Just some cardboard, rubber bands and wooden dowels is all you need to make this clever and impressive little toy. People love this. Amazing what you can make with just a bit of cardboard.

Definitely a fun project. And all you need is two small boxes. One is the base and the other is for the windmill.

This project is a good example of how cardboard can be used to make machinery. A rubber band acts as a belt and you make a couple of cardboard pulleys.

And I also have a Youtube video showing you how to make this project. It is at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for coming over to the website directly from Youtube! Will is working on this tutorial right now! But, the template is ready for you. Download it by clicking this link (it's a pdf) So you can get started right away. It's a pretty straightforward and easy build.

Earn a Certificate of Contribution!

If you make this project email me a picture! I will email you a certificate of contribution from stormthecastle.com You can print it up and hang it on the wall.

Tools and Materials

• 2 small boxes
• Glue or hot glue gun
• Several Rubber Bands
• Three dowels - one that is 12" long - one that is 6" long, and one that is 4" long

Let's start by making the structure of the Windmill.

Cut these 11 parts out and glue them together as you see below.

Measurements:

• A = 1 x12"
• B = 3 ¼ x 3 ¼"
• C = 5 ½ x 2 ½ x 1 ¾"
• D = 2 ¾" diameter
• E = 1 ½ x 1 ¾"
• F = 1 x 5"

Part A is a single piece of cardboard that is 1 x 12 inches. But make a cut every three inches in the top sheet of kraft paper so it can be easily folded into the shape of a square.

Part F is a single piece of cardboard that is 1 x 5". and we fillet it at every corrugation so it is easily formed into the curved shape. Fillet it by making a series of cuts just through the top layer of paper.

Note the direction of the corrugations in part F. They have to go in the same direction as the cuts you make. Otherwise it won't cut or bend correctly.

Once you have built the windmill glue it to the top of the other box and right up against one edge like this.

We want it up against the edge so we have room for the pulleys.

Now make the two pulleys. Each pulley is a stack of three with one small disk sandwiched by two large disks.

Pierce one pulley in the center with a six inch long dowel.

Then pierce that through the top of the windmill.

Pierce the longer dowel through the box like this. Insure it rotates freely.

Add a three inch long handle to the second pulley.

Glue it to the large dowel.

Make the vanes of the windmill

and glue it to the top dowel.

The grid in the picture is made of 1 inch squares. Each vane is about 4 inches in length.

Cut and tie together rubber bands.

And that's it! Your cardboard Windmill is complete!!

Watch the video showing it in action and showing you how to build it: