Make Your Own Spinner Card
Make a spinning greeting card using paper, a brad or paperclip, tape, and markers; cut, assemble, and test the spinner while learning simple motion.
Step-by-step guide to make your own spinner card
Step 1
Collect all materials on a clear table or desk.
Step 2
Fold one sheet of paper in half to make your card base.
Step 3
Take a second sheet and draw a circle about 4 to 6 centimeters wide.
Step 4
Cut out the circle carefully with scissors.
Step 5
Decorate the circle with bright patterns using your colouring materials.
Step 6
Decorate the front of the folded card leaving a clear spot where the spinner will go.
Step 7
Use a pencil to mark the exact center of the circle and make a small hole there with the pencil tip.
Step 8
Mark the spot on the card front where the spinner will sit and make a small hole there with the pencil tip.
Step 9
Attach the circle to the card by pushing a brad through both holes and spreading the prongs inside the card or by pushing a straightened paperclip through and bending the end inside to hold it.
Step 10
Give the circle a gentle flick to see how it spins and watch the motion.
Step 11
If the spinner rubs the card add a small piece of tape inside the card under the center to lift it a little so it spins freely.
Step 12
Share your finished spinner card on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a brad or straightened paperclip for attaching the spinner?
If you don't have a brad or straightened paperclip, use a small split pin, a short piece of thin wire pushed through both pencil-made holes and bent inside the folded card, or a plastic craft fastener to hold the circle in place.
Why won't the circle spin smoothly and how can we fix it?
If the circle rubs the card or sticks after you attach it (the attach-the-circle step), add a small piece of tape inside the card under the center as instructed to lift it or gently widen the hole in the card with the pencil tip so the spinner has clearance.
How can we adapt the activity for different ages?
For preschoolers, pre-cut the 4–6 cm circle and pre-poke the center and card hole and supervise scissors and brad use, while older kids can draw more complex patterns, experiment with different circle sizes, and decorate both sides before attaching.
How can we make the spinner card more creative or functional after it's finished?
Turn the decorated circle into a game spinner by dividing it into labeled sections before cutting and attaching, add a small paper tab to the circle edge for easier flicking, or glue stickers and messages inside the folded card before sharing your finished spinner card on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to make your own spinner card
Spinning Card Tutorial | Spinner Card Tutorial | Pop Up Card Tutorial | Praveen's Crafty Corner
3 Videos
Spinning Card Tutorial | Spinner Card Tutorial | Pop Up Card Tutorial | Praveen's Crafty Corner
Create-a-card Spinner Card Tutorial
Easy Spinner card Tutorial
Facts about paper engineering and simple motion
⚙️ Spin something faster and it resists changes in direction—angular momentum is why your spinner keeps turning!
🔩 A brad (split pin) holds pieces together while letting them rotate—perfect for making moving parts like a spinner.
🌀 Pinwheels are tiny wind-powered spinners that can turn with just a whisper of breeze because their pivots cut down friction.
📎 The familiar 'Gem' paperclip design has been around since the late 1800s and was never patented, so it's become a worldwide classic.
🎉 The tradition of sending greeting cards goes back centuries—commercial greeting cards became popular in the 19th century!
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