No real snow around here yet, so the boys and I spent the morning making different kinds of paper snowflakes! We did some of your basic fold-and-cut variety, but then I decided to get a little craftier.
My friend Donna made some beautiful snowflakes for a MOPS Christmas party a few years back and I knew I wanted a few of them hanging up in the house this winter! They were really much simpler than I remembered – I think you’ll have fun with them!
Here’s what you need:
Supplies: Paper, scissors, tape and/or stapler
I used regular copy paper, but you coud you wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, anything! The important thing is to have six equal-sized SQUARE pieces of paper. If your paper is NOT already a square, it’s easy to make the squares…
After you have your square pieces, fold the paper in half once to make a triangle, then in half once more to make a smaller triangle. Just two folds!
Now to cut…
You will be making three cuts, spaced equally, cutting PARALLEL to the longest side of the triangle.
Start at the folded short side and move towards the open short side. DO NOT cut all the way through – I left about a 1/2 inch uncut.
This is what it will look like after you cut, first while folded and then unfolded…
Pretty painless so far, right? Let’s keep moving!
You’ll need tape for this next part. Some tutorials mention glue with this project, but I think it is too messy and doesn’t dry fast enough!
Starting with the smallest square, bring the two points together and tape so they form a roll.
Now, FLIP YOUR PAPER OVER. Do the same thing with the next square, bringing the two points together and taping them.
FLIP YOUR PAPER AGAIN. Tape the next square in a roll.
And, you guessed it, FLIP THE PAPER one last time and tape the points of the outside square in a roll.
This is what it will look like when you are done…
Doesn’t that look fancy?! Way to go! You’ve completed one part! Now do everything I just said five more times!
{I’ll wait while you finish.}
You should have six “arms” of the snowflake now – time to put them together! This is where I prefer to staple because tape doesn’t get all of the layers as well…
Line up the points of three of the “arms” and staple them together! Do the same with the other three “arms.”
The two sets of three now need to be joined to become one snowflake…
I used the stapler for this part, as well as for the last step…
Each arm needs to be joined to the arms on either side of it to achieve the full, fanned out look! Notice in the picture above how I’ve just brought the sides of two together – put another staple there, repeat all the way around, and here you go…
Big J proudly helped me along the way – folding this, holding that, and so on – so I let him show it off to all of you!
I realize it may seem like a lot of directions, but this was our second one of the day and it went super fast! It really isn’t that hard and gets even easier the more times you do it!
The first one we made has already found its place hanging near the Christmas tree…
I think I’ll whip up a few more to hang around the house because they are Just. So. Pretty. And can you imagine them made with some sparkly wrapping paper?! Gorgeous!
Make a few this weekend and turn your home into an INDOOR winter wonderland!
{Please let me know if you have any questions – I tried to be as clear as possible, but I’m happy to help if anything is confusing!}
I'm Erin, a wife, boy mom x 3, writer, and runner in Nebraska! I'm excited to share all my favorites relating to faith, family, fashion, and fitness in this space! Enjoy! 
Gorgeous! We just made snowflakes yesterday too (although ours were not nearly as fancy! 🙂 ) We need to try those next!!
Thanks, Rachel! Let me know how they turn out!
Thanks for sharing, Erin! I know what the boys and I will be doing tomorrow.
Did you make them, Dawn? Would love to hear how they turned out!
That’s beautiful!! I’ve used that method to make icicles before, but I love how you connected them to make a snowflake–so fun!! I hope you’ll stop by and share it at my Preschool Christmas Party linky (http://preschoolpowolpackets.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-party-linky.html) too!
I had never thought of using it to make icicles! What a fun idea!
Thank you so much!!! I made snowflakes yesterday that were pitiful! Then I found you on pinterest and it was so easy and beautiful!!!!!
Awesome, Denise! Thanks for letting me know you tried it!
Thank you for sharing this. I made one tonight.
Oh yay! So glad! Was it easy to follow?
Yes, very easy. I think I may not have cut deep enough though, because I couldn’t get the legs to form right when I taped them together, so I added a 7th leg. see here http://instagram.com/p/TCjfxBSCpK/
That is GORGEOUS, Lisa!
The boys loved making these. They each have a snowflake hanging over their beds. We are going to make one to hang right on top of our tree since the star doesn’t work anymore.
How sweet! I love it!
Thanks, Erin.
(I can’t reply using the ‘reply’ link under your comments, for some odd reason.)
Saw this tutorial this morning on Pinterest and my office is now adorned with a giant snowflake! Thanks!
Love them! My sister and I did them once upon a time… these instructions are a bit clearer. :). Way cool! Today I will be making lots of these, going to hang them in the window. 🙂
Gorgeous!
Now I know what to do with all that slightly misshaped printer paper!
Thnx bunches for sharing!
Icicle instructions would be next best thing… 😉
Wow! I just found you through StumbleUpon, and I’m so glad I did. I have four boys (two little ones still at home) and I’m a big fan of moms who live to write about the adventures of their boys. Looking forward to reading more!
Thank you ! It’s very nice. I’ll try it tomorow with my little girl!
I love these I made these a couple of years ago, they are really easy to make and you can definitely get the kids involved my kids loved helping me make these.
What a fun winter craft! Can’t wait to make these with my daughter:) Thanks for sharing!
We did this last year, and it was great fun! Thanks for the reminder, I’ll have to pull this trick out again after Christmas. It will help take the sting off of putintg away all the fun decorations.Cheers!
I stumbled onto your tutorial while looking for a snowflake cutting refresher – these are gorgeous AND easy!!! So easy in fact that I am making them this afternoon with my 2nd grade class…. They are so excited! Thank you!
Wow, those really are huge! I might make some pink ones for my daughter’s upcoming princess birthday party!
I’ve had this pinned for a year – finally decided to try it out. I found the tape to be a PITA and switched to glue dots. So much faster and neater! If one is doing this for a party or other occasion where one wants it to look perfect, I recommend investing in the glue dots. I’ll give my Girl Scouts tape though.
These are so beautiful thanks for sharing I’ve made normal white ones and red metallic wrapping paper red ones, they look so pro, eek, thank you! X
Hi,
Love it and it was so easy to follow just made a couple.
I am currently planning my daughter’s 5th birthday party which has ‘Frozen’ theme and we are having lots of snowflakes instead of balloons… 🙂
Thanks,
Leila
Thanks!!! Used this idea for my winter ball “Fire and Ice” is the theme!!!!
Yay! I’m so glad you were able to use this! Sounds like fun!
Thank you thank you thank you – you just saved me a boatload of $$ for a Frozen Bday party! I can make amazing snowflakes that don’t cost a fortune, and even my creativity challenged mind and hands can do! God bless from a grateful heart
Thanks they r amazing 🙂
it is beutiful OMG i love this snowflake :O
Oh my GOODNESS I love this ! Just made four in what seeemed like no time at all, but going to make many more and hang from ceiling. There are currently two in the window and one either side of the fireplace which is black so they really stand out !!
I love that, Michelle! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Wau!!! You are REALLY artistic. Now let me try to follow your idea…
Thanks any way!
Best,
Enjoyed making this craft with my 8 year old daughter. Instructions were very clear.
Sometimes you start an activity and somewhere along the line you make a mistake (because of unclear instructions) and the end product doesn’t look like the pictures. Glad this was not one of those days!
Thank you.
This was amazing i tryed it just now and it worked, so doing it for Christmas!! Thank you 🙂
I’m so glad to hear that, Marnie!