How to Make Paper Fans

Victorian Fans by Diantha Cleveland

My mother and I made fans out of wallpaper. We cut a square or circle the size we wanted and then folded the paper accordion style. You then glue or staple one end to be the bottom of the fan. Next, we decorated the fans with scraps of lace, beads, flowers or whatever was in the scrap box. We made these fans to decorate the walls of some of the rooms in the local nursing home and the residents loved them. We also made butterflies the same way. We cut the wallpaper in different size squares, folded them accordion style and then used a pipe cleaner to crimp the center creating the two wings. The ends of the pipe cleaner then became the antennas. Once again, we decorated them with scraps of lace, beads, etc. Just experiment and have fun. You'll surprise yourself with what you come up with.

Large Wall Fans by Kim Athans

For large fans, use old mini-blinds and fabric or wallpaper. Lay the blinds out and hot glue the fabric or wallpaper to the slats and carefully drill a hole in the end of them to connect them. You could even color coordinate the mini-blinds.

Fans for a Wedding by Karen Dalton

When our daughter was married, she wanted fans to place on the tables and on the posts of the tent for the reception. I went to a wallpaper store and purchased a pattern of wallpaper in the color she had chosen for her wedding. I then cut strips the size I wanted for the fans. We made small and large ones, and then accordion pleated them and placed a rubber band around the bottom. When they were fanned out, I had a beautiful fan, and then placed a flower by the stem to the bottom of the fan. We were able to place one in the middle of the table and placed the large ones on the posts. It was a beautiful sight.

Wallpaper Fans by Anonymous

I had left over wallpaper and made the prettiest fans for hanging on the walls with glued on silk flowers, shells, etc. To make, cut a piece of wallpaper approximately 1 yard wide and cut another piece approximately 3 - 4 inches wide (this will be used at bottom of fan to gather). Using yard wide piece, fold 2 inches from end, turn over, fold 2 inches from end of last fold, turn over, and continue to fold 2 inch sections turning over each time until entire pieces is folded accordion style in 2 inch sections. Use the 3-4" piece to wrap around gathers at the bottom and glue in place. Spread out the accordion folds at the other end to make fan and glue a paint stir stick onto back to hold the fan open, or to hang when done. On the front of the fan, glue silk flowers, etc. for decoration. For extra fancy fans, use two or more contrasting pieces of wallpaper and layer one on top of other coming down 6" from top and then start folding.