Summer Fans

Cooling (and fun) Circular hand fan ☀️

So it’s been a scorcher hasn’t it! And there as been a big need for some air movement in this house. We don’t have an electric fan so today set to work making some handfans all you need is:

• A3 sketchbook paper suitable for watercolour

• Crayons

• Watercolour Paint

• Brushes and a sponge

• Wool yarn, and or elastic band

• Hot Glue Gun

• Wooden lolly sticks

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Method:

• Cut your paper, you will need to cut the A3 sheet in half lengthways (two halves for a large fan, one half makes a small toddler size fan)

•Crayon a picture on your paper

• When done wet the paper with water, soak off any excess and paint using wet on wet technique, leave to dry.

• when dry pleat your paper 1.5cm pleats, join the two halves with hot glue of superglue to make a longer piece of pleated paper for a large fan, if making a small fan then you can pleat the half of A3 then cut in half again (along its length) then join these two pieces in the middle.

• Gather your pleated paper together and secure with an elastic band or wool yarn (or both) you can glue the end of the pleats together if you wish for added security.

• Gently ease your fan around into a circle where your two sides join in the centre at the bottom make a small mark just under where the base of the fan sits against them.

To make the handles place hot glue either side of your lolly sticks, insert them between the paper folds at either end of the fan ensuring that the lily stick sits just under the line you marked (this ensures the base of the fan which is bulky does not get In the way and allows the lolly sticks to come together to hold)

• If you like tie a piece of yarn around one lolly stick a#so when brought together you can tie them to keep the fan open.

I’ve added some extra protection against midges and other insects by adding a few drops of @doterraeurope Terra shield to the paper to dry! It’s actually worked quite well! Of course you could add any essential oil of your choice for an uplifting scent as you cool yourself in the hot summer sun.

Enjoy making!