How to Make Paper Snowflakes

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When moisture condenses and freezes on a window, some say that Jack Frost has stopped by, leaving the lacy pattern as a souvenir. Learn how to fold, cut, and decorate your own blizzard of paper snowflakes.

Photography: Victoria Pearson

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Create a Blizzard's Worth of Snowflakes

For you, the options are endless: Grace your window panes with paper snowflakes, encircle them in a wreath, decorate a tree, or add them to wrapped gifts and cards. Kids can happily occupy themselves cutting out dozens of paper snowflakes. Then adults can step in with thread and tape, and together you can watch your family's own gentle blizzard materialize.

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Fold the Paper in Half

Start with a square piece of paper. Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
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Fold into Another Triangle

Now, fold the triangle in half so the pointy corners meet.
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Fold into Thirds

Fold your triangle into thirds.
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Fold and Make Adjustments

Fold into the shape as shown. You may need to adjust these folds a little to get the sides to match up, so don't crease the paper until the folds are just right.
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Cut Across Bottom

Cut across the bottom of your paper so it is straight.
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Cut Lines into Triangle

Cut the folded paper with variations of straight and curvy lines. Get creative with your snowflake designs by experimenting with different sizes and shapes of cutouts.
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Unfold Paper

Gently unfold the paper to see your unique snowflake. Use poster putty to attach to windowpanes, or make a wreath of snowflakes by sticking them one at a time to a wall with poster putty.
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Now Watch How It's Done

Paper snowflakes are always fun to create with the kids. Each one is always a little bit different! They're perfect to create garland or use as a gift tag for the holidays.

Watch the Paper Snowflake Video
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Hanging From Above

Place these around the house to add shimmery snow effects anywhere in your house! Make them out of paper and — for extra sparkle — glitter. Hang flakes on loops of thread or monofilament; attach to the ceiling with white paper tape.
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Photography: Janelle Jones

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A Wintry White Tree

Bring winter indoors and make your tree twinkle with paper snowflake ornaments. Hang your lacy patterns with a paper clip bent open to form an S.

Learn How to Decorate a Christmas Tree in Snowflakes
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Garland Decorations

Festoon your living room in garlands of shimmering snowflakes. To make flakes sparkle, apply spray adhesive or dab gently with a sponge-tipped glue applicator, then sprinkle with glitter. Shake off excess, let dry, then thread onto satin ribbon.
Photography: Aaron Dyer

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A Larger-than-Life Backdrop

And while kids' one-of-a-kind examples look charming, using a template allows you to create spectacular snowflakes that double as party décor (like this backdrop for an hors d’oeuvres buffet).

Get the Paper Snowflakes Backdrop How-To