How to Make and Decorate a Paper Snowflake

The snowflake is one of nature's most beautiful and delicate works of art. Create your own paper snowflakes and hang them around your home to welcome the coming of winter. Follow the steps below to easily create a snowflake with six points, just like real snowflakes. Make cuts that are as simple or detailed as you like, and sprinkle your creations with glitter to make them sparkle. You will discover that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. This project is suitable for children and adults, and is an easy and inexpensive way to brighten your home for the holidays.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper Scissors Glitter Markers Tape

1. Start with a square piece of paper. Choose any color, but remember that snowflakes are traditionally white. Thin paper, like tissue paper, is easier to cut, but it's also more delicate than construction paper.

2. 
    
   Paper After the Second Fold

   Fold the paper in half across the diagonal, and then in half again.

3. 
    
   Paper After the Third Fold

   Hold the paper so that the diagonal runs from the bottom left corner to the top, as in the picture in Step 2. Fold the top of the triangle half way down as seen in the picture below.

4. 
    
   Final Fold and First Cut

   Fold the paper in half one more time, as pictured. Then cut straight across the dotted line as shown. After making this cut the paper will be a triangle.

5. 
    
   Labeled Triangle

   Cut out a design in the folded paper. For a six-point snowflake, leave a path between the two corners that are on the side of the triangle that opens up (as pictured below, points "B" and "A"), and cut off the third corner (point "C"). The more detailed the cuts, the more detailed the final snowflake will be.

6. 
    
   Snowflake Before Being Unfolded

   Once you have cut out a design you like, unfold the paper to see what your snowflake looks like. Leave the snowflake in a heavy book overnight to get rid of the creases left from folding the paper.

7. Decorate the snowflake with glitter and markers. Don't use too much glitter or it will weigh down the snowflake. A white snowflake sprinkled with white or silver glitter is elegant and festive. Tape the completed snowflake to windows or walls. White snowflakes stand out beautifully when contrasted against a dark background.

Tips & Warnings

• Make several snowflakes using different sizes of paper. Fold the paper for young children. Have children that are too young to use scissors draw a design on the paper, and then cut it out for them.