Paper fans aren't a new idea — but as a journal embellishment, they're endlessly adaptable, and this tutorial shows you exactly how to make them from scratch using whatever paper you have on hand, including scraps. I cover everything from making the triangle template to choosing lace, stitching, embellishing, and attaching the finished fan to a journal page as a tuck spot, a pocket element, or a fully interactive piece that opens and closes.
What we cover
This tutorial walks through making paper fans in two sizes — a larger version suited to journaling spots and interactive journal elements, and a tiny version that works beautifully as a scrap-busting embellishment. We go from cutting a reusable cereal-box template all the way through to final placement in a journal, with plenty of discussion about lace choices, sewing options, brad styles, and how to finish the base with ribbon, seam binding, or a simple bow.
What you'll learn
How to make a reusable triangle template from a cereal box, including:
- How to find and mark the center point to get a symmetrical triangle
- How to eyeball the proportions versus measuring precisely (both work)
- Large size: approximately 8 cm wide × 11.5 cm tall; small size: approximately 4 cm wide × 5.5 cm tall
How to cut and prepare six "pizza slice" shapes efficiently — drawing two shapes side by side so a single cut serves both, then checking alignment before you move on.
Why paper choice matters more than you'd expect — busy, heavily patterned paper makes the individual fan sections disappear into each other. Simpler, less saturated papers keep the separation visible and the finished fan readable. I also show why sturdier paper (cardstock or a cereal-box-backed sheet) holds up better if you're adding heavy embellishments or want a fan that can actually open and close repeatedly.
How to ink the edges to hide pencil lines from the template and create visual separation between each slice — without inking, the pieces all blend together and the fan effect is lost.
How to glue lace along the curved top edge, including:
- Why gluing lace in a gentle curve rather than a straight line gives a much more polished result on the finished fan
- How to leave a small margin of lace extending past each side for a frilled effect
- Trimming the excess cleanly after the glue dries
How to add optional decorative stitching on a sewing machine — a straight stitch along the visible edges of each slice, using contrasting top and bottom thread for a shabby chic look. The stitching is completely optional, but leaving the thread tails rather than trimming them adds texture and character, especially for grunge or vintage aesthetics.
How to embellish the front piece before assembly — this is the step that takes the most deliberate thought. I walk through choosing between rhinestone bling, paper doilies, dried flowers, stamps, faux wax seal stickers, and cheesecloth, and show what works and what really doesn't (cheesecloth gathered in the middle: hard pass).
How to assemble the fan and attach a brad, including:
- Aligning all six pieces precisely — especially the bottom point — before poking through
- Protecting your desk with something soft when piercing the brad hole
- Threading ribbon or seam binding under the brad before closing the prongs, so the bow or trim sits cleanly at the base
- Choosing between a simple bow finish and a more elaborate seam-binding frill
How to use the finished fan as an interactive journal element — applying glue only to the bottom section so the fan can still open and close on the page, creating a tuck spot that holds ephemera or journaling slips inside.
Tips & gotchas
Always trace your template from the same side. Flipping it even slightly introduces a misalignment that's small but noticeable once all six pieces are together. Pick a side, commit to it, and don't switch.
If your cereal-box template has a shiny surface and keeps sliding around as you draw, put a small piece of double-sided tape on that side and dull it slightly by pressing it against your clothes. It sounds minor — it isn't. The template moving mid-trace is the kind of thing that drags the whole process out and drives you quietly mad.
Inking the edges does two things at once: it hides the pencil lines you traced from the template, and it makes each slice visually distinct from its neighbors. Without it, the fan reads as a flat blob. It's the one step I wouldn't skip.
Avoid papers that are very busy or densely patterned. The magic of a paper fan is seeing the individual sections — if the pattern overwhelms the edges, you lose that effect entirely. Simpler papers, or papers with a clear light/dark contrast, give the cleanest result.
Glue your lace in a curve rather than a straight line across each piece. When the pieces are assembled into a fan shape, a straight-glued lace edge ends up looking choppy and misaligned. A gentle curve follows the arc of the finished fan naturally.
If the fan is going to carry heavy embellishments or you want it sturdy enough to actually use as a real fan, use cardstock or a cereal-box-lined sheet rather than plain scrapbook paper. Scrapbook paper works fine for fans that live flat in a pocket, but it gets floppy when lifted or handled.
When gluing a fan down as an interactive element inside a journal, apply glue only to the bottom quarter or so. That keeps the fan anchored while still allowing it to open. Gluing the whole thing flat loses the interactive quality completely.
Protect your desk with something soft — a foam mat, a folded cloth, anything with a little give — before you poke the brad hole through all the layers. It makes a cleaner hole and saves your desk surface.
A small fan tucked into a pocket page, glued just at the base so it fans open, is one of those journal details that makes someone stop and actually play with the page. The larger ones work well as covers or as standalone gifts; made from sturdy paper with a clean bow at the base, they're the kind of thing you hand someone and they immediately want to know how you made it. I found the tiny scrap-busting versions the most satisfying to make — and an excellent use for all those paper pieces too small for anything else but too pretty to throw away.
