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THE PAPER HAND FAN IT'S A BREEZE!

For centuries, proper ladies of many nations have carried fancy fans. Some used their fans as a form of modesty, to hide their faces from the public. Others have employed their fans for more practical purposes, to cool themselves on hot days.

Before the advent of air conditionings, fans were ever-present at warm-weather gatherings. Ladies even improvised and used printed church bulletins to fan their faces. Politicians and other promoters printed their advertising slogans on paper fans and distributed them at crowded events for added publicity.

Here's how to make three popular paper fan designs.

THE SIMPLEST PAPER FAN

You can create a simple fan from a small piece of cardboard and a short stick. A popsicle stick or tongue depressor is ideal. Cut the cardboard into any desired shape: a heart, butterfly, flag, fish or whatever you choose. (Bear in mind that a broader design will create the most functional fan.)

Decorate the cardboard with paint, markers, stickers, wrapping paper scraps or any other adornments. Use your imagination, and have fun with it!

Glue the wooden stick to the back of your fan, leaving a sturdy handle below it. Allow the fan to dry completely before waving it.

THE BASIC FOLDED PAPER FAN

The most rudimentary folded fan can be made from a rectangular piece of paper. An 8 1/2" by 11" sheet of copy paper will do. Heavier card stock or even a single sheet of construction paper is ideal.

Place the paper on a counter or flat surface, laying it out vertically (up and down). Beginning at the top, fold down one inch of the paper, all the way across. Crease it well.

Flip the paper over, with the new fold at the top. Fold down one inch of paper (now two thicknesses, including the last fold). Crease it well.

Flip the paper over, with the new fold at the top. Fold down one inch of paper (now three thicknesses, including the last fold). Crease it well.

Continue this process,) until the entire sheet is folded, back and forth, like an accordion.

Pick up the folded sheet, holding the creases closed at one end. Fasten it with a stapler or a metal brad tack. Open the pleats at the other end.

You have a fan!

THE FANCY PAPER FAN

This fan is slightly more elaborate. These instructions will produce two fancy paper fans.

You will need a larger piece of card stock or construction paper. The oversized 11" by 17" sheets work well. You will also need about two dozen flat wooden sticks. Long popsicle sticks are super!

Fold the paper in half across its length. Fold it in half again across its length, to make a small square. Hold the folded center point in one hand. Use scissors to round out the other edges.

Cut a rounded hole at the folded center point.

Open out the paper. Cut it in half across the center to produce two long and thin arches.

Fold each of these back-and-forth (like the Basic Paper Folded Fan).

Open out the folds, and glue a stick to the back of each folded pleat. Glue all of the sticks together at the bottom to form the fan handle. (If you want your fan to open and close, you can drill or punch a hole through the sticks and fasten them together with a metal brad tack instead of glue.

Learn more about this author, Linda Ann Nickerson.
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