How to Make a Paper Snowflake

Doing an easy artistic activity is a great way to spend quality time with a young one or simply to give you something to do. All you need to make a paper snowflake is a single 8.5 by 11 inch piece of white paper (any size will work but standard paper is preferred), a pair of scissors and an imagination. Here are some steps to make a paper snowflake.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Paper

Instructions

1. Lay a piece of 8.5 by 11 inch white paper in front of you. You can use a page from a copy machine or even a page with typing on it already. Your snowflake will look the best if it's plain white.

2. Fold the paper in half horizontally. Cut small sections out all over the paper and round off the corners of the paper. The bigger the cuts you make and the shapelier the cuts are, the more flair your snowflake will have.

3. Fold the paper vertically, and take another few cuts out of it in a different spot than in Step 2. Be careful not to cut too much. You want to make sure the snowflake has something of a design element to it.

4. Fold the paper horizontally again, and carve another shape or two into the edges. Cutting will be much more difficult now, as the paper will be tightly folded on itself.

5. Make a few final cuts, and unfold the paper to see the results. You will have a nicely shaped snowflake design, complete with the intricacies of a natural snowflake.

6. Punch a hole in the part you determine to be the top of the snowflake, and tie some yarn or string through it to hang on display. You can also use a paper clip or simply tape the snowflake to something for all to see.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a big, strong pair of scissors. The easier your paper is to cut, the easier on your hands this activity will be.

• Have a few pieces of paper handy in case you want to start over or create more than just 1 snowflake.

• Be very careful of using scissors with sharp points if you are doing this activity with a child. Monitor the child's use of the scissors at all times. Rounded edged scissors are available at any store that sells school supplies.