Japanese Paper Fan Ornament

Hi HMC readers! Are you in the Christmas spirit? It’s Kathy again from Up to Date Interiors and a lot has happened since I talked to you last. We made a move to mainland Japan right before Thanksgiving and have been experiencing living in a traditional Japanese house.I took my cues for Christmas decor from this gorgeous country and have been incorporating local dollar store DIYs into our usual modern eclectic style. Today I want to share with you easy DIY Japanese Paper Fan Ornaments.

Here’s what you need:

Origami or washi paper (any decorative paper will work, try a modern print!)

wood sticks (coffee stirs or popsicle sticks)

Decorative string

Paper cutter

A glue stick and hot glue

*I was able to find all of my supplies at our local “dollar store.”

These fans take just a few minutes to make and would be a fun project for the whole family. (Just be careful with the hot glue gun!)

Put it together:

Create the fan

Step 1: Cut your paper to size. If you are using 6×6 origami squares trim two pieces to 6X4 for one fan.

Step 2: Fold both pieces into an accordion, about 1/4 inch thin.

Step 3: Using the glue stick, attach the two pieces in the center by layering an accordion fold onto the second piece.

Create the fan handles

Step 1: Start with the fan backside up and attach a wooden stick to each side with the glue stick or glue gun.

Step 2: Fold the paper around the stick and secure with more glue.

Step 3: Place a piece of string for hanging around the center. Carefully cross your sticks letting the fan open up wide and hold in place with a dot of hot glue.

Step 4: Tie your string at the top.