Alternatively, you can use recycled toilet paper rolls. Use shipping paper and paint and color it. You can even reuse any old paper box for arts and crafts.

You can also fold the paper corner-to-corner twice to make an X instead. [3] X Research source

Do not fold the paper. You want it to remain curved.

Avoid using plastic pony beads; they are too big.

Soak the dowel in warm water for a few minutes first; this will help prevent it from breaking.

Scrapbooking paper works especially well for this, especially the double-sides kind.

Some scrapbooking paper has a white strip along the bottom edge for the price and label. You should trim this off first. These pinwheels are meant to be used as decorations on gifts, walls, or ornaments. They do not spin like regular pinwheels.

You don’t have to do this step. This will simply give the pinwheels a more ornate edge.

If both ends of the strips are folded in opposite directions, they will make a V or ^ shape. Trim off one of the ends until both are folded in the same direction.

Use a cup, jar, or lid to trace the circle.

If you are securing the pinwheel to a wall, consider using double-sided, foam mounting tape instead. Alternatively, you can string several pinwheels together to make a banner.