How to Make Paper Fans for a Wedding

Depending on the climate or the time of year, paper fans can be the perfect accessory to a wedding. Fans can help keep guests cool on a hot summer day and can double as the wedding program or a favor for guests to take home. Paper fans are inexpensive to make and allow you to get your creative juices flowing, adding a personal touch on your big day.

Things You'll Need

• Paint stick
• Glue
• White paint
• Card stock
• Ribbon
• Picture (optional)

Instructions

1. Decide on the photo and/or writing you want to put on the fans. Both black and white, and color pictures look good.

2. Decide what shape you want your fan to be. A popular shape is a heart, or you could use a simple rectangle. To get your shape, use an 8.5- by 11-inch piece of paper. Cut a heart shape or round off the corners to make a soft rectangle. You can also fold the piece of paper in half to make a smaller fan.

3. Play around with your sample fan to see where the lettering and picture looks best. You can leave one side blank, or you can put the picture on one side and the wording on the other side.

4. Look at your paint sticks. Depending on where you bought them, they may have the writing on them. If so, you can paint them white and set them aside to dry.

5. Visit a copy center. Have copies made of your lettering and picture on card stock. White or cream card stock always looks good, or you can choose a color used in the wedding. Make sure if you are only printing on one side of your fan that you purchase enough card stock to add a back.

6. Cut the card stock into your shape for both sides of your fan.

7. Lay the front face down and put glue on one side of the paint stick. Press in firmly to the center of your page.

8. Spread glue on the still face down page and the other side of the paint stick. Place the other side of your fan on the glue, face up. Line pages up at the edges. Spread your hands over the pages to smooth out any creases and excess glue. Set them aside to dry.

9. Wrap ribbon around the fan where the stick meets the paper. Tie in a bow and put a dab of glue under the knot to keep the ribbon in place.

Tips & Warnings

• The paint stick should be positioned near the top of your page to make a sturdy fan. The ribbon will look good in a color from the wedding.