Studio 5: Pinwheels & Giveaway!

When I plan my Studio 5 segments, if possible, I try to tie into my current class and in this case, it's all about pinwheels.

I had so much fun making this cute pinwheel for my upcoming "Red, White & YOU" class, that I decided to immerse myself into pinwheels... I almost drowned!  So many cute ideas and so little time.

This was right before I left on a long trip and I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted.

It became clear to me after a lot of research that the We R Memory Keepers Pinwheel punch board was the way to go.

I'm not much of a uni-tasker (a tool that only does one thing), but I have to say, this tool is completely worth purchasing if you're only doing one party.  The time you save is invaluable!  So, today, I'm showcasing pinwheels made from the Pinwheel Punch Board and a great little template (hand-cut or die-cut) I used for my class and that I still really love, as it has a different shape and is good for smaller pinwheels.



But first, let's give a Pinwheel punch board away! 

Just leave a comment on this blog post today and tomorrow morning I'll randomly pick a winner...Good luck!

You'll get the Pinwheel Punch Board and a set of 10 attachments (these are invaluable!) and extra long straws.











Moving this nostalgic child's toy into today's DIY trend is all about size.  Using the simple, charming and playful shape in different sizes can tie a party together and create a custom look quickly and inexpensively.

Go BIG (more on that later) for drama & the WOW factor...these large pinwheels can fill real estate in a flash, perfect for backdrops and hanging decor.  And because these are so light, they are easily attached with pins or thumbtacks.

Go Small for those tiny touches that really leave a big impression!  From food picks to invitations and place settings.

Go traditional size for functioning favors, garlands, treat toppers, hat toppers and more.

Apart from size, you can add your own creative touch to pinwheels by adding a center to your pinwheels.  

Punches, pins, brads, pompoms, printed elements (like my wedding words), buttons etc...

You can also add streamers to the back of your functioning pinwheels for added movement, like in this example, I added cascading ribbons that I tied to the top of the straw.  Just be sure that your streamers don't interfere with the movement of the pinwheel.




To see a step-by-step tutorial on using the Pinwheel Punch board, click on this image to enlarge.

To make a SUPER big pinwheel, I used the large sheets of cardstock I'm starting to see in craft stores, specifically my local Hobby Lobby.  I found the large gold sheets (Strathmore Chromolux 19/5" x 26") in the art department, next to the poster paper and core board.  

We R Memory Keepers also has a line of patterned large sheets (22" x 28"), which I found right next to the Pinwheel Punch board and supplies.

Here are some photo tutorials for making the Extra Large Pinwheel.

If you have any questions, please let me know.