Wooden Windmill Craft from Peg Dolls!
Craft this adorable wooden windmill craft using easy craft supplies! When you’re done, you can check out these mix ‘n match peg dolls that are too cute for words. This post contains affiliate links.
I recently pulled out my stash of peg dolls and wanted to make something unique – beyond just peg dolls!
I decided to go for windmills using a combination of color and texture to make a super cute craft.
This is a craft that is perfect for bigger kids, although younger kids can have a meaningful part in decorating the base peg doll. So it’s a great side-by-side craft for younger kids as well.
I played around with stripes and simple patterns but kids can really go all out with the base adding more details, their names, etc.
What to do with your wooden windmill craft
These wooden windmills are really a “just for fun” craft but you can use them as part of a small world or educational diorama.
They can also be a super fun part of seasonal display. And of course, they’re fun for kids to just display on their desk or dresser!
These are a fun workshop or summer camp craft as it’s relatively open-ended. Kids can really have fun with the patterns they create on the base and make it their own.
A few notes about supplies I used for this wooden windmill craft
The supplies you use in any specific project have a major impact on both the process and the result. This wooden windmill craft in particular is very specific in which supplies will work best, and that’ll depend on who you’re crafting with.
Where I get my peg dolls
I purchased the wooden base of these peg dolls from Woodpeckers Crafts on Amazon. They are a high quality New Jersey based small business that I love for wooden crafting blanks.
I bought mine on Amazon, however, you can also purchase directly from them. They have good bulk discounts, and you can get an additional 5% off using code MOMSANDCRAFTERS.
The pack I got is a big bulk pack with lots of different sizes. I used the larger ones – and larger ones do work best. If you want more specific sizes – that is, if you’re not stocking your craft room, rather want the big ones only for this craft – I recommend buying just the big ones.
The paint
I used good quality craft acrylics for this and recommend doing this with bigger kids. You can also use paint markers – again, quality matters. I used Posca but a classic craft brand can work as well.
Paint markers are a good choice for when you’re trying to turn this wooden windmill craft into more of a personalized art project. It’s easier to add detail more precisely and kids will have more control.
If you’re crafting this with young kids, or in any setup where there is a concern with ruining clothing, use washable paint instead. They tend not to be as opaque, requiring more than one layer, but they still are loads of fun.
Another great mess-free alternative are the tempera paint sticks. The two brands I’ve tried and found to be good quality (fast-drying, good coverage, doesn’t get all mushy) are Ooly Chunkies and Kwik Stix.
The biggest drawback of this is that it’s hard to use on something small. You can also use Kwik Stix’s thin ones. I haven’t tried those (I suspect they might crack easier than the thick ones) but you can also just use a large base peg doll instead.
How to make a wooden windmill craft
Watch the full video
Supplies needed
- Wooden peg dolls
- Acrylic paint
- Small flat and fine tipped paintbrushes
- Recommended: plastic paint palette
- Stiff felt scraps
- Glue: E6000 or hot glue
- Detail scissors
- Thumbtack (adults only)
Step by Step Instructions
1. Paint a base coat on your peg doll. When it dries, add some pattern in a contrasting color.
2. Cut a small piece of felt. Mine is about 1.5×1.5 inches, but yours should depend on the size of your doll.
3. The following few steps involve thumbtacks and non-kid-friendly glue. An adult should complete it.
Fold the felt in four. Stick a thumbtack carefully in the corner to mark the center. Unfold.
4. Place the thumbtack into the hole you just made. Cut from each corner to the border of the thumbtack (or a bit before).
5. You have four triangle sections now. Use your thumbtack to pre-poke a hole in each of the right corners of your triangles (or the left – but it should all be the same.) Leave enough space that it won’t tear to the end, but not too much space.
6. This is the hardest part: fold over your four corners so that the holes align and push the thumbtack through the existing hole one layer at a time.
7. Pre-poke a hole in your peg doll and dip the end of your thumbtack into hot glue, E6000, or similar. Push the thumb tack through the hole and hold in place until set. Let dry completely.
I hope you enjoyed making this wooden windmill craft! What kind of tutorial do you want to see next? What else do you craft using peg dolls? Comment below!
DIY Wooden Windmill from Peg Dolls
Materials
- Wooden peg dolls
- Acrylic paint
- Small flat and fine tipped paintbrushes
- Recommended: plastic paint palette
- Stiff felt scraps
- Glue: E6000 or hot glue
- Detail scissors
- Thumbtack (adults only)
Instructions
1. Paint a base coat on your peg doll. When it dries, add some pattern in a contrasting color.
2. Cut a small piece of felt. Mine is about 1.5x1.5 inches, but yours should depend on the size of your doll.
The following few steps involve thumbtacks and non-kid-friendly glue. An adult should complete it.
3. Fold the felt in four. Stick a thumbtack carefully in the corner to mark the center. Unfold.
4. Place the thumbtack into the hole you just made. Cut from each corner to the border of the thumbtack (or a bit before).
5. You have four triangle sections now. Use your thumbtack to pre-poke a hole in each of the right corners of your triangles (or the left - but it should all be the same.) Leave enough space that it won't tear to the end, but not too much space.
6. This is the hardest part: fold over your four corners so that the holes align and push the thumbtack through the existing hole one layer at a time.
7. Pre-poke a hole in your peg doll and dip the end of your thumbtack into hot glue, E6000, or similar. Push the thumb tack through the hole and hold in place until set. Let dry completely.
