How to Make Patriotic Pinwheels for July 4th

If you have a Cricut, it’s pretty easy to make patriotic pinwheels for your July 4th celebration. Knowing this, I nabbed a Park Lane patriotic cardstock pad for 60% off at Joann’s this last week. Both sides of the cardstock are so pretty!

If you don’t have a Cricut, you can still make these easily. I’ve created downloadable pdf templates for you. Just use a 1/8-inch punch to make the holes. The center hole is a little more difficult to make with a punch, but you can use an awl or pick. If you don’t have either of these, you can simply use an X-Acto knife to make an X in the center of the middle dot.

Unfortunately, I planned to make smaller pinwheels for a patriotic display in a little red wagon. This particular cardstock makes beautiful large pinwheels, but the cardstock is heavier, and bending it for smaller pinwheels is undoubtedly impossible. You can see the larger pinwheels look amazing, but they are too big for this project.

How to Make Patriotic Pinwheels for July 4th Centerpiece — Large and small pinwheels.

Realizing this, I pulled out some light cardstock but the backs are plain white. This cardstock is very lightweight. So, a plan to use 2 sheets and back-to-back double them up was hatched.

Supplies Needed for Pinwheels

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Patriotic Pinwheel Directions

The small pinwheels are made from 4-1/2 inch, 5-1/4 inch, and 5-3/8 inch squares. Just click on ‘Customize‘ and it’s easy to resize the squares on the Cricut.

If you are using 2 different papers as I am, you will have to use the ‘Mirror’ setting on the Cricut for one of the squares so that the holes match up correctly.

It is a little more tedious to hold the paper as you shape the smaller pinwheels, but it is completely doable.

Making the Patriotic Pinwheels

Place the cutouts back-to-back.

Raise one edge and insert the brad.

Place the square cutouts back to back matching up the holes. Then, insert the paper fastener through the holes on one of the cut ends.

Place the next 2 holes on the brad.

Push the prongs of the brad into the holes.

Then, hold in place as you place the next 2 holes on the brad arms. Repeat with the two remaining ends.

Place the last set of holes on the brad.

Hold the shape in place as you maneuver the arms of the paper fastener through the hole and to the back.

Push the brad arms through the middle hole.

Fold the arms open.

To secure the pinwheel, open the arms on the back and flip it over. The star brad will now be at the center, with some white back visible along the edges. This subtle detail actually enhances its overall appearance.

Attaching the Wooden Skewer

Next, you’ll want to attach the pinwheel to one of the bamboo skewers. You can see that I cut off a couple of inches on this skewer. You don’t want all of them to be the same length. A variety of heights adds interest.

Glue the Wooden Skewer to the Pinwheel.

Glue a cardstock circle over the end.

Use Tacky Glue to glue the skewer to the back of the pinwheel. Apply a little line of glue onto the end of a skewer. Then, place the end of the skewer over the arms of the brad and onto the pinwheel.

The backs of some of these pinwheels are visible in the arrangement. So, I cut rounds from some of the heavier cardstock and glued the round over the top of the end of the skewer.

I found out the easiest way to do this is to cut out the round shape. Center the round shape over a skewer and press and shape it around the skewer so it will lay relatively flat. Then, just glue it in place.

With just a little bit of effort, you’ll be able to create a whole collection of these delightful patriotic pinwheels before you know it!

There are lots of ways to use your pinwheels with or without the wooden skewers. Here are some ideas for adding a touch of patriotism to your next event or celebration. So, let’s get creative! Show your American pride!

Ideas for Displaying Patriotic Pinwheels

Use them as table decorations for the 4th of July or Memorial Day parties.
Create a patriotic centerpiece by arranging them in a vase or jar.
Use them as party favors for guests to take home.
Attach them to a wreath for a festive front door decoration.
Hang them from the ceiling or a tree for an outdoor party or barbecue.
Use them as a photo booth prop for patriotic-themed events.
Create a patriotic garland by stringing them together.
Use them as place card holders for a patriotic-themed dinner party.
Attach them to a string of lights for a festive outdoor decoration.
Use them to decorate a cake or cupcakes for a patriotic dessert display.
Attach them to a string of lights for a festive outdoor decoration.