Fan-Shaped Books
To make your fan-shaped book, you’ll need:
- From Ten Two Studios, a fan book set. For my samples, I used the Rossetti Fire, Marie Portraits, and Stage Stars sets.
- Two sheets of white cardstock for printing. (One sheet for small fans.)
- Two sheets of colored cardstock for backings. (One sheet for small fans.)
- A glue stick.
- A button with a small shank.
- A hole punch.
- Ribbons.
Print the pieces you want to use for your fan on cardstock. Roughly cut away the excess around the fan blades, keeping them connected.
Glue the blades onto colored cardstock.
Cut out the blades. I find it easiest to roughly cut them into individual pieces, and then cut each blade with small scissors.
Punch the holes in each blade as indicated, using a standard hole punch. If you want to decorate the blades, do it now—but remember to keep your decorating relatively flat, so the blades will slide open when the fan is assembled.
Arrange the blades in the order you’d like them to appear, and stack them in that order, matching the holes.
Make sure the shank of the button you’ve chosen fits into the holes. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go all the way through, but do make sure the button will lay flat against the first blade.
Cut two pieces of ribbon, and thread them through the shank of the button. I found a bamboo skewer helped me poke the ribbon ends through the tiny hole. Slide the button to the center of the ribbons, gather up the ends, and thread them through the stack of blades.
Pull the ribbons all the way through, so the button is flat against the first blade.
Grab half the ribbons from the back of the fan, and wrap them forward, in front of the last blade.
Pull those same ribbons all the way down to the center bottom of the fan.
Grab the rest of the ribbons, and wrap them forward, sliding them between the first and second blades.
Pull those same ribbons down to the bottom center of the fan.
This is what the back side of the ribbon closure looks like if you’ve done it correctly.
Gather all the ribbons together at the bottom center, and tie them in a knot, snug agains the bottom of the fan.
Trim the tails to the desired length.
Spread the fan blades out, and admire your finished book!
I used some pink iridescent glitter glue to add swirls to this fan, and provide a scalloped edge.
OK, I got a little carried away on this one, with some silk fall leaves from the dollar store, and lots of gold glitter glue swirls.
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Beautiful Lisa! So Stunning. I made a fan book years ago for my mother-in-law with oriental images I stamped as the individual blades. You’ve just reminded me of that. I love the Rossetti book. Thank you for inspiring me again.
Elaine Allen
Wow! Lisa, I absolutely love the Rossetti fan book and the silk fall leaves are the perfect touch. I had been wondering what I might do with all the silk leaves I have left over from a couple of other projects. And you have inspired me to think of other things I might do.
Oh , I am new at this.. I just subscribed to the Monthly Muse about four or five months ago.. and I LOVE all you do.. You are so generous. I have purchased somebag books and a book kit.. and now I am looking for other things to purchase from you.. to help out your endeavors.I just wanted to tell you that I think you are great
Thanks, Sylvia. I think you’re pretty great for leaving this comment
These fan books are wonderful.
I love the fan books, but what a wonderful gift for a woman in her 50’s going through the hot flash segment of her life. I have and idea. Could you glue them to Balsa Wood to make them stronger? I might try this. It would be like times of an older era.