How to Make Paper Snowflakes

Kirgami is the Japanese art of cutting paper. If you learn how to make paper snowflakes, then you will be on your way to becoming a Kirgami artisan. So, get the kids involved or just have some fun yourself. When you have finished making a few paper snowflakes, you will have wonderful winter decorations to adorn your windows or hang from your ceiling.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start your snowflake with a square piece of paper. This paper can be of any color or size.

2. Make your first fold by folding one corner of the square to the opposite corner. You should now have a large triangle.

3. Fold this triangle in half and now you should have a smaller triangle.

4. Fold the right side of the triangle over and slightly past the perpendicular center line of the triangle. The point of this right side of the triangle is now slightly below the base of the triangle. Do the same thing with the left side of the triangle. You now have a triangular shape with an inverted "v" at the bottom.

5. Cut a straight line across the bottom, removing the inverted "v." You should be left with a triangle once again.

6. Look at your triangle and notice the top point. This is the center of your snowflake. If you cut this off, you will see a whole in the center of your snowflake.

7. Cut paths from the two base points of the triangle to the top point.

8. Open your paper and reveal the snowflake.

Tips & Warnings

• Experiment with different cuts. An endless number of different snowflakes can be made.
• If you are teaching kids how to make paper snowflakes, you can also teach them about symmetry once you have finished your paper snowflake.
• Leave a large center in your snowflake and write a note on it for a special person. Paper snowflakes can even be used as tags for Christmas gifts.
• Cut a small hole in the top of your paper snowflake and tie string through the end. You can then hang the paper snowflakes from the ceiling.

[Chaddy]

on 12/14/2007 Very nice article and I like how you tied it in with Oragami - a kind of lost art which I believe, is making its way back!!!