How to Make Winter Wreaths With Snowflakes for a Front Door

Snowflakes are a cheery way to decorate during the winter season.

Nothing says winter more than snow. Even if snow is scarce where you live a snowflake symbolizes the beauty of the season. A winter wreath of snowflakes on your front door will last all season long as it celebrates the entire season -- not just the holidays. Using simple materials you can make snowflakes that look almost like the real thing. These snowflakes also will last longer than paper ones. Kids can help, too, with adult supervision.

Things You'll Need

• Evergreen, grapevine or straw wreath
• 30 white chenille pipe cleaners
• Scissors
• Glass pan, 9 inches by 13 inches
• 1 box borax
• Water
• Hot glue sticks
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Cut three pipe cleaners in half. Stack three of the pipe cleaner sticks over each other in the form of a six-pointed star. Twist one stick around the other two to fasten them together. Set aside.

2. Cut leftover halves in half again, making six pieces. Bend each piece into the shape of a V.

3. Twist one V around one arm of the star about a third of the way from the tip. Repeat for each of the six arms. Each arm now should have three points. Trim arms with scissors if necessary. Repeat to make eight snowflakes.

4. Mix 3 tablespoons of borax to 1 cup of boiling water and dissolve. Pour mixture in a glass pan large enough to hold snowflakes. Submerge snowflakes in the borax solution. Let sit overnight.

5. 

   Borax will crystalize the pipecleaner snowflakes.

   Remove snowflakes from the borax mixture after crystals have formed. Let dry.

6. 

   Use caution when working with a hot glue gun.

   Attach snowflakes to your wreath with hot glue. Let cool and hang.

Tips & Warnings

• Use one drop of food coloring for each cup of water for colored snowflakes.

• Make snowflakes in different sizes for more interest.

• Add additional pieces of cut pipe cleaner to snowflake arms for more ornate snowflakes.

• Use only a glass pan when using borax.

• Use caution with a hot glue gun.

• Supervise children.

Resources

• Britton: Borax Crystal Snowflake