DIY :: Paper Flower Wheels

Several weeks ago, a few pictures from a baby shower popped up in my newsfeed on facebook. I noticed these paper flower wheel (paper fans? paper wheels? paper pinwheels? paper flowers?) things the host used as decorations - SO cute (I've also seen them in super tiny format as a scrapbook embellishment).

I decided to try making a few and, after failing miserably the first couple tries, I got it ;) These cuties are so fun and you can use them as decorations for a party, or maybe hang a couple from the ceiling to create a gorgeous (and ever-changing!) collage.

Supplies: 

+ paper (at least 8.5"x11" - I also used 12"x12")

+ scoring tool (or dull side of a table knife) and metal ruler

+ rolling adhesive

+ glue dots

+ buttons (I always thread my buttons to make them look sewn on, much more of a finished look)

To start, I cut 2 strips from an 8.5"x11" sheet of vintage graph paper. The strips were 3"x11". I then scored both of them (with my handy-dandy ladybug score thing-a-ma-jig and metal ruler) every half inch. If you don't have a scoring blade, you could use the dull side of a table knife. 

I folded up the strips accordion style. I then adhered the two strips by overlapping the two short ends half an inch (1/2") and using rolling adhesive. So I had one long 21.5" strip (two 11" strips, overlapped 1/2" to attach together).

Next, I adhered together the other two short ends 1/2" (same method as the other side), to make a circle.

This next part was (very) tricky for me. I had to gently work the edges of one side together (like trying to make it into a cone), while the other side of edges stays put and becomes the outer edges of the wheel. This part takes a minute to do (at least it did for me ;)). The picture below makes it look a lot easier than it was ;)

Next, I stuck a glue dot down in the middle - this held all of the edges together and helped keep them from coming out of the wheel shape. I attached another glue dot to the top and then placed a (already sewn) button on top. This gives it a finished look (and covers up the middle).

Voila! A super cute, super fun decoration that you can make from found papers, scrapbooking papers or vintage papers. And they don't take long to make :)