Pin Free Pinwheels - Another Birthday Post

As part of Zan's Birthday Celebrations I made pinwheels and lollie bags for the kids to take home. 

1: Pinwheels (Pin free)

The Pinwheels were a big hit and quite frankly I loved them.  I loved their old fashioned charm, the fact that they were a little something different.

To make these pinwheels I simply purchased a half dozen pieces of 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper.  I choose two different styles. 

I cut each piece into 4 squares

Folded each square from one corner to the other and then unfold

Then cut along the folded line approximately 3/4 of the way toward the centre

Using a whole punch or scrapbooking punch place a hole in the middle and then on the tip of every second corner ensuring you have 4 holes around the edge.

(Note: I used a hot glue gun)  Bring each corner (with hole) to the centre and glue aligning the holes.

Allow to dry if necessary  (this a perk with using a hot glue gun, the glue was dry instantly)

Now you'll need a pipe cleaner and pencil.  Grab one end of the pipe cleaner and wrap it around the pencil a couple of times.  This creates the equivalent of the tip of the pin.

Then fed the other end through the hole from the front of the pinwheel to the back.  Bend the pipe cleaner so that it is facing down.  Wrap the remainder of the pinwheel around the pencil and use the pencil as the stick of the pinwheel.  (Note: I used straws.  I found super long ones in a 'CheapO' shop and simply chopped them in half, this made them a little longer than the standard straw).

2:  Lolly Bags

Initially I was not going to do lolly bags, just the pinwheels, but then I thought about how much my kids love lolly bags and decided I didn't have it in me to be the mum who didn't do them.

So I simply bought a bunch of little clear cello bags and made some personalised cardboard tags.  I love adding the small touches that really make a day that extra bit special.  And by special I don't necessarily think about possesions, I think about the love that goes into making someone feel special, whether that be the kids as they leave, feeling welcomed and appreciated.  The birthday child themselves (I know Zan's a little young to understand, but my other kids just love it).  It warms my heart to see the smiles on their faces.