How to Make Paper Snowflakes with Kids

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Making paper snowflakes has become a holiday tradition in our house. In fact, my girls asked just the other day, “When are we going to make snowflakes?” Instead of going out and buying special paper to make our snowflakes from, we take a much greener approach. Our snowflakes come from the pages of old magazines. I find it amazing how the pages are completely transformed into beautiful snowy flakes. Making paper snowflakes is addictive – I guarantee once you start, your house will look like a snow storm hit. A perfect way to recycle and get crafty with the kids this holiday season.

How to Make Paper Snowflakes with Kids

Christmas magazines, catalogues

cereal box
ruler
pencil
scissors, kid scissors

Draw an 8″ square on a cereal box then cut out the square…this will be the template.

Next, tear brightly colourful pages from old magazines – the best pages are red, green, white or blue pages. The thinner the pages the easier they will be to fold. Trace and cut out the square template from a magazine page.

1. Fold the square in half, corner to corner, creating a triangle.
2. Fold the paper in half again, corner to corner, thus creating a smaller triangle.
3. Fold the triangle into thirds…this may take a couple of tries…the folded sides need to all meet and create a tightly folded, long and narrow triangle.

Trim the excess ends from the top…the “tail” pieces.

Now the creating begins…cut pieces away from the triangle, however you like…it’s time to experiment.

When all the cutting is done, open the folds and look at the beautiful, one of a kind, snowflake you have made.

I love the look of excitement on my daughter’s face as she opened her very first flake. She had the same reaction with each flake she made. It truly is incredible to see what a little folding and cutting can create. As my daughters have gotten older and more experienced, they have created some beautiful flakes. Admittedly, sometimes the flakes fall apart…if they are cut too much…but this is all part of trial and error and learning.

Now, what to do with all those paper snowflakes? Hang them from the ceiling, use them as decoration on Christmas gifts or hang them on the Christmas tree. It is easy to vary the size of the initial square and make big and small flakes too. A lovely way to personalize a special gift.

Have you ever made paper snowflakes?

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