How to Make Star Paper Snowflakes

Kenneth Libbrecht, professor of physics at California Institute of Technology, officially studies snowflakes and according to the news website wired.com, Libbrecht claims that when it comes to snowflakes: "... no two have ever been the same, or ever will be." Thus when making a paper snowflake as a holiday trinket or to adorn a Christmas tree, you have a range of choices of possible snowflake shapes. Some snowflakes look like elaborate crystals, whereas others distinctly resemble stars.

Things You'll Need

• 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Lay the paper in front of you horizontally on a flat surface. Fold the top right corner down to meet the bottom edge. Fold the crease firmly down. You should now have a diagonal fold and a vertical strip of unfolded paper on the left.

2. Cut away the strip of unfolded paper. You now have a triangle. Fold your triangle in half perfectly.

3. Fold this smaller triangle in half again perfectly. You now have a smaller triangle: two of the sides of this triangle have folds, the third side does not.

4. Cut notches into each of the folded sides. This will help shape it into a snowflake.

5. Cut smaller triangles from the tips of your triangle: when you unfold your snowflake you will see a star shape in the center.

References

• Danielle's Place: Winter Crafts
• High Hopes: Snowflakes
• Wired: Science Discoveries