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How to Make a Cardboard Spin

Make a cardboard spinner at home to replace an existing game spinner that is broken or for a board game of your own creation. Game spinners usually consist of an arrow that spins atop a circle, with various options for moves or game actions printed around the edge of the circle. Wherever the arrow stops, the player must take that number of moves or complete the necessary action to continue the game.

Things You'll Need

Thin cardboard, 12 inches square
Compass with pencil
Scissors
Markers, crayons or colored pencils
Hole punch
Brad

Instructions

- 1
  Place the point of a compass in the center of a 12-inch-square piece of thin cardboard. Move the compass out 4 inches to draw a circle that is 8 inches in diameter.
- 2
  Cut out the cardboard circle with scissors. Set the scrap cardboard aside.
- 3
  Decorate the spinner circle, as needed, using markers, crayons or colored pencils. For instance, a game that depends purely on numbered moves could have numbers one to 10 drawn around the spinner̵7;s outer edge. A game that requires players to complete certain actions will have the requisite action options depicted on the spinner.
- 4
  Draw a 3 1/2-inch long, 1-inch wide arrow on the scrap of cardboard you discarded. Cut out the arrow with scissors and decorate it, as desired.
- 5
  Punch holes in the center of the game spinner circle and non-point end of the arrow with a hole puncher.
- 6
  Poke the points of a brad through the hole in the arrow and then the hole in the circle, from the top. Fold the brad̵7;s points out loosely underneath the game spinner, to secure the arrow to the circle.
- 7
  Flick the arrow with your fingers to spin it. It should rotate easily around the circle. If it does not, loosen the brad slightly.

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