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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Pinwheel Die Tutorial

As I've been promising, here is a photo tutorial of how to use the new Pinwheel Die from Lil' Inker Designs with ag designs which is super easy and FUN!

You can see the card I made using the finished product on my design blog HERE. Thanks!

Tools you will need: Pinwheel Die, die cutting machine, one brad (the longer the *stem* the better) Optional: glue dots, lollipop stick, embellishments


Meet the Pinwheel Die. Somewhere along the lines I've mentioned in my posting that it looks more like a worm than a pinwheel. With some easy assembly it will be a beautiful, 3-D pinwheel. Six die cuts will form your final or full pinwheel, so this is what one looks like.


This is 6 pinwheel petals all cut and waiting for assembly. I knew I wanted this fun orange dot pattern to be my *inside* pattern or the prominent pattern on my pinwheel so I placed my paper facing up and my die on top of it cut side down. So, choose your *inside* pattern (which is what I've been referring to it as), then inside pattern side up and die on top of it cutting side down.



After all your petals are cut, stack them all on top of each other and insert your brad into the hole on the longer, straighter edge of the die cut so that the *head* is on the opposite side and the *stem* is poking up through the stack and facing you.


Then, in order one by one start bringing over the opposite sides of the petals and secure onto your brad. We are basically working backwards, so you will be seeing your pinwheel from the back at this point. When each petal has been folded over, secure your brad closed. You may see something that looks like this:



or this after you've fanned everything out Flip it over and you're done! Ta-daaaaa! Isn't it so pretty and cute? You can use your pinwheel exactly like this, but I like to add a *stem* and some embellishments. Also, sometimes I lightly press my finger over the folds of the pinwheel to flatten them ever so slightly, but it's really not necessary.



I like to add a stem 2 different ways. A strip of paper works great, but here I'll show you how a lollipop stick is really fun! These are just the Wilton's lillipop sticks that are 2.5 in long. I think I got them on sale for $1.39 for 150 of them! I also like to add buttons and twine. I find all of these embellishments are easily secured with craft size glue dots.


I added coordinating buttons in a stack and tied with some hemp twine and then plopped it (technical term, ha) right onto my roll or glue dots.


Then, pull off the button embellie and add it right to the center of your pinwheel!


I add the stick by rolling one end of it in a glue dot


and then sticking it to the back of the pinwheel. And just for a bit of added, extra hold you can now add a piece of small tape over the stick. This method will even still allow you to adjust your petals afterwards if you do it carefully.


That's all there is to it, my friends! Here is your completed and embellished pinwheel! From here you can add it to a card or gift packaging or even a home decor project! And paired with the coordinating Pinwheel Sentiments stamp set it's at its cutest! So, it's pretty simple don't you think? I think so! There's no fumbling around and I find working with the brad the way I've shown you is very easy as well.


Now, admittedly, I tend to over complicate things. I've done this all my life.There could be an obvious and more simple way to do something, but I always over think it! This is the way that the pinwheels die works for me. You might even find something simpler that works for you!


The Pinwheel Die and coordinating Pinwheels Sentiments stamp set can be purchased from my shop blog HERE. One die and one stamp set retails for $17.00 plus s & h! Or you can opt to purchase 2 dies and one stamp set for $20.00 plus s & h. These items are also available individually.


I hope you've enjoyed seeing how easily this comes together! I just know you are going to love having these goodies in your collection to create fun cards, home decor and more!


Photobucket src="http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt70/lilinker/LauraBlogSig-1.gif">


Ingredients: Stamps: Pinwheel Sentiments, Sentiment Flags(Lil' Inker Designs with ag designs) Paper: Mabel Collection from Stella and Rose(My Mind's Eye) Accessories: Pinwheel die(Lil' Inker Designs with ag designs), buttons(PTI), hemp twine, brad(SU!), lollipop stick(Wilton's)

12 comments:

  1. Thanks Laura for the great tutorial!! Can't wait to play with it!

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  2. That is one of the cuter things I have seen recently! Keep chugging along with your business... You clearly have an eye for 'cute'! My question is...Can you just buy the pinwheel die? By itself? How much? I would be interested!

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  3. This is absolutely genius! Love it!! And that's my favorite paper these days. ;)

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  4. How adorable! I love making pinwheels! I Just made teeny tiny ones and added them to the front of little tags! I realized that with my idea, it's a good thing I had nimble fingers, lol. Thanks so much for sharing your idea! I love the paper that you chose too! Really cute!

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  5. Oh this is so weird!! I chose my paper, cut them out, and then couldn't remember the easiest way to assemble, so came here to look for a hint and saw your tutorial. We chose the same paper, the same way.... :)
    Well, I have tons of paper I can make pinwheels all day! :)
    Thanks for the great tips~!

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  6. OMG! Just adorable! And extremely versatile too! Thanks for sharing...I love all your color combinations and am looking forward to trying this myself!

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  7. I just got my die and stamps in the mail today and I am so excited!! I just made my firt pinwheel and it is so stinkin cute!! Thanks for showing me how to use it. I opened the package and I was thinking you sent me the wrong die. Then I went to the website and saw the tutorial.Can't wait to see your next creation!!

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  8. Wonderful tutorial and beautiful pinwheel! I already whipped out a few of these little guys, thanks to your easy instructions.

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  9. Just got my die today and made my first pinwheel! LOVE it!!!! Your instructions are great - super easy to follow!

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  10. I just order your pinwheels. Both mini & regular. I can't wait to get them!

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  11. I have been using my new dies (pinwheel , clouds & rainbow , & and the rosette die ) and I just love them .My niece just received a pinwheel B-day
    card from me and it was the talk of the party . No one would believe how easy it was. I will try to up load the picture of it A.S.A.P. Thanks for making such
    Awesome products for us.

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