In this post: How to make paper pinwheel banners for budget-friendly decor or gifts.
Around the holidays a couple of years ago, I created a simple yet beautifully vintage-looking paper pinwheel banner for a women’s event I was speaking at.
After the event, a woman approached me.
At the time, I knew only a bit of her story and of her health struggles.
She told me how much she loved the banner – so I sent it home with her as an early Christmas gift.
This Christmas, settled into our new home, I decided to recreate that banner.
Now when I pass by it I think of my friend and am reminded to say a little prayer for her and to be JOY-ful this Christmas.
DIY Joy Paper Pinwheel Banner
Supplies
- 15 pages of sheet music
- Scotch tape
- Scissors
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Computer and printer
- Paper and a cereal box or card stock
- Mod Podge (or white glue)
- Foam brush
- Coarse glitter
- Jute or hemp string
- Clothes pins (mini or regular sized)
- Cookie sheet covered in tin foil to contain glitter and mess (optional)
Instructions
1. Accordian-fold all 15 pages of sheet music. (I used one page of sheet music from an old hymnal, color-photocopied fourteen times. My sheet music is truly vintage, from my Mother-in-Law no less, and quite fragile. Photocopying it allowed me not to rip and tear my sheets as I worked. Please be aware of copyrights if you choose to do this).
2. Tape 5 folded sheets together. Bend around and tape ends together. This will be your pinwheel. Don’t worry if it pops up in the middle and looks more like a lampshade – we’ll fix that in the next step.
3. Cut a small piece of cardboard or paper and hot glue to the back of your pinwheel to keep it from popping up in the middle.
4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 for each pinwheel.
5. Now print out J-O-Y in the font of your choice – I used Century Schoolbook sized to 400 points in a really light gray color. Ideally print directly onto card stock. (My printer won’t accept card stock, so I printed onto regular weight paper and glued that onto a piece of cardboard cut from a cereal box! Make do with whatever you have if necessary).
6. Using a foam brush, brush Mod Podge (or white glue) all over your letters. Then sprinkle with coarse glitter. Let dry.
7. Using sharp scissors carefully cut out your letters.
8. Hot glue one glittered letter onto each pinwheel.
9. Attach pinwheels to jute or hemp string with clothespins. Hang and enjoy!
That’s it – an easy, glittery and festive decoration that expresses just a little bit of the spirit of the season!
What do you have to be joyful about this holiday season?
