Paper windmills are pretty decorations and are loved by all the little ones. Use paper windmills to decorate your yard at a party, or watch your kids marvel at the beautiful colors coming together as they spin. Making a windmill is easy, and even a small child is capable of performing most of the steps required (although supervision and assistance will still need to be provided when punching the windmill).
Step
Method 1 of 3: Cutting and Decorating the Paper for Your Windmill
Step 1. Use a ruler to draw a 17.5 x 17.5 cm square on the blank paper
Line the paper with a pencil. Once you've done that, cut out the paper. Since you will be folding and coloring it, you can use paper that is wrinkled and unused.
- You can also make squares of different sizes. The bigger the square you make, the bigger your windmill will be.
- If you want to avoid using scissors for safety reasons, you can cut paper without using scissors.
- You can also buy folding paper with a size of 17.5 x 17.5 cm at the nearest craft store. This option will cost more but at least you won't have to measure and cut your own paper anymore. If you buy folding paper with a beautiful pattern, you also don't need to decorate it anymore.
Step 2. Draw four equal-sized rectangles on the 17.5 x 17.5 cm paper that you have cut out
Use a pencil and ruler to accurately measure the area division. The center of your paper should be exactly at 8.75 cm. Don't press the pencil too hard to avoid scratching that is hard to erase.
Step 3. Color these four squares
Make sure each square is a different color. You can also be as creative as possible in every square that exists. Here are some ideas for coloring the rectangles:
- Color each square a bright color. Use markers or colored pencils.
- Use watercolors.
- Glue pictures from magazines into each of the boxes. Use strong glue.
- Use a layer of aluminum used to wrap chocolate or other food. Glue these layers to each existing square. Aluminum will reflect sunlight in beautiful colors.
Step 4. Wait for the watercolor or glue to dry (if you use one)
Folding paper that is still wet will be difficult because it will tear the paper easily. The elements you use can also stick together, so you'll have to redo your work.
Method 2 of 3: Making the Ferris wheel
Step 1. Draw four diagonal lines from each corner of the paper towards the center
Place the ruler at an angle from one corner of the paper so that it passes through the center of the paper and touches the opposite corner. Begin to draw a line from each corner of the paper to a distance of 3 cm from the center point. Repeat this process for each corner until you have four lines going to the center point, each of the same length.
Another way is to fold your paper in half diagonally. Do this for both sides of the paper, then unfold it
Step 2. Scissors following the existing diagonal lines
Don't cut too long. Leave a distance of 3 cm to the midpoint of each line. Don't cut out the four straight lines you drew earlier to separate the existing colored squares.
If you prefer to fold your paper instead of drawing a line, cut out along the fold line until it is 3 cm from the center point
Step 3. Label each line:
A, B, C, and D. Mark each piece on the same side, each triangle must have only one letter as a sign (see picture).
Method 3 of 3: Punching the Paper and Adding Poles
Step 1. Fold the sides A, B, C, and D towards the center of the square
Use your fingers to hold the crease. Make sure your folds are stacked on top of each other so they can't come off.
Step 2. Insert a small needle into the center of folds A, B, C, and D
Loosen your finger pressure slightly, pushing the needle through the paper until they all overlap.
If you don't have a small needle, use a longer one, but push the needle deeper through the windmill
Step 3. Remove the needle and grasp the crease again with your finger
Place the pin in the hole you made. A pin needle is a needle with a colored ball at one end. The pin needle will be smaller than the hole you have made, this is important to ensure the windmill can turn.
Step 4. Place a small bead on the tip of the needle (the sharp part that pierces the paper)
Don't use large beads. This bead will form another part that produces the rotation between the windmill and the mast.
Step 5. Wet the end of the pole and place it on a flat surface
Dowels or skewers are ideal choices - but make sure you cut off the sharp edges. Wetting the ends of the posts is important to ensure the wood will not crack/damage. Do not hold the pole to combine it with the windmill. The pin needle can injure your finger.
- You can paint the wooden poles that you have prepared to beautify your work. Make sure the paint is dry before you attach it to the pinwheel.
- Use a straw so you don't have to hammer, just make sure you stick the needle all the way through, then attach a rubber band to the sharp end of the needle.
Step 6. Press the needle into the post
To keep the bead from falling off, press the bead with the edge of your finger as you attach the windmill to the pole.
Step 7. Hammer carefully
If the needle does not penetrate the pole easily, tap the pin of the needle with a hammer very gently. Insert the needle through the pole. If necessary, bend the part of the needle that goes through the pole. Do this with a hammer until the part is bent and lies flat on the surface of the post.
Step 8. Make sure the needle is loose enough so that the windmill can turn
Do the test, spin the pinwheel. If successful, the wheel will spin easily.
