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How to Make a Paper Octagon Into a Spinner

A homemade spinner is a fair way to assign chores, pick playtime activities or choose craft projects when you're lacking inspiration. You can also use spinners in place of dice for homemade board games. One advantage of games that use spinners is that you can decorate the spinner with pictures instead of words or numbers, allowing younger children to participate.

Things You'll Need

Scissors
Cardboard
Paper octagon
Glue
Pen
Ruler
Hole punch
Thumbtack
Metal washer (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Cut a strip of cardboard about 1/2 inch wide and half as long as the octagon. Cut the corners off one end of the strip to create a pointed spinner arrow.
- 2
  Glue the paper octagon to a piece of cardboard and trim the cardboard down to match the size of the octagon.
- 3
  Divide the octagon into eight equal areas by drawing lines that connect each pair of opposite corners. Label the areas according to the intended use of the spinner. Possible labels include numbers, chore names or family activities.
- 4
  Punch a hole in the middle of the cardboard pointer. Align the hole with the center of the octagon, then press a thumbtack gently into the center of the octagon to secure the pointer. If necessary, place a very thin metal washer under the pointer where the tack goes through to create a space between the pointer and the octagon's surface and allow the spinner to spin more freely.
- 5
  Flick the pointer to test whether it spins freely. If not, loosen the thumbtack slightly and try again.

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