Chinese New Year is right around the corner (February 1st), and I thought we should celebrate with a craft inspired by the occasion! So, gather up some of your prettiest papers, and let’s make these lovely Lunar New Year fans.
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Aren’t these just so pretty!? I was only planning on doing two different fan designs for this project, but as I was sketching things out, I just had too many ideas, so I decided to add a third. Which one is your favorite?
Fair warning: these fans do take longer to put together than you might expect. Mostly because of all the little cut-out details in the designs. I think I spent an hour and a half just removing the pieces from the swirly cloud design alone (insert me cursing every little tiny piece as I punch them out one by one)!
The actual assembly really isn’t too difficult, though. Here’s how to do it:
- Use a cutting machine to X-Acto knife to cut out the pieces.
- Fold each of the fan pieces in an alternating pattern, and glue the matching ends together.
- Layer any top pieces on by adding a small amount of hot glue just to the bottom, inside the folds (this will allow the layers to remain mostly separate, but ensure that they don’t come apart completely).
- Add 3 small kabob sticks, or popsicle sticks, to the backside of the brown fan piece: one on the left, one on the right, and one in the middle. This will help keep the fan rigid.
- Next, attach the main fan layers by attaching one end with hot glue. Then, fan the whole thing out and attach the other end to the opposite side. Add some hot glue to the backside and attach each of the brown pieces.
- Lastly, add a tassel to the bottom of your fan if you would like.
I use Adobe Illustrator for all of my designs, and a Cricut Maker to bring my creations to life. For tips on creating fun paper cuts like this one, see the FAQ section on my website. Also, be sure to check out the other fun freebies available on my blog!
Enjoy putting these Lunar New Year fans together. And don’t forget to share your beautiful finished results with me on Instagram!
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through my links to make a purchase, you are supporting this blog and the hard work that goes into providing free, quality designs.
Mandee is a professional graphic designer, amateur bird watcher, and rollercoaster enthusiast. She is a wife to hardworking high school teacher and mommy to three adorable little humans. She fell in love with graphic design when she started working on a comedy website with a guy she met her freshman year of college. Design wasn’t the only thing she fell in love with, and they were married a year and a half later. She created Designs By Miss Mandee to be a place where she could merge her passion for design with her lifelong love of crafting. 13 Comments on Lunar New Year Fans – Chinese New Year Cut Files
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Mary Ellen Torres
January 20, 2022 at 8:32 am (1 year ago)your fans are all lovely I cannot pick a favorite thanks so very much
Mandee
January 20, 2022 at 10:00 am (1 year ago)So glad you like them!!
Kathy
January 20, 2022 at 8:35 am (1 year ago)Your fans are exquisite, the designs are pure perfection. I have two friends that I craft with who love anything oriental. These will make great projects to make with them when they visit. Currently, we each live in a different state, so our crating get-togethers are very rare. I will have plenty of time to get them cut out before our next crafting marathon. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent.
Mandee
January 20, 2022 at 10:01 am (1 year ago)How perfect! You’ll need that time to get all the little pieces punched out. 😉
Have fun!!
Jamie Lechleiter
January 20, 2022 at 8:51 am (1 year ago)The reason I love to keep coming back is your site is so easy to use. No putting in my email, and password every time I want to download a freebie. Also your download button is easy to access, and easy to find on all your projects. Unlike most sites with freebies it takes forever to find the download button, and sometimes finding the other download buttons its a guessing game if it is even the correct download button. Most of the time I am over the search for the download button, and just say forget it. No one has time for all that. Well me anyway. LOL I love that about you. Plus your stuff is so cute!!!! Thanks Mandee you rock.
Mandee
January 20, 2022 at 10:04 am (1 year ago)What a wonderful compliment! I’m so glad you find my site to be user-friendly. Crafting should be an uplifting endeavor after all. Thanks so much for your kind words and for supporting my work!! ❤️
Petrina
January 20, 2022 at 2:01 pm (1 year ago)My .pdf program new version will not let me open any of your zip designs. Do you have a way to post a pattern as .jpg as they always open? I wonder if anyone else is having the same issue? Your art is beautiful. Thank you, Petrina
Kelly Sas
January 20, 2022 at 3:50 pm (1 year ago)The projects you think of and your creativity at executing them never ceases to amaze me! Did you use a thinner paper for the gold and red layers?
Mandee
January 21, 2022 at 11:12 am (1 year ago)Aww, thank you Kelly! You are too kind.
The weight of each of my papers are virtually the same. The gold used in the pink, cream and gold fan is vellum and semitransparent, but not a lot thinner than the other cardstocks.
Diane
January 23, 2022 at 12:10 am (1 year ago)Oh Mandee, you are so talented, and I love just looking at your website. Although I have downloaded a few of your projects, I haven’t had a chance to do any of them. I would love to try every single one of them. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading about all your projects and your inspirations. Thank you for being there to inspire all of us.
Mandee
January 24, 2022 at 10:50 am (1 year ago)Aww, thank you so much Diane! Your sweet comment has put a smile on my face. 😊
I hope you get a chance to do some crafting and embrace your creativity soon!!
Michele
January 23, 2022 at 11:21 am (1 year ago)These are so pretty, thank you!
Mandee
January 24, 2022 at 10:53 am (1 year ago)So glad you like them!!