You always need something fun and easy for kids to help make around holidays. This easy Halloween paper fan decorations craft is ideal for making for a party, just because, or to keep kids busy around Halloween. With two cute styles, this is sure to be a hit with all the kids plus it looks great on your walls!
Halloween Paper Fan Decorations
We've all made some version of a paper pumpkin or paper ghost over the years. They are the most classic characters of Halloween and an obvious choice for decorating. This project turns basic craft paper into a cute little paper fan styled decoration that can go anywhere in your home for Halloween. I love how this project uses items you already have on hand. That makes it budget friendly and easy to do at any time. No need to go out and buy fancy supplies!
What's the Best Paper for Making These?
You can truly use any paper you have on hand. I like to keep a nice thick craft paper on hand for things like this. It's ideal for making into fans because it folds easily while also holding shape. You can even use simple construction paper for kids if that's what is on hand. I've seen some use card stock, but I find it is a bit too difficult to fold so many times.
For a different look, you can use patterned scrapbook paper instead. Try one with pumpkins or fall scenes or even a white one with black polka dots for the ghost. You don't have to fit into the "normal" style to make it look cute and work for your house and decoration needs.
How do I Hang These From the Wall?
Depending upon how you want to display, these are super easy to hang on the wall. A hole punch at the top of each fan allows you to string a piece of ribbon, twine, rope, or fishing line through to hang from a ceiling or doorway. You could also use things like Command strips, thumbtacks, push pins, or even putty to mount on the wall.
I like the idea of stapling or gluing to a length of ribbon and then hanging on the mantle as a garland. You can tape onto each corner of a door frame or at the center of the door just above the frame to add decor as you pass from room to room.
Another fun way to use these is to staple or glue onto a dowel rod or twig and stick them into your potted plants or around your porch in the yard or garden. They are super cute and easy to make, so make a perfect addition to your entire Halloween decor plan.
Supplies Needed
- Orange craft paper
- White craft paper
- Black craft paper
- Green craft paper
- White paint pen
- Pen
- Scissors
- Craft glue
How to Make a Ghost Halloween Paper Fan
Fold a white piece of paper in half horizontally.
Unfold, then begin folding back and forth accordion style until you reach that middle mark where you folded it the first time.
Flip it around to the other side, and start folding it accordion style until you meet both sides in the middle and the whole page is folded.
When the entire page is folded accordion style, fold this tightly folded piece of paper in half vertically to crease the fans in the center.
Add craft glue along the outside edge and fold it back against itself so they two sides meet and are sealed creating a half-circle fan.
Repeat this process for the second piece of paper to create two half-circle fans.
Add glue along the base of one fan, then press the second fan against it so the bottoms meet and attach to form a fanned circle.
On the third piece of white paper, draw two small arms with hands for the ghost.
Cut out the arms.
Glue onto the sides of the white circle fan.
On black paper, draw two eyes and a mouth.
Cut out the eyes and mouth.
Using a white paint pen, draw a circle of white on the center of the black eyes.
Glue the eyes and mouth onto the middle of the white circle fan.
You can customize the face and hands-on your ghost however you prefer.
How to Make a Pumpkin Halloween Paper Fan
Using orange paper, follow the folding and gluing directions for the ghost to create an orange circle fan.
Draw a jack o lantern style mouth and two triangle eyes on black paper and cut them out.
Glue onto the front of the orange fan.
Draw and cut out a stem shape on green paper.
Glue the stem to the top of the pumpkin fan.
Make the mouth on your jack o lantern smiling like this or a snarl for a spookier choice.
Display your ghost and pumpkin on a wall, mantle, or table!
More Easy Halloween Craft Ideas
If you want to create some more fun decorations or crafts for Halloween, I have several to share. Halloween has so many great ways to decorate, create, and have fun. This list below has something for kids to make, ways to decorate, crafts for adults to make, and even some fun treat ideas! Make the ones you love and share with others so they too can start enjoying Halloween more!
- Halloween Lollipop Ghost Kids Craft
- How to Make a Ghost Paper Lantern
- DIY Halloween Ghost Luminary Bags Decoration
- Upcycled Plastic Spoon Bat Cute Halloween Decoration
- 30 Easy and Cheap DIY Trick-or-Treat Bags
- Spooky Fun Bat and Spider Magnets Halloween Craft
- DIY Halloween Spider Web Jar Decoration
- How to Make Decorative Halloween Balloons
Crafting Tip
If you like sharp clean lines when folding, I can't recommend a paper folding tool enough. There are many variations in plastic, bone, and metal. They make folding and creasing paper super easy and give nice crisp lines that are ideal for detailed projects.
Easy Halloween Paper Fan Decorations
Follow this easy tutorial for folding paper and creating adorable little Halloween paper fan decorations featuring the classic ghost and pumpkin!
Tools
Instructions
How to Make a Ghost Halloween Paper Fan
- Fold a white piece of paper in half horizontally creating a center crease then unfold it;
- Following an accordion style folding technique, fold the paper to the crease mark;
- Flip it around and fold starting on the opposite side until you meet the crease mark in the center;
- Once the page has been completely folded, gather it together into one bunch and fold that in half to crease the center of the fan folds;
- Add glue to one side of the fold on top, and pull it together with the other side creating a half circle;
- Repeat this process with a second piece of white paper;
- Glue the bottom two flat sides together creating a circle of folded fan styled paper;
- Draw arms and hands on another piece of white paper;
- Cut out the arms and glue them to the sides of the circle;
- Draw two eyes and a mouth on black paper and cut them out;
- Add a white circle with paint pen onto the middle of each of the black eyes;
- Glue the eyes and mouth to the white fan paper to create a ghost;
How to Make a Pumpkin Halloween Paper Fan
- Repeat steps 1-6 of the above process to create an orange circle of fanned paper;
- Draw a mouth and two triangle eyes on black paper then cut them out;
- Glue onto the front of the orange paper to create a jack o lantern look;
- Draw and cut out a small stem on green paper and glue to the top of the pumpkin;
- Display your pumpkin an ghost as desired.
Notes
The ghost uses 2 ½ pages white paper and the pumpkin uses 2 pieces of orange paper. You can add different colors for the face, mouth, and stem as desired.
Recommended Products
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Finished Project Gallery
Hang these above the mantle to add a spooky but fun look to your living room.
Add a name to each one to personalize your ghosts or pumpkins to match your kids.
Get creative with the faces and expressions you use on your ghosts and pumpkins to make them laugh, smile, or look scary.
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