Kids can make your own patriotic paper into a darling pinwheel using paint and a homemade sponge stamp!

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What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Using the template as a guide, cut the white paper to a 7" square.
2. Cut a star shape out of a household sponge.
3. Squeeze blue paint onto a palette or paper plate. Dip sponge into paint, dab off excess, and press onto paper. Repeat design in several places. Clean out the sponge and repeat with red paint. (See photo.)
4. Use a gold paint pen to draw dots and curly lines on the paper to decorate it further. Let dry then turn over and decorate the other side. (See photo.)
5. Use a ruler and a pencil to lightly mark the paper according to the template. Cut diagonal lines toward the center, using the template as a guide. (See photo.)
6. Use the pencil to poke holes in the paper where indicated on the template.
7. Insert the thumbtack into the wooden dowel to create a hole. Remove thumbtack.
8. Fold one of the corners (with a hole) toward the center of the paper. Insert the thumbtack through the hole. Bring the next corner up and under the first one, inserting the thumbtack. Repeat for all four then push the thumbtack through the center hole. (See photo.)
9. Holding the tack and the paper together with one hand, turn over and slide the pony bead onto the thumbtack, then insert the thumbtack into the dowel. This will add space between the paper pinwheel and the dowel. (See photo.)

 

Tips:

1. You can use a new pencil with an eraser instead of the dowel.
2. To shorten the dry time, only paint one side of the paper. When you begin folding, have the unpainted side facing up at you so that when folding over the corners, the designs will become visible.
3. Do not use card stock or poster board. That type of paper is too heavy and your pinwheel will not turn.