How to Make Snowflakes From Paper

How to Make Paper Snowflakes—the Easy Way

Follow these simple steps for a flurry of elegant DIY decorations.

Updated on September 20, 2022

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Paper snowflakes perfectly capture the magic of winter snowfalls. And learning how to make them is much easier than you think. From simple paper snowflake designs the kids can make themselves to elaborate creations, every paper snowflake is a little different. These simple steps will help you make an elegant flurry of snowflakes to deck your halls or create a storm of snow for viewing Christmas movies on Netflix.

Luckily, you don't need professional-level craft skills or fancy supplies. Grab ordinary printer paper and follow the folds outlined below, and snip your way to pretty DIY decorations. Once you get the hang of it, be creative with your patterns and experiment with intricate designs.

What You'll Need

8.5-by-12-inch paper
Scissors
Pencil

How to Make Paper Snowflakes

01 of 07

Fold your paper to make a square.

Diagram indicating how to fold piece of paper in half to make a triangle — Marla Christiansen

The easiest way to cut the paper into a perfect square is to fold one corner of the paper to meet the opposite edge, creating a triangle and a rectangle. Then, fold the rectangle into the center, creasing along the edge of the triangle.

02 of 07

Cut a square shape.

Diagram indicating how to cut piece of paper into a square — Marla Christiansen

Open up the piece of paper and cut off the rectangle. You now have a perfect square.

03 of 07

Fold again to create a small triangle.

Fold your paper diagonally, creating a triangle, then fold it in half again to form a smaller triangle.

04 of 07

Fold the triangle into thirds.

Fold the triangle into thirds, being careful to line up the left and right edges of the paper. Trim off the bottom points by cutting along the horizontal edge.

05 of 07

Design your snowflake.

Folded triangle with a design drawn on it — Marla Christiansen

With the paper still folded, create your paper snowflake design. Experiment with different shapes, sizes, and styles to create a variety of designs and patterns. Have fun with it!

06 of 07

Cut carefully along the stencil.

Cut out your paper snowflake pattern, making sure to keep some of the folded edges intact or your snowflake will fall apart.

07 of 07

Reveal your final snowflake.

finished paper snowflake — Marla Christiansen

Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your unique paper snowflake. That's it! Now you have festive paper snowflakes you can use as creative touches for wrapping holiday gifts, winter wonderland home decor, and more.

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