Party Inspiration - Pinwhirls Customer Photos

We love the beautiful and creative ways that our customers use Pinwhirls.com products. Our pinwheels have appeared in a lot of special events since we started creating them, and we wanted to show them off while at the same time giving you inspiration for the perfect decor at your next birthday party, wedding, baby shower or holiday party.

Carnival Pinwheels
Our carnival themed papers make fun and whimsical favors and decorations. If you like these, you'll definitely want to check out our Vintage Carnival Themed photo set on Flickr.

Custom Handheld Carnival Pinwheels
Photos Courtesy of Michelle K.

Red, White & Blue Cake Toppers
This cake is festively decorated and looks absolutely delish! Red, white & blue customer Pinwhirls are great for 4th of July celebrations, armed forces homecomings, cookouts, outdoor parties and more.

Courtesty of Michelle Kraft @ partiesbymimi.blogspot.com/

Black & White Wedding Pinwhirls
Michael and Taryn's stunning black and white pinwheels were photographed beautifully by Anthony DeCarlo. We're so glad they shared them with us!

from the Wedding of Taryn & Michael Fabian July 2, 2011
Photos were taken by Anthony DeCarlo of DeCarlo Photo www.decarlophoto.com

Peony Pinwheels
Our Peony style pinwheels are another customer favorite, and we love what Michelle did with these party favors. With a hundreds of custom printed papers, we can make a peony pinwheel for any theme.

Custom Handheld Baby Shower Peony Pinwheels
Photos Courtesy of Michelle B.

Flower Girl Pinwheels
These are two of the most adorable flower girls we've seen, and we love that they're walking down the aisle with pinwheels. Our Pinwhirls creations are as pretty as flowers, but they last much longer.

Flower Girl Pinwheels Photo Courtesy of Whitney F.

Save on Your Order
You can save on your next Pinwhirls.com order when you submit your special event photos. Get all the details on our Promotions page.

Valentine's Day Wedding Tips & Ideas

Valentine's Day is popular day to get married. And why not? A day already filled with love and romance is the perfect time to start the rest of your lives together. If you're looking for ways to plan a Valentine's Day wedding while keeping the event fun and fresh and not too cliche, we've got some great wedding planning tips for you!

Use Red or Pink as an Accent Color

Instead of using red and pink together as your main color, try black and white with small accents of either red or pink for your attire and wedding decor. Overdoing it on the red and pink can look kitschy and old fashioned. If you're look for a modern classic, try grey, white and burgundy or grey, white, and petal pink.

Use Floral Centerpieces

Valentine's Day and flowers go hand-in-hand. For your centerpieces, try a floral arrangement or even a single flower in a crystal vase. Roses are classic, but stargazer lilies and daisies are also great choices. It al depends on the mood you want to set for your reception.

Avoid Using Too Many Hearts

Yes, it's a Valentine's Day wedding, but that doesn't mean you have to bombard your guests with hearts galore. For something more subtle try heart necklaces for the bridesmaids, wedding favors (like our Pinwhirls made with Heart Day Papers) with a heart-shaped pattern, or a single heart on the place cards. Just avoid the temptation to put them everywhere.

Use Valentines for Invitations or Place Cards

We love the idea of invitations and place cards that look like retro Valentine's Day cards. Depending on your personal preferences, you may want to choose something lacy and Victorian. Or if your style is more casual and fun, bring back your Valentine's Day cards from when you were a kid with well-known characters and gobs of bright colors.

Give Away Sweet Wedding Favors

Homemade conversations hearts, Godiva chocolates, sachets of personalized M&Ms. There are lots of different ways to sweeten up your guests' wedding favors.

Did you have a Valentine's Day wedding? How did you incorporate the holiday into your special event?

Nicolette & Alex: A Pinwheel Beach Wedding

This real wedding is near and dear to me as it's my youngest sister, Nicolette's wedding.  When she let me know that she'd like to include pinwheels in her big day of course I jumped for joy and then I sat her down and seriously asked if she was wanting to include them only to be 'nice' to her big sister or if she actually truly wanted them in her wedding. You see, as the owner of a business that specializes in personalized pinwheels, I never know if my friends/family really want to integrate my products or if they are trying to be kind by doing me and the business a favor. :)  But, thankfully in my sister's case, she was getting married on the beach in Amelia Island, Fl and was envisioning a fun rather than a formal wedding.  Pinwheels in a beach setting scream fun so we moved ahead with the planning details. She didn't envision her wedding being totally pinwheel centered rather just hints of pinwheels here and there. I designed custom papers to go with her color scheme of yellow, pink, orange and slight green accents. They can be viewed here. These papers were used to create her custom pinwheels.  Pinwheels were included on her Save the Date, on wedding signage, in bridal bouquets, as boutonnieres, as beach decor, as cake decor,  and also as part of the napkin ring.


My sister asked all three of us sister's to be her bridesmaids.  {I'm in the yellow.} We included both large handheld pinwheels and pinwheel picks in our bouquets.  We assembled the bouquets in the very early hours of her wedding day. Did I mention that we aren't florists and don't have experience making bouquets yet here we were at 3 am trying to assemble bouquets? I started out making them as I once took a couple hour class on how to assemble flower arrangements so at least I had some experience - or so I thought. Hehe. To say my first attempt looked horrible is a huge understatement. Looking back, I wish I'd snapped a photo.  It was the ugliest bouquet I've ever seen.  A few months after the fact, it seems rather laughable, but let me tell you in that moment, I almost had a severe panic attack as they were just looking so wrong and we had very little time to correct them.  Thankfully my oldest sister, Erin, took over and perfected the bouquet process just a couple short hours before we had to head over to the reception site to decorate the morning of the wedding.  Moral of the story: Even though things worked out in the end, do not go the diy route at the last minute.  At least create them the day before or even better hire a florist to create the bouquet and have he/she insert the pinwheels for you. :)


Our peony yard pinwheels were placed into tins filled with grass and gerber daisies to line the wedding aisle.  The tins were filled to the brim with sand to keep them weighted down.

A close-up of the bridal bouquet.

And a close-up of my bridesmaid bouquet.

It was a pleasure being such an integral part of one of the biggest days of my sister's life! 

To view more photos of her big day including her fun manzanita branch centerpieces, fingerprint tree guest book, and Jones Soda Escort Card table, just click here.

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Photos courtesy of Bliss and Whimsy Photography.

Carrie & Sean: Happy Wedding Day

I began working with Carrie, an Australian Bride, back in June of 2010 on pinwheels for her September wedding. From the colors and designs selected, I just knew that her wedding was going to be a happy and whimsical garden affair. Fast forward to July of this year ... I received an email from Carrie letting me know that her wedding was featured in Cosmo Bride Australia's My Day. Yay! One look at their wedding photos, and I began to learn why. It was filled to the brim with lots of unique, fun, and whimsical handmade items - lots of them from Etsy. For more photos, of their happy day visit MissPrintDesign. 

We provided Carrie and Sean with Large Handheld Pinwheels, which they scattered amongst the walkways and gardens.

We also provided them with handheld pinwheels which they placed into pitchers.

Didn't they make the cutest centerpieces?
I especially loved the seating - long, narrow tables instead of the traditional rounds. 
Thanks Carrie and Sean for allowing us to feature your wedding on our site. Thanks also to their photographer, You Can't Be Serious, for allowing us to feature their beautiful photos.

Pinwhirl Party Recipies

Soy Cheese Pinwhirls via norwichnuts 

We have a real treat for you today! We're linking up to some of our very favorite party recipes around the web. The really cool part? All of the recipes are for eye-catching and scrumptious pinwheels (or Pinwhirls, as we like to call them around here!)

Pinwheel appetizers make great party food. If you're looking for something to take and share or something to compliment your dinner party menu, why not try giving one of these tasty recipes a try?

California Pinwheel Sandwiches: Just five simple ingredients make these a cinch to whip up in your kithchen: ham, cheese, pickles, bread, and California dip.

Pizza Pinwheels: Put a new "spin" on a classic favorite with pizza pinwheels. This recipe serves 8 and can easy be doubled or tripled if you are making them for a large party or get-together.

Poppy Seed Pinwheels: This recipe comes from Food Network's Paula Deen. Chives, cream cheese, garlic, parsley, and poppy seeds give these a distinct flavor.

Bacon Cheddar Pinwheels: It's hard to resist the savory combination of bacon and cheddar. These pinwheel apps come straight from the Pillsbury kitchen.

Italian Calzone Pinwheels: These mini calzones are similar to a pizza calzone, but they are paired with a fun and tasty dipping sauce. They're sure to be a hit with kids and grown-ups alike.

Cranberry Cream Cheese Pinwheels: With cranberries in this recipe, these sweet and yummy pinwheels would be an excellent treat for the holidays. But they're so delicious you might not want to wait.

Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels: Every game night of sports party is better with Buffalo sauce! These delightfully scrumptious pinwheels are sure to be a hit with all the guys.

So what do you think? Will any of these recipes end up in your recipe box? Do you have a favorite pinwheel appetizer recipe to share with? Blog about it and leave your link in the comments below.

Use the Pinwheel Theme for Dessert too!

Fun and Safe Tips for Celebrating this 4th of July

Summer is our favorite time of year here at Pinwhirls. With the 4^th of July just a couple of weeks away, we thought it would be a great time to share some backyard party and cookout tips. As always, we'd love for you to share your tips and ideas (or just tell us what you've got planned this 4^th of July) with us in the comments.

Fireworks: Make Your Celebration Fun for All Ages

Adults and children alike love the fun of fireworks. Sparklers are always a great hit, but sometimes little ones are scared of these fireworks or they're just too young to handle them on their own. For the younger kids, we recommend handing out summer toys like our Pinwhirls pinwheels. The twirling motion will be captivating, entertaining, and safe. Plus the kids can take them home when the party is over.

Be Weather-Wise

July can really be hot and muggy. Beat the heat at your party, cookout or picnic by seeking out shaded locations for your event. Or you can create your own shade with tents, awnings, or patio umbrellas. 

Bring plenty of sunscreen. If you're going to be poolside this July 4^th, monitor how long you're in the water. Many sunscreens need to be reapplied in order to offer full protection.

Remember Food Safety

The extreme heat can make your favorite foods spoil quickly. Make sure your cookout or picnic foods are safe to eat. If you need to brush up on your food safety tips, visit FoodSafety.gov. Right now, they're highlighting Barbecue Basics.

If you're looking for recipe ideas, we recommend stopping by the Real Simple website and checking out their Cooler-Friendly Picnic Recipes. They've compiled a list of 14 yummy recipes that are great for picnics or cookouts.

So what are your plans for the 4^th of July holiday weekend?

6 DIY Tips for Planning Weddings on a Budget

Do-it-yourself – or DIY – options can be a great way to optimize your wedding planning budget. If you want to have the perfect wedding with money to spare for the honeymoon, we've got some tips for you!

Most brides don't have unlimited wedding funds, and they have to plan their ceremony, reception, and honeymoon on a strict budget. And sometimes it can be difficult to find that perfect medium where your dreams and your limited financial resources aren't constantly at odds with each other.

Many brides learn how to steal a little from one line in their budget in order to splurge a little in another and you can put this practice to use too. For instance, when you find the perfect dress but it's $250 over your dress budget, you might find that you can make up the difference by saving money on things like flowers or makeup.

6 DIY Tips to Save Money on Your Wedding


Wedding Flowers – Silk flowers can be arranged by a novice because they hold up to the trimming, placing, and arranging it takes to get a bouquet just right. Plus they are cheaper than fresh flowers and can even be sold or donated when you're finished with them. Look for pictures of arrangements you like, and duplicate your favorite styles. However, give yourself plenty of time to work on your arrangements so that your finished product is something you truly love.

Wedding Favors – Look for items to enhance your guest tables that you can craft on your own to save money. We don't mean to brag, but we think our DIY Pinwhirl kits aren't just classy and fun, they are an affordable way to create beautiful favors for your wedding!

Wedding Invitations – You don't have to go through an overpriced printer to have customized invitations. With specialty paper and a home printer you can create your own wedding invitations or save the date cards.

Cupcakes – If you're a bride who likes less conventional wedding desserts, you can try making and decorating your own cupcakes. The cakes freeze well so you can plan ahead, and icing them is much easier than decorating the traditional tiered wedding cake. After some practice, you can decorate like a pro. (Check out some great cupcake recipes and toppers.)

Wedding Makeup – We know not every bride wants to do her own makeup. However, if you're willing to skip on some extra pampering, you can save money by foregoing the cost of a professional makeup artist. Get a free makeover at a cosmetic retailer, buy the necessary items in your colors, and apply it yourself or ask a friend or family member to help you with the application if you're too jittery with nervous energy.

Photomontage – Compile your own photomontage rather than hiring your photographer or videographer to handle the job. With today's technology it's easy to put together a slide show or video on your home PC.

What DIY wedding planning ideas can you think of to help brides save big on their special day?

Spin in for Some Fun!

You're Invited to spin in for some fun as our little Gabriel turns one!
To celebrate my little Gabers TURNING the big ONE we threw him a precious pinwheel themed party.

I can't believe that my little baby, pictured above, is already TURNING one. The first year really WHIRLED by!

In the above photo he is patiently awaiting for his party guests to arrive - poor guy was trapped in his chair while mommy and daddy ran around finishing all of the details.

Pinwheel themed Save the Dates, Invites, and Thank You cards were designed to coordinate with the pinwheel theme.

Guests were greeted by whirling yardwhirls lining the sidewalk and a pinwheel wreath on the door. Personalized pinwheels included the phrase 'Gabriel is turning one!' on the quadrants.

Traditional and double peony pinwheels in the party colors of green, light blue, turquoise, grey, and chocolate brown were scattered around to make our home more festive.

Custom pinwheels were also stuck into white tin buckets filled with freshly grown wheat grass.

Several memo boards were scattered around the dining area featuring our favorite photos of Gabe throughout his first year. Party pennants were strung to add to the atmosphere.

The above memo board features 11 photos of Gabe - each one taken on the third of each month at exactly 12:08 pm (his official birth date). All photos were taken in the same rocker in his nursery and were posed with Mr. Bear. As Gabe grew bigger throughout the year the bear magically grew smaller. (I borrowed this idea from Laura.)

Food items included easy to eat items including pinwheel sandwiches and twirly antipasto pasta salad.

All 20 guests were offered fun party hats from our Pennant and Party Hat Tower. Guests drank their lime-aid (with blueberries for a blue touch) from green and white striped paper straws. The custom flags helped everyone keep track of their drinks throughout the afternoon.

Instead of cake, key lime cupcakes with key lime cream cheese icing were served. And yes, the personalized pinwheel cupcake toppers actually whirl!

As you can tell, Gabe enjoyed his yummy cupcake!

And best of all - he had a great time with all of his Aunties, Uncles, and Cousins.

After the party, it occurred to me that my little guy is really not that little anymore and I started to think back on all of our great memories from the past year. Thinking back on all of his firsts brought a few tears to my eyes. I know that there are many more great moments ahead, but the past year has also been very bittersweet. I love you my funny little honey bun!

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For more photos and larger view of any of the above click here.

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Pinwheels, Party Hats, Pennants, Banners, and Invites - Pinwhirls

Striped Straws and Pennants - Pebbles in My Pocket

Tie and Suspender Onesie - BK Chic Boutique

Wheat Grass - Genesis Wheatgrass

Pinwhirl Party Favorites: Top 5 Unique Cupcake Recipes

We dedicate this page to some of our favorite people—the do-it-yourself party planners. We’ve paired some truly unique cupcake recipes with our themed Pinwhirl paper designs so that you can plan a party with the perfect cupcake AND the perfect cupcake topper.

Creamsicle Cupcakes from Woman’s Day

With creamy and dreamy flavors of orange and vanilla, the orange juice and orange zest will remind you of one of your favorite summertime treats. We think these cupcakes are great for a child’s birthday, a summer birthday, or even a family picnic. Pair them with our Pinwhirl toppers or an extra special dessert. Suggested pinwheel paper designs: Circus Papers

Mojito Cupcakes from Cream Puffs in Venice

These cupcakes will cater to your adult party sensibilities. With the distinct flavors of rum, lime, and mint you’ll be carried away to Miami. The macadamia crackle and rum syrup put these cupcakes over the top. We think they’re the perfect cupcake for a rehearsal dinner or an outdoor wedding. Suggested pinwheel paper designs: Zag Papers

Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes from Moogie & Pap

There isn’t anything quite like dessert inspired dessert! Moogie & Pap’s Cherry Coke Float cupcakes feature real Coca-Cola and maraschino cherries and syrup. We think these cupcakes make the perfect treat for a Sweet 16. Suggested pinwheel paper designs: Summertime Papers

Chipotle Cinnamon Chocolate Cupcakes from Vanilla Garlic

Dark chocolate, cinnamon and the spicy kick of chipotle puree make these cupcakes a must for those times when you want dessert to be an adventure. Kick off your bachelorette party or a 21^st birthday with these spicy-sweet cakes. Also the perfect anniversary or Valentine’s Day cupcake. Suggested pinwheel paper designs: Love Papers

Chocolate Whiskey and Beer Cupcakes from Smitten Kitchen

The Guinness and Bailey’s in these cupcakes give them a distinct flavor that pairs perfectly with the cocoa powder and cream. We think these delicious cupcakes are tasty and festive or a retirement party, holiday party, or birthday party. Suggested pinwheel paper designs: Customizable Papers

5 Creative Things You Can Do with Pinwhirl Pinwheels

Have you seen the little pig in that Geico commercial holding pinwheels out the window of an SUV while he screams "Wheeee!" in sheer delight? That's how we feel about pinwheels too!

The really great thing about our Pinwhirl items is that they can be used for so much. Here are a few fun ways that you can incorporate Pinwhirls in party decor and more!

1. Embellish a bouquet or floral arrangement.



2. Make a pinwheel boquet or centerpiece.



3. Make a Pinwhirl boutineer.

 


4. Create festive place cards.



4. Top cakes and cupcakes.



What creative uses can you come up with?

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To purchase items featured in this article, visit our Pinwhirls Online Shop. Brides, don’t miss out on our special offer! Learn how you can save 10% on your order.

How to Plan a Classroom Valentine’s Day Party

Classroom Valentine’s Day parties are so much fun, but it’s already February and you don’t have much time left to plan! We're here to help with fun tips for your child’s classroom party. We've got ideas ideas for everything from decorations to games and super sweet treats.

To pull off a great classroom party, make sure you have these 5 things covered:



Valentine’s Day Party Favors

There’s no such thing as a party without favors. At Pinwhirls, we’ve got you covered with pinwheels that are colorful and fun! Swirling, twirling hearts and spinning stripes can be used to decorate goodie bags or as Valentine’s Day cupcake toppers. Children love to make them spin. For older children, try our do it yourself pinwhirl kits.

Games & Crafts

The game or craft you choose will depend a lot on how much time you have, but you simply must have a fun activity planned for the kids! Some of our favorite crafts include making personalized Valentines to give to mom and dad, making woven paper hearts, and stamping fingerprint hearts.

If you need a simple but fun game for the whole class, how about a Valentine’s Day themed scavenger hunt? Send the kids searching for cupid, St. Valentine, red hearts, pink bows, flowers, stickers, markers, pencil toppers, and whatever else you can think of. Other activity ideas we like include making your own Valentine’s Day word searches and trivia games. Don’t forget the prizes!

Valentine’s Day Cards

The great thing about kids’ parties is that Valentine’s Day is pure fun. There’s no pressure. Everyone gives cards and everyone gets cards. You can make the cards with your child ahead of time using beautiful craft papers or buy a boxed set.

Pinwhirls make great Valentine Mailbox Decorations

Valentine Mailboxes

Creating customized mailboxes for all of those classroom Valentine’s is a lot of fun. Using markers, craft paper, glue, stickers, glitter, and more you can let the kids go crazy decorating shoe boxes, tissue boxes, instant oat canisters and more.


Sweet Treats

No party is complete without some yummy treats to share. Store bought treats like conversation heart candies and chocolate hugs and kisses are sure to please, but you can also try cupcakes and cookies. For an extra special party, prepare cupcakes and cookies ahead of time and let the kids decorate their sweets with frosting and candies.

Once you’ve got these five Valentine’s Day party ideas covered, you’re all set! May your Valentine’s Day be lovely and sweet!

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To purchase items featured in this article, visit our Pinwhirls Online Shop. Brides, don’t miss out on our special offer! Learn how you can save 10% on your order.

5 Tips for Planning a Summer Wedding

Photo courtesy Christine Lim and Ruby Yeo

Got your heart set on a summer wedding? We don’t blame you. It’s a beautiful time to say I do—whether your ceremony takes place at a picture-perfect park, at a sandy beach destination wedding, or in your own back yard garden.

Try these five tips for planning a perfect summer wedding.

Plan, plan, plan!

You won’t be the only bride arranging a summer wedding. Getting what you want sometimes means beating another couple to the deposit. We recommend planning a year ahead, if possible. Otherwise you might find that your reception venue is already booked. Also, start dress shopping immediately. You don’t want to fall in love with the perfect gown only to find you need a specially ordered size or require alterations.

Select your colors and theme.

Your life will be much easier if you select a color palette before you start shopping for bridesmaid dresses, wedding invitations, wedding favors, and flowers. It helps you narrow your choices and keeps those panicky I-can’t-make-a-decision feelings at bay. Alternatively, you might find color inspiration from a single must-have item, like a custom Pinwhirl. Bright colors are great for summer weddings, but shimmery pastels work too—especially for evening weddings. Don’t forget to select colors that will show well in pictures!

Narrow your food options.

When it comes to food, try lighter fare. You might opt for a buffet or a sit-down dinner, but don’t forget about food safety. Keep your guests’ comfort in mind if you’ll be eating outdoors. Excessive heat, bugs, and wind are all potential problems for the outdoor summer wedding. Picnics, barbecues, and seafood spreads make excellent catering choices for your summer wedding.


Choose decorations and favors.

Lots of summer weddings have cheery, whimsical themes that are perfect for favors with striking colors and fun shapes. Customized Pinwhirls make great favors, cake toppers and decorations. Set them atop your cupcakes for a fun and dramatic splash of color, or use pinwheels instead of traditional place cards for something unique.

Pick your flowers.

You shouldn’t have trouble selecting wedding flowers for a summer soiree unless you simply can’t make up your mind. There are so many beautiful flowers in season during the summer months. If your colors are bright and bold, try dahlias, roses, sunflowers, zinnias, orchids and calla lilies. If you want understated color and muted undertones, try white lilies, hydrangea, Shasta daisies, or white roses.

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To purchase items featured in this article, visit our Pinwhirls Online Shop. Brides, don’t miss out on our special offer! Learn how you can save 10% on your order.

Abby and Asher's Wedding: Pinwheels and Pennants

Abby and Asher's (pictured above) Australian wedding was just beautiful, and they were kind enough to share photos of their special day with me.

Abby opted for the do-it-yourself pinwheel kits and assembled the custom wedding favors herself. A huge task since she literally ordered hundreds. We started working together in early summer, getting the details in place for her November wedding.

Small Handheld Pinwhirls

Cupcakes with Custom Cupcake Topper Pinwheels

Handheld Pinwheels

Pinwhirl Path

Pennants Adorn the Gazebo

For more about this wedding you can visit Abby's blog, Something About Dinosaurs.
Also, many thanks to the photographers, Christine Lim and Ruby Yeo for allowing us to highlight their photos on our blog.

Browse our online shop at Pinwhirls.com for custom pinwhirls, pennants, invitations, kits, and more.