How to Make a DIY Spinner Prize Wheel!

 

How to Make a DIY Spinner Prize Wheel!

This simple DIY craft making a Spinner Prize Wheel will make you a Rockstar! Don't you just love spinning a prize wheel and hoping you land on the jackpot prize at the fair or other event? 

They are so much fun. I thought they would be fun for backyard parties, trunk-or-treats, events and even chores--so I invented this DIY version that you can make for all your events!

It features a dry erase surface, so all the prizes, activities or chores can be written on and then changed! 

This fun post is a throwback to 2013--when my kids were little and loved everything I did! This prize wheel is still being used a few times a year and is in great shape!

Anyone that has watched "The Wheel of Fortune" has longed to spin that giant prize wheel. 

When we went to the fair last summer, there were booths set up with smaller, but awesome prize wheels that the kids got to  spin...once. Only once? I vowed to remedy that.

Say hello to the DIY spinner prize wheel!  

Supplies for Spinner Prize Wheel:

Wooden Lazy Susan



Board slightly larger than the spinner
Wooden dowel, 1/2 inch wide and about 3 inches long
Zip Tie
1" nails

Dry Erase Vinyl



Acrylic Craft Paint/Paintbrush
Wooden 2" ball
Washi Tape

Tools Needed:

Drill Bit the size of the wooden dowel
E6000 glue
Hammer

Step 1: Dowel

Begin by setting the Lazy Susan on the board and marking where the wooden dowel should go. About 1 inch away from the Lazy Susan and off to the right side. 

Then drill about a 1/2" hole for the dowel to stick inside. Then paint the board and Lazy Susan with acrylic craft paint and let them dry.

 Next we need the dry erase vinyl.

Step 2: Dry Erase Vinyl

I've done these boards a few ways now, and this is the best way yet. 

Cut a piece of vinyl the size of the Lazy Susan and trace around it on the backside of the vinyl.

Then cut out the circle and cut an additional half inch or so from the edge. Then peel off the paper backing and place the vinyl on the top of the Lazy Susan.

It's not perfectly straight, but no big deal. 

Step 3: Washi Tape or Vinyl Strips

Next, use some fun Washi tape to make the section divisions. 

(The thinner strips of Washi tape, the better). Hot glue the ends of the washi tape down firmly.

Step 4: Small Nails

Next, hammer those 1 inch nails in between each "pie piece" section all around the lazy susan board. Let them stick up about 3/4th's the length of the nail. 

They just need to be tacked in enough to hold firmly in place.

Step 5: E6000

Now turn over the Lazy Susan and add E6000 Glue all over the part that sits on the table. 

Then press it into place on the wooden board and let it set for 4 hours...or to be safe, overnight.

Be patient and don't try to spin it until it's completely dry. Trust me on this!

Step 6: Zip Tie

Scrunch a zip tie onto the top of the dowel...cut the zip tie so it is long enough to hit all the nails as they spin by! 

It also makes a very satisfying clicking sound--just like Wheel of Fortune!

Step 7: Center Knob

Now sand one side of the wooden ball smooth, so it sits firmly on the table. 

Then use E6000 to glue it in the center of the spinner wheel.

Tips and Tricks:

For the first spinner wheel I made, I cut these triangles out of the vinyl. It was hard to line them up perfectly and the tips of them lifted after a while. 

This is why I recommend the full vinyl with washi tape as outlined above.

Use a dry erase marker to write your hearts desires onto the triangles!

Have the kids spin the wheel from one nail or from the ball in the center. They will have a tendency to touch the dry erase vinyl and mess up the writing from time to time. 

It's an easy fix though--just keep those dry erase markers on hand!

Fun ideas to write on the spinner prize wheel:

• Chores  
• Things to do/places to go this summer
• 30 second activities (run, jump, crawl...)
• Church lessons
• Birthday party games
• Trunk-or-Treat
• Carnivals or Fundraiser prizes!

My kids love to play with it! 

I think they each spun the wheel 100 times---and did lots of jumping jacks, push-ups and army crawls without complaint!

Erases easily.  I wipe with a baby wipe. Wipe from the center to the edge. 

Sometimes the thin plastic sheet on the top of the vinyl starts to peel...no problems so far, but they will be easy to replace when they are too worn.

Ultimate Prize wheel!

In closing, if you make this, you will be the envy of your friends...

You'll get high 5's wherever you go...you'll be the coolest to your kids...

they will actually want to hang out with you...

because you're a totally awesome ROCKSTAR!

Like, Pin and Share!