Cut paper snowflakes

A paper snowflake is a square of paper, a few folds and some snipping, and no two come out the same. You can make one in a few minutes with things already in a drawer. It works whether or not it snows where you live, and a window fills up fast.

Choosing paper and a place to work

Printer paper is the easy default. Thin paper folds more times without getting bulky, and thicker paper holds its shape. Coffee filters, tissue paper and baking parchment all work too. Sit at a table with good light and a surface you don’t mind cutting near.

Sharp scissors matter. Blunt ones crush the layers instead of cutting them, and the edges come out ragged. Small scissors with a pointed tip are easiest for tiny cuts.

What to bring, beyond the list

• A pencil, if you like to draw your cuts first.
• A heavy book or two, for flattening the finished snowflakes.
• A bowl or trash can for the snippets, which get everywhere.

How to make a paper snowflake

1. Make a square. Fold one corner of a sheet of printer paper down to the opposite edge so it forms a triangle, then cut off the leftover strip. Unfold and you have a square.
2. Fold it in half corner to corner, into a triangle, with the long edge at the bottom.
3. Fold it in half again, bringing one bottom corner to the other, into a smaller triangle.
4. For six points, fold into thirds. Fold one side of the triangle over toward the middle, about a third of the way, then fold the other side over it. You end up with a narrow wedge. For a simpler eight-point snowflake, skip this step and fold the triangle in half once more.
5. Trim the top straight or in a curve so the edge is even.
6. Cut shapes out of both long edges: triangles, half-circles, slits and notches. Leave some paper between the cuts so the snowflake stays in one piece.
7. Unfold slowly, one layer at a time, because thin paper tears easily.
8. Flatten and hang. Press it under a heavy book, then tape it up.

What goes wrong

• It falls apart in pieces. A cut went all the way across a fold. Leave a little paper at each fold so the pieces stay joined.
• It is too bulky to cut. There are too many layers. Use thinner paper, or fold fewer times.
• It looks like a blob. Make fewer, larger cuts. Big triangles and curves read better than many tiny snips.
• The creases won’t flatten. That’s normal. Press it under books, or use a cool iron between two sheets of paper.
• It tore when unfolding. Open from the centre outward, slowly, and tape the tear on the back.

Using what you made

Tape the snowflakes to a window with a small loop of tape on the back, staggered at different heights so they look scattered. You can also thread them on string as a garland, glue one on a card, or use them as gift tags. Low-tack tape is kinder to paint, especially if you rent.

Ways to vary it

• Change the size. A square cut from a larger sheet gives a bigger snowflake with room for finer cuts, and a small square makes a tiny one for a gift tag.
• Change the paper. White is classic, but pale blue, silver or patterned paper looks lovely against dark glass. Coffee filters give a soft, lacy effect.
• Change the cuts. Try only straight snips for a geometric look, or only curves for a floral one. Cut the folded edge as well as the open ones.
• Make a set. Cut several in different sizes and hang them at different heights so the window looks like falling snow.
• Add a pattern. Fold two or three sheets at once, if the paper is thin, and cut them together to make matching snowflakes.

Make it a winter evening

Ten minutes is enough, so make one whenever you have a gap. Put some music on and cut a handful while the light fades. When the window is full, see if you can catch the day of the first snow and compare yours with the real thing, or look at snowflakes up close.