Paper Fan Swap-International-red, white, and blue

World Wide must have a rating of 4+ with no "no sends" in the past 2 months. NEWBIES WELCOME!!

I would love to receive more!! I have a wall I am decorating it with fans.

My husband makes templates from Lexan (hard plastic). If you want one I can send it to you for the cost of postage. The Lexan template makes it so much easier to make sure you trace it right and get the same size. Its great to have if you plan to do alot of these fans. I know I plan to host alot..lol I now have 4 sizes!! POSTAGE FOR TEMPLATES $3 USA... other countries please email me first. My address is Nathalie Kabela 15866 W Washington st Goodyear AZ 85338 BE SURE TO PUT NOTE SAYING FOR FAN TEMPLATES. You can send PAYPAL payment to grumpybear@milk.toast.net be sure to give your address.

I hope you enjoy this swap as much as I do! I plan to do them in many themes all year long! If you have a theme you wish for me to do let me know and I will try to set one up.

I am always willing to set up PRIVATE SWAPS. I know beginners are affraid of being judged... Have me set up a private swap. I don't judge since I know you are starting out. I am just glad you are trying something new.

Happy Swapping.

Nathalie-DecoPalace ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING FANS!! (I CAN EMAIL YOU THE DIRECTIONS WITH PICTURES/EXAMPLES JUST ASK) http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/fan.htm is where I learned to do the fan from. Feel free to check it out the way they do it. PRINT TEMPLATE THERE IF NOT ORDERING FROM ME..

Print template at 5 7/8" long by 1 7/8" wide or get Lexan template from me. This size will fit nicely on your Washi papers.

Take cardstock and trace the lexan template. Hold pencil toward the lexan template on cardstock. Then take Washi (origami) paper or any fancy paper and trace (ON BACK SIDE) the lexan template, hold pencil up right this time. If you don’t hold the pencil right the top paper will be to short and show the card stock. TIP..You can also use cardstock that is the same color as your washi or fancy paper. You will want 5 or 7 blades. I feel an odd number looks best.

Once you get those traced. Cut out. Then glue card stock to underside of your Washi or fancy paper. TIP.. you can use a sticker machine on Washi paper but not on thinner papers unless you lay it down PERFECT the first time. With glue you can “slide" it into the right place. Just first lay it down lightly and line up at top. Then on sides. If some cardstock shows on the bottom its alright. You can hide that by putting a perfect one as the top blade. LET DRY, I put a heavy book on the blades while drying.

Now punch holes for the “handle". I use either a paper puncher or brad punch. Use the size best to suit your needs. If you are going to tie ribbon/yarn as the handle the paper punch will be fine. If you are using a brad then use a brad punch of the right size to fit your brad. Make sure to line holes up.. The way I line holes up.. I stack mine.. I always use the first one I punched as a template to punch others. I line up the tool with the hole in the top one and it sets it in the right place for all the blades.

Embellish the top-side how ever you wish. You can do this before or after the next step. Some times its easier to do it before. I like to use rubber stamped images or magazine pictures or stickers.

Attach your brad. I like to put yarn on the back-side before I fold down the tabs on the brad. Look in your yarn department at Jo-Ann’s Craft store. I don’t get the typical yarn. I get the “Jo-Ann Sensations Confetti Yarn" or “Jo-Ann Sensations Peacock Yarn" or “Jo-Ann Sensations Sprinkles Yarn" or “Bernat® Boa Yarn" or “Bernat® Eyelash Yarn". Tip.. look for coupons in Sundays news papers! They except competitor coupons!

Get silk ribbon ¼" or ½". Make sure its NOT wired or shear! Now take your ribbon and cut in lengths of 1 3/4". You will need the same amount of ribbons cut, as you will have blades.

Turn the fan so the bottom side is down. Moving from right to left, spread the blades out evenly so that there is no space between the blades. (When you are done, the topmost blade should be to your left.) Be sure blades don’t move while doing this. When I first started I used a stapler sitting on top. Now I use the mini clothes pins.

Glue one end of the ribbon to the "." on the top blade. Continue gluing the ribbon to the "." on each blade. Allow to dry completely. Fold the fan closed. The ribbon will fold up between the blades. The ribbon will hold the fan “open" and not let the blades fall together if you want it left open to hang on the wall. I take one of the ribbons and fold it in half (I use a mini clothes pin to hold it that way until glue dries) and glue to the middle blade near the top. TIP make sure ribbon doesn’t show above blade. This is your hanger so it hangs on a nail on the wall.

THE SMALLEST BLADE SIZE IS 1 inch by 3 inches long, WHICH MY HUSBAND NO LONGER MAKES IN TEMPLATES BUT MY FAVORITE SIZE.