How to Make Paper Snowflakes
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Paper snowflakes are so fun and simple to make. You can create beautiful snowflake designs using a simple piece of paper and a pair of scissors – in less than 5 minutes! This classic craft never gets old and is a very inexpensive way to add some winter cheer to any room. You’ll have your own little paper blizzard before you know it!
We’ve created 9 free printable snowflake templates that you can print off (you’ll find those near the bottom of this post), or you can follow the simple folding technique and create your own 6 pointed paper snowflake patterns.
Hang them on the fridge, or in the window. Or attach a piece of fishing line and tape them to the ceiling. This is such a great winter craft and a super fun way to make decorations that can stay up all winter long!
Remember making paper snowflakes when you were a kid? You’d do your best to fold the paper just the right way, and then go to town cutting out random shapes?
I remember being so excited to unfold them to see what shape I had created. It’s pretty amazing to see the beautiful snowflake shapes you can create with just a few cuts!
Looking for even more winter themed craft ideas? Here’s a few of our favourites:
First you’ll need a square piece of paper:
Using a standard piece of letter sized printer paper, take the bottom right corner of the paper and bring it up and over to the left edge. The bottom edge should line up perfectly with the left edge.
Run your fingers along the diagonal edge to make a fold. You should have a perfect triangle shape, with a long rectangular shape above it.
Cut the rectangular strip off right at the edge of the paper that was folded over. You’ll be left with a triangle that unfolds into a perfect square!
How to Make Paper Snowflakes:
Step 1: Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.
Step 2: Fold the triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.
Step 3: Fold this smaller triangle into thirds. Start by bringing the right point towards the left by one third.
Step 4: Then bring the left point towards the right by one third. It’s easy using the templates below, but if you’re doing it freehand, you might have to adjust the folds to make sure the edges line up perfectly.
Step 5: Cut off the pointed ends so you’re left with a small triangle.
Step 6: Cut your snowflake pattern into the sides of this small triangle. You can cut triangles, diamonds, curves, even half hearts. If you cut off the tip, you’ll have a snowflake with a hole in the middle.
Step 7: Unfold your snowflake carefully and use your fingers to flatten it out. If you want it to be really flat, you can iron it using a very low heat setting.
What kind of paper should you use for paper snowflakes?
You can use printer paper, newsprint or construction paper to make paper snowflakes. Don’t use heavy paper or it will be hard to cut out.
I like to use plain old letter (8.5″ x 11″) printer paper, but any size will work. You can use legal sized paper (8.5″ x 14″) if that’s what you have – then use the scraps to make two smaller snowflakes to go with it. Or if you have any tabloid size paper (11″ x 17″), you can make extra large snowflakes.
If you’re having trouble cutting through printer paper, try parchment paper instead. Parchment paper is much thinner than regular paper which makes it easier to cut.
What kind of scissors should you use for paper snowflakes?
You can use any scissors as long as they’re strong and fairly sharp. Children’s scissors often aren’t strong enough to cut through all the layers of paper.
I like to use “detail scissors” for paper snowflakes. They’re mini scissors (they’re my pink scissors in the video below) with shorter, sharp blades that make it easier to do detailed cutting work.
Here’s an Amazon affiliate link to the exact scissors that I used.
Paper Snowflake Templates
We created 9 printable paper snowflake templates that you can print out and use to make beautiful snowflake patterns every single time!
When you’re using the templates, the process is exactly the same as above, but I’ve marked out the lines and patterns where you need to fold and cut.
Just make sure that the printed lines stay on the outside as you fold. Don’t fold towards the lines, otherwise you won’t be able to see them when it comes time to cut out the pattern.
How to Make Paper Snowflakes
Equipment
Materials
- 1piecePaper
Instructions
- Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.
- Fold the triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.
- Fold this smaller triangle into thirds. Start by bringing the right point towards the left by one third.
- Then bring the left point towards the right by one third. You might have to adjust the folds to make sure the edges line up perfectly.
- Cut off the pointed ends so you’re left with a small triangle.
- Cut your snowflake pattern into the sides of this small triangle.
- Unfold your snowflake carefully and use your fingers to flatten it out.
Paper snowflakes are SO SIMPLE and super inexpensive to make! This is such a classic kids craft and a super fun winter activity for kids, teens, tweens, grown ups and seniors. Make up your own designs or use one of our printable paper snowflake templates. It’s easy to make beautiful and perfect looking snowflakes every single time!
For even more winter themed crafts be sure to check these out:
