Making a windmill: a step-by-step guide

Take a piece of coloured card and a piece of patterned paper (newspaper, wrapping paper or old wallpaper) Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Glue the patterned paper to the back of a piece of coloured card. To make a shower-proof windmill, cover the card with sticky-back plastic Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Make a cut from each corner two-thirds of the way towards the middle. You can fold the card into triangles beforehand to make it easier to cut in the correct places Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Use a pin (or nail if your windmill is large) to make a hole in the middle. Waggle the pin around to make the hole larger than its circumference through the card. Use a cork mat to avoid making a mark on furniture Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Make a hole close to the edge in the righthand corner of each quarter of the piece of card. Again, waggle the pin around when it is in the card to make the hole slightly larger Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

To make each blade, place the pin through the corner hole and then bring it towards the middle Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Repeat to make each blade of the windmill Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

... and again ... Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

And again. Ta da! You've made a windmill with four blades Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

Finally, place the pin through the wooden stick (you can use a hammer and nail if your windmill is large). Use a bit of glue if it needs strengthening, but be careful not to stick the card to the stick as this will prevent your windmill from spinning around Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths

And there you have it - a windmill Photograph: Sally Cameron Griffiths