How to Make a Hand Held Bridal Fan
A hand-held bridal fan is a great accessory for an outdoor wedding. Not only can it be used to commemorate the day or as a wedding favor, but it is also a useful way to help your guests cool themselves on a hot day. Bridal fans can be expensive to purchase, so making your own can cut down on wedding expenses.
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Things You'll Need
- Computer with printer
- Heavy card stock
- Wooden paint sticks
- Craft glue
- Ribbon
- White paint (optional)
Instructions
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1
Decide on how you would like to decorate your hand-held bridal fan. Using a photograph of the bride and groom, such as an engagement photograph, is popular, as is including a monogram or simply the bride and groom's names and wedding date.
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2
Work out the layout and wording. The easiest way to do this is on your computer with a program like Photoshop, which lets you add your image and place the text for your fan. If you do not have access to Photoshop, you can use a Microsoft Word document and choose the page layout option to get the size you want. Then, cut and paste your photograph and add text to it. Alternatively, you can enlarge the photograph you want to use and have a copy shop print it onto your card stock. However, if you want to add your own wording for further personalization, you will need access to a computer.
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3
Select the shape you want to use--square is probably the easiest. As a guideline, a 7x9 inch fan is the ideal size for guests. You can customize your page size in either Photoshop or Word and add a border so that it is much easier when it comes time to cut it out.
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Choose the type and color of cardstock. Make sure it is a heavyweight card stock. Select a color that will coordinate well with your wedding colors, or white is a versatile choice.
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5
Work out how many guests will be attending so that you can calculate how many fans you require. You will need to double that number as you will be gluing two pieces together to make a front and a back.
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Once you have printed out your design, take it to a copy shop to have them print it onto your card stock. If you have a large number, they may be able to cut them out for you, too, to save you from cutting them to size by hand.
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You can purchase wooden paint sticks at any hardware store. You can either paint these white or leave them as they are. If you paint them, allow them to thoroughly dry before attaching them to the printed card stock.
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Take two of your cut card stock designs and lightly glue the non-printed sides. Place the paint stick onto the glue with at least 2 inches sticking directly onto the card. Hold the two sides together firmly to attach securely.
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Cut a piece of 12 inch ribbon to tie around the top of your wooden stick where it meets the fan. Add a dab of glue to secure in place.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are on a budget, consider using one piece of card stock per guest instead of gluing a front and back together.
Instead of using a photograph or other decorative image, you could use the fan as a wedding program.
Place the fans in a wicker basket at the wedding before handing out to guests.
