There are many types of fans, both decorative and functional.
Once a necessity for portable cooling, handheld fans are now as much a decorative or fashion accessory as they are a practical item. Whether you intend to make them as a children's craft, costume piece or wall hanging, hand fans are an artisan project befitting a wide variety of experience levels and styles.
Children's Folding Fan
Create a simple version of a folding fan as a children's art project. Use a printer-size sheet of paper (8 1/2 x 11 inches) and fold it lengthwise into a series of folded 3/4-inch strips, alternating the direction of the stacked folds to create an accordion effect. Staple the bottom of the folded strip, and fan out the top. Teach this basic folding technique to children, and encourage them to decorate their pages of paper before folding them to create decorative fans.
Paddle Fan
Make a paddle fan for functional or decorative use. Cut a round or semi-round, semi-square piece of balsa wood using a craft knife. Use this as your canvas, painting with acrylic, enamel (for a shiny image) or oil. Create a handle from a 5-inch long, 1/2-inch diameter craft dowel, cutting a slot in the end using an oscillating power tool. Slide the bottom edge of the balsa wood into this, and glue it in place. Paint the handle black.
Folding Fan
Famous for both its Asian and Spanish incarnations, folding fans are made from wooden or plastic slats that are connected to each other via a pin or needle joining the slats at a bottom. Each slat is also attached to a curved strip of cloth or paper at the top, which folds when the slats are joined. Fabricate this design using wooden craft sticks or slats made from balsa wood. Drill or poke holes in the bottom of the wood and thread them through with thick craft wire. Form the shape of the top of the fan by spreading out the slats over the material, using their shape to fabricate the proper material shaped to fit before attaching the paper or cloth with white craft glue.
Feather Fan
Feather fans are a stunning, luxurious-looking take on the traditional folding fan shape, but are often too ornate and delicate to fold. You can also using a paddle fan shape. Use long, thick feather-like peacock quills, ostrich feathers, or turkey or duck tail feathers; avoid down feathers or other short feathers. Attach the feathers to the end of a paddle fan made with a shorter paddle or at the top of the slats of a folding fan.
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