Picture this: a round, pleated paper fan that opens up to reveal a sweet bunny face big dark eyes, rosy pink cheeks, a little heart nose, and two tall pink ears fanning out at the top. You hold it by a neat rolled paper handle and it looks like something from a craft boutique. You made it. With paper.
You do not need any experience to make this. You do not need any special tools. By the end of this post, you will have your own paper fan bunny toy complete with a step-by-step video and written instructions you can follow at your very own pace.
You will need white paper, pink paper, a black marker, red marker or red pen, scissors, glue, and a pencil. The whole project takes around 20–30 minutes.
Why You Will Love This Project
This paper fan bunny toy looks like it belongs in a children’s toy shop, but it costs next to nothing and takes less than half an hour to make. You are only folding, cutting, drawing, and gluing there is not a single intimidating technique in here. It makes a brilliant handmade Easter gift, a party favour, or a cheerful piece of wall or shelf decor that children will beg to play with. And because there is a full video tutorial to follow, you are never working alone.
What You Will Need
- White A4 paper (3 sheets) [or use any plain white printer paper you already have at home]
- Pink A4 paper (1 sheet) [or use pink cardstock, pink wrapping paper, or colour white paper with a pink crayon]
- Black marker pen [or use a black ballpoint pen and press firmly]
- Red marker pen or red crayon [for the cheek blush marks]
- Scissors [any household scissors will do]
- Glue stick or craft glue [or use a thin strip of sticky tape]
- Pencil [for drawing the ear template before cutting]
Total estimated cost: $2–$5 All materials can be found at your local craft store or ordered online.
Video Tutorial
Watch the full tutorial above before reading the written steps. The written steps below match the video exactly so you can follow along at your very own pace.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Lay Out Your White Paper Sheets
Take your three sheets of white A4 paper and lay them flat on your work surface, stacked neatly on top of each other. You will be accordion-folding all three sheets together in the next step, so lining them up neatly now saves you time. Make sure all the edges are aligned. Take your time with this, it makes the final fan much tidier.
Pro Tip: Work on a flat, hard surface like a table rather than a soft one. This makes folding much crisper and easier.
Step 2: Accordion-Fold All Three Sheets Together
Hold all three sheets together and begin folding them in an accordion (zigzag) pattern, fold forward, then back, then forward again, working along the short side of the paper. Each fold should be roughly 1–1.5 cm wide. Keep your folds as even as possible; it is okay if they are not perfectly identical. The fan looks beautiful even when the folds are slightly uneven, so no rush.
Pro Tip: Use your thumbnail to press each fold flat before making the next one. This gives you crisp, clean lines without needing any extra tools.
Step 3: Draw and Cut the Ear Shape
Take one sheet of white paper and fold it in half lengthways. Draw a long, rounded ear shape along the fold tall and slightly pointed at the top, wider at the base. Keep the base of the ear at the folded edge so that when you cut it out, you get two symmetrical ears joined at the bottom. Cut carefully along your pencil line. It is okay if your ears are not perfectly even they will still look adorable once they fan open.
Pro Tip: If you are nervous about cutting freehand, draw your ear shape in pencil first and check it looks right before cutting.
Step 4: Accordion-Fold the Ear Pieces with Pink Paper
Place your pink paper on top of the white ear-shaped paper and accordion-fold both layers together, following the same zigzag pattern as before. The pink paper sits on top so that when the ear fans open, the pink is visible in the centre and the white frames the outside edge. Work slowly and keep your folds even. You will end up with two folded ear units that look like small, striped stacks.
Pro Tip: Line up the pink and white paper edges before you start folding so the two layers move together cleanly.
Step 5: Draw the Bunny Face on the Folded White Fan
Unfold your large white paper fan slightly and lay it flat on the table you will draw the bunny face directly onto the pleated surface while it is spread open. Use your black marker to draw two large round eyes (with a white square highlight left inside each eye), a small heart-shaped nose in the centre, a curved smile below it, and two rosy red cheek blush marks on either side using your red marker. Take your time draw lightly first in pencil if you feel more confident. The pleated texture of the paper makes the face look even more charming once the fan opens fully.
Pro Tip: Draw the nose first, then place the eyes symmetrically on either side. This is much easier than trying to centre the nose after the eyes are already drawn.
Step 6: Make the Paper Handle
Take a strip of white paper (approximately the width of the fan base) and roll it tightly into a long, thin tube shape to form the handle. Secure the end with a small dab of glue or a piece of tape so it stays rolled. Then wrap a strip of pink paper around the outside of the tube for a pop of colour. Press firmly and hold for a few seconds while the glue sets. The handle should be sturdy enough to hold the fan without bending.
Pro Tip: Roll the paper around a pen or pencil first to help shape the tube, then slide the pen out once it holds its shape.
- Paper Flower Wall Decoration Easy DIY for Beginners
- Adorable Paper Cone Carrot Crafts for Beginners
- Paper Fan Bunny Toy Fun DIY for Complete Beginners
- Beautiful Paper Daisy Flower Tutorial DIY for Beginners
- Paper Surprise Gift Box with Tulips Easy Beginner Tutorial
Step 7: Attach the Ear Pieces to the Main Fan
Spread your two folded ear pieces open slightly and position them at the top of the main white fan, one on the left side and one on the right. Glue the base of each ear unit firmly to the back of the top edge of the fan. Hold each one in place for 10–15 seconds while the glue grips. When the fan is fully opened, the ears will fan out in a beautiful V-shape above the bunny face.
Pro Tip: Make sure both ears are positioned at the same height before gluing so your bunny looks balanced and symmetrical.
Step 8: Secure the Handle and Fan the Base Open
Gather the bottom of the white fan together and insert the top of your paper handle tube into the base of the pleats. Wrap a small strip of white paper tightly around the join point where the handle meets the bottom of the fan and glue it firmly in place. This collar of paper locks the handle and the fan together so everything holds when you open it fully. Wrap a second strip of paper around the handle just below the fan base to neaten the finish and reinforce the join.
Pro Tip: If the base feels loose, add an extra layer of tape inside the collar before wrapping the outer paper strip. It will feel much more secure.
Step 9: Fan Open Fully and Reveal Your Bunny
Hold the handle firmly in one hand and use your other hand to gently spread the fan open into a full circle. The two halves of the fan should meet at the top to form a complete round shape, with the bunny face centred and the ears fanning out at the top. The handle runs down from the bottom centre. Gently press the top edges of the two fan halves together if needed a tiny dab of glue at that join point will hold the full circle shape permanently. Stand back and look at what you have made.
Pro Tip: If your fan does not quite form a full circle, try adding one or two extra folded sheets to the original stack before reassembling. A fuller fan gives a rounder, more polished finish.
Tips & Tricks
Get your folds as even as you can from the very first fold. Uneven folds do not ruin the craft, but the more consistent your accordion pleats are, the more evenly the fan spreads when you open it. If you notice your folds becoming wider or narrower halfway through, pause, straighten the stack, and continue it is much easier to correct early than at the end.
Draw the face before you assemble the fan, not after. It is so much easier to draw on the paper when it is laid flat on a table. Drawing on a fully assembled fan is harder because the pleats create ridges that make your marker skip and wobble.
Use a glue stick rather than liquid glue for the ear attachment. Liquid glue can make the paper wavy and soggy, which ruins the clean fan effect. A glue stick gives a firm, flat bond without any wrinkling. If you do not have a glue stick, use a very thin layer of PVA and press firmly.
If your handle feels floppy, roll the paper more tightly. A loosely rolled handle will not support the weight of the fan once it is fully open. Roll as tight as you can and wrap the outer pink strip firmly to reinforce it. Your finished toy should hold its shape when held up by the handle alone.
Store your finished fan flat rather than open. Keeping it in its folded position between uses means the pleats stay crisp and the glue joins do not weaken over time. A flat envelope or a page in a folder is perfect for storage.
Ways to Use This Craft
As home decor: This paper fan bunny looks charming displayed on a shelf, propped in a vase, or hung on a wall. It suits any playful, colourful interior: a child’s bedroom, a craft room, or a living room with a fun, eclectic style. Try making a few in different colours and displaying them in a cluster for a statement wall.
As a gift: This is a wonderful handmade gift for any child for a birthday, Easter, or just as a surprise. Parents of young children will love receiving one from their own kids. Pair it with a small treat bag and a handwritten tag for an extra-special touch.
As seasonal decor: This bunny fan is a perfect Easter decoration. Display it on your Easter table, use it as a centrepiece alongside painted eggs, or hang it on your front door as a seasonal wreath alternative. You could also adapt the character, swap the bunny ears for round ears and adjust the face to make a bear, or use green paper and add frog eyes for a completely different animal.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How long does it take to make a paper fan bunny toy?
A: Most beginners finish this project in 20 to 30 minutes. If it is your first accordion-folding paper, allow yourself a little extra time, maybe 35 to 40 minutes. There is no rush at all. The more relaxed you are, the neater your folds will be.
-
What if my fan does not open into a perfect circle?
A: That is completely fine and very common the first time. If the fan falls a little short of a full circle, add an extra sheet of paper to the original stack and re-fold. If the two halves do not meet neatly at the top, a small dab of glue at the join point will hold it in place. It does not need to be perfect to look wonderful.
-
Where can I buy the paper and materials for this project?
A: Everything you need is available at any stationery shop, supermarket craft aisle, or dollar store. White A4 printer paper is something most people already have at home. Pink paper, a black marker, and a glue stick are all inexpensive and widely available. You can also order them online if you prefer to shop from home.
-
Can I make the bunny face in a different colour, or do I have to use white paper?
A: You can absolutely use any colour paper you like. A grey fan with white inner ears makes a beautiful Easter bunny in a more muted palette. A pastel blue fan with white ears looks stunning for spring. The bunny face works well in black marker on almost any light-coloured paper so feel free to make it your own.
You Did It Take a Moment to Celebrate
You have made something genuinely beautiful today. That round, pleated bunny fan in your hands is proof that you are more creative than you might have given yourself credit for. Whether you made it for a child, as a gift, or just for yourself it matters, and it is wonderful.
Share your creation with us. We would love to see it! Tag us or leave a photo in the comments below. Ready for your next project? Try Cute Bunny Corner Bookmark Paper Craft for Beginners next!
Happy crafting! LOUVADECORES
Follow us on: Pinterest
