines. Stop at your pencil mark.
5. Bring every other point into the center and stick a pin through all four points.
6. The head of the pin forms the hub of the pinwheel.
7. Turn your pinwheel over - make sure the pin pokes through in the exact center.
8. Roll the pin around in little circles to enlarge the hole a little. This guarantees your pinwheel will spin freely
9. Stick the pin into a thin dowel.
Hint: Separate your pinwheel from the dowel with two or three beads. Stick the pin through the beads first, then - into the dowel.