Three-dimensional paper snowflakes look great, especially when hung on the window or on the ceiling. They are very easy to make winter decorations, perfect for Christmas.
Steps
Step 1. Gather the necessary materials
You will need 6 pieces of paper (white copier paper will do, although you can also use paper of different types and colors), scissors, clear tape, and a stapler.
Step 2. Fold each of the 6 pieces of paper in half, diagonally
If the pieces of paper you're using don't form a perfect triangle when folded, cut out the protruding rectangular edge to line up perfectly. You should get a square folded into a triangle. Fold the triangle in half, noting where the folded "bottom" of the triangle is.
Step 3. Cut 3 strips into the triangle
Place the scissors along the crease at the bottom, parallel to one of the edges going up towards the top (the cuts should be diagonal). Cut almost to the outer edge, but not completely. Try to keep the same distance between the various cuts. This may be particularly difficult when using thick paper, due to the various layers to be cut. When you open the triangle into a larger triangle, it should look like the one in the image.
Step 4. Open the sheet completely
Turn it so that one corner of the square faces you. It should now look like the image.
Step 5. Keeping the sheet open, roll the two middle (innermost) sections together to form a tube, and stick them together with tape
You should be able to see a triangle next to each side of the 'tube'.
Step 6. Turn the square the other way
Take the following two strips (working from the inside out) and roll them up by gluing them together with masking tape, just like you did in the previous step, but in the opposite direction. This will give you another tube, but more rounded and larger than the previous one.
Step 7. Continue joining the various strips of paper, alternating opposite sides, as in the previous steps, until the strips of paper are all joined
Step 8. Repeat Steps 3 to 7 with the remaining 5 pieces of paper
Step 9. Join 3 sheets of paper that you just rolled up and completed with the help of the stapler
Join the other 3 sheets in the same way. You will now have two pieces, each consisting of 3 sections. For smaller snowflakes, it will be easier to use double-sided tape or modeling glue instead of the stapler.
Step 10. Join the two pieces together by pinning them in the middle
Step 11. Put a pin also where the 6 sections meet
It is used to fix the shape of the snowflake.
Step 12. Finished
Advice
- If you want the snowflake to have a more eye-catching look, use modeling glue or sticky drops (often used to glue credit cards in missives or CDs to the covers of some weeklies). These adhesive drops can be purchased in specialized stores in various formats, more or less strong.
- Take a look at the Sources and Quotes for 2-dimensional snowflakes, suitable for the youngest, or the less patient.
- You don't need to be an artist to succeed in this project. Give it a go!
- If you want to “liven up” the snowflakes, add glitter in various colors. Remember though, these snowflakes won't be easy to store and reuse, as they will easily spoil over time and will likely need to be thrown away once used.
- If you intend to make larger snowflakes, you will need larger sheets of paper and you will need to make more cuts. Before proceeding with a more complex project, it is a good idea to practice the dimensions suggested in this tutorial, after which you can experiment with different dimensions.
- If a "perfect" snowflake is what you are looking for, make sure the cuts made on each piece of paper are identical.
- Be patient. This project should not be done in a hurry, but rather is a pastime to devote to relaxing and concentrating.
- Use paper or model glue for best results. If you have difficulty fixing the glue, hold the two sections to be glued together with a paper clip until the glue has dried (2-7 minutes).
- Work slowly and with a steady hand. Haste will likely ruin your snowflake, or worse, you could cut yourself using scissors.
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Supplies for Paper Snowflakes You can vary the color of the paper if you are making Christmas decorations, choosing it red or green for example. A few scraps of wrapping paper will work fine too, just remember that one side will appear white while the other will be colored. You could also use aluminum foil or laminated wrapping paper.
- You can also attach these snowflakes to wooden rods or skewers, so they spin with the wind, but you'll need to attach them using a pin or something similar.
