To make a Thanksgiving paper rosette, accordion-fold two matching rectangles, fold each pleated strip in half, and glue each into a half-circle fan. Join both sides of the fans to make a complete circle, then cover the middle with cardboard disks. Orange, rust, and cream paper give the finished decoration an autumn feel.
The important difference from a handheld paper fan is the shape: a rosette has pleats all the way around its center, with no handle or open wedge.
Gather Your Materials
For one rosette approximately 8 inches across, gather:
- Two rectangles of plain, lightweight paper, each 8 × 10 inches
- Two circles of thin cardboard, each 2 inches across
- A ruler, pencil, and scissors
- A glue stick labeled for paper and thin card
- Colored pencils or markers
- Optional clothespins to hold glued seams temporarily
Printer-weight paper is easier to pleat than heavy cardboard. The National Park Service’s paper-fan instructions recommend paper that will not crack when folded and describe joining two fans to make a circular rosette. Save the cardboard for the centers. Have an adult help younger children with cutting, and follow the adhesive’s label instructions.
1. Measure the Accordion Folds
Place one rectangle with its 10-inch edges running left to right. Mark every half inch along both those edges. Connect matching marks lightly with a ruler so each fold line runs parallel to an 8-inch edge.
You should have 19 fold lines dividing the paper into 20 equal panels. Fold the first panel over, turn the paper over, and fold the next panel back. Continue alternating until the rectangle becomes a narrow, 8-inch-long stack.
Repeat with the second rectangle. The Asian Art Museum’s folding activity demonstrates the same alternating fold direction, although its handheld fan uses different dimensions.
2. Make Two Half-Circle Fans
Keep the first accordion compressed. Measure 4 inches along its 8-inch length and gently bend the whole stack at that midpoint, bringing its two short ends together.
The two halves now sit beside each other. Apply glue to the two inside panel faces that meet, then press them together along their length. Hold or temporarily clip this seam until the adhesive sets according to its instructions. Open the remaining pleats into a semicircle.
Repeat with the second stack. You now have two separate half-circle fans. Inspire’s folded-rosette activity also starts with two folded sheets and joins their fans. This version uses glued seams instead of its staple fastening.
3. Join the Fans into a Full Circle
Lay the fans on a clean table with their folded centers touching and their curved edges facing away from each other. Together, they should outline a circle.
Dry-fit the exposed end panels on the left side, then the matching panels on the right. Glue these two pairs face-to-face, aligning their outer tips. Keep the centers together while the seams set, then spread the pleats evenly around the full circle.
Each fan reaches about 4 inches from center to edge, so the finished diameter is approximately 8 inches. These measurements are a geometry-checked adaptation, not a physically tested pattern. Test one rosette before preparing a batch.
4. Add the Thanksgiving Center
Color the visible cardboard disk cream, or cover it with cream paper before decorating it. Draw a small pumpkin, an acorn, or a leaf with a simple central vein. You could also write a guest’s name or one thing you appreciate.
The National Museums Scotland rosette activity uses contrasting paper circles and personalized centers. Here, create your own autumn design rather than copying the museum’s printable artwork.
Glue one disk over the front center and the other over the back. Press the disks gently together without flattening the surrounding pleats. Let the adhesive set fully before moving the decoration.
Fix Gaps Before Displaying
If one side looks crowded, redistribute the pleats before adding the disks. If a join pulls apart, close the fans slightly, reglue the full touching panel faces, and let them set again. Do not force a stretched seam closed.
Use the finished rosette beside a place card or as a gift topper. Keep it away from candles, hot serving dishes, and spills, and store it flat without stacking heavy objects on its pleats.
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