Hello, sweet friends! It’s Tania back with you again today to share a quick tutorial for putting together a really fun and whimsical summer layout covered in pinwheels. The construction of these pinwheels focuses on the use of the 6×6 paper pad in the Sweet Summertime collection along with the use of the Layered Pinwheel Die. If you’re not a fan of the bulk on your projects created by the handmade pinwheels, you can certainly skip the larger pinwheels, and use only the layered pinwheels constructed from the die-cut pieces.
To get started, you’ll tear out your favorite patterns from the 6×6 paper pad. For a project like this, I like to just tear out one sheet of each pattern. Choose 4 of your favorites or the ones that compliment your photos the best and cut a 3” x 3” square from each of the four sheets to create the four larger pinwheels.
Then, use a pencil to place a small dot in the middle of your square. Next, use a pair of scissors to cut from each point of your square in toward the middle dot, but stopping approximately ¼” from the dot. I eyeball the path of my cut, but if you want a perfectly straight cut you can use a ruler to draw faint lines from corner to opposing corner as a guideline prior to cutting.
Take the same point on all four sides and fold it in toward the center and adhere the point to the center pencil dot. Fold in the right corner, rotate my square 90 degrees, fold in the right corner, rotate my square, etc. Glue dots are best for holding these in place. (Note: If you need a visual of how the larger pinwheel is built, visit my previous step-by-step tutorial (HERE)
Next, die-cut several pinwheels using the Layered Pinwheel Designer Die and layer the pieces together. Embellish the centers with either Enamel Dots or a round sticker from the Elements Sticker sheet along with a small rhinestone brad and layer four of these pinwheels over the large pinwheels you created. Set aside the additional ones to embellish the layout.
Add the scalloped border sticker from the Alpha Sticker sheet across the bottom of the Blue/Yellow Solid Cardstock. Then build up your pinwheel ‘scene’ using green paper straws as the sticks holding the pinwheels. Other alternatives could be candy sticks found in the candy making aisle at your local crafting stores, or bamboo skewers in your local grocery store. Hold the straws in place using glue dots.
Once you get the four bulky pinwheels in place, add additional layered pinwheels in the open spaces in between.
Add your photo, title work, ruffled ribbons, and pinwheel stickers from the Element Stickers Sheet, and small enamel dot embellishments to complete the layout. Use foam dimensional tape behind these items to create depth and dimension across the page.
Supplies:
Ultra White Felt Cardstock (Carta Bella)
SS1019 Blue/Yellow Solid Cardstock (Sweet Summertime)
SS1014 12×12 Element Stickers
SS1015 12×12 Alpha Stickers
SS1023 Sweet Summertime Paper Pad
SS1030 Layered Pinwheel Designer Die
AG74020 Anything Goes Brad Set
BJBT78028 Enamel Dots
Cuttlebug Manual Die-cutting Machine
Paper Straws
Foam Dimensional Tape
Glue Dots
Ribbon
Paper Piercer
4” x 6” Photo
Source: Echo Park