How To Cut Elegant Paper Snowflakes

We all probably learned how to make a simple a paper snowflake at some point in our childhoods, but here's the "grown up" version of this favorite child hood wintertime craft.

Folding the paper

Four Pointed Snowflake/Star

1. Fold the paper in half 
2. Fold the paper in half again, making quarters. 
3.   Fold each folded edge over to touch its opposite folded edge. 
4. Cut away waste paper. This will make a four pointed snowflake with a pattern that repeats four times. 

Six Pointed Snowflake/Star

1. Fold the paper in half. 
2.    Fold the paper into 60 degree angles from the folded edge of the paper. 
3. Cut away waste paper (anything that is less than six layers). 
4. Stop at this point to make a star/snowflake with a pattern that repeats only three times. 
5. Fold the paper in half again, so that the two folded edges lie atop each other. This will make a 6 pointed snowflake with a pattern that repeats six times. 

Cutting

1. Cut the raw edges first. These will become the outside edge of your snowflake, so make them as interesting as you like. Cutting one side of the outer edge further away from the center than the other will yield "points" that stick out in the manner of a "real" snowflake.
2. Cut one divot from each folded edge, keeping your cuts parallel to previous cuts, and taking large chunks of paper from the base.
   • If your scissors begin cutting on one folded side, they must also end cutting on that same side. If you begin on one side and end on the other side, you will suddenly be making a much smaller snowflake.
3. Keep in mind that elegant means simple. Three larger cuts to your snowflake blank will generally yield better results than 10 smaller cuts.
4. Make your cuts parallel and equidistant from each other, to give a more "finished" or "polished" look to the craft.
5. Leave only 20-25% of your blank. (Cut away 75-85% of your blank.)
   • Use smooth, flowing curves for best results at first - This will make achieving "the look" easier. Attempt cutting the more angular flakes after you've mastered the tips.

Examples

•  A "typical" Gradeschool snowflake. 
•  Inspired by a church rose window. 
•  Angel. 
•  Abstract. 
•  Geometric. 
•  Five cuts. 
•   Three cuts. 
•  Way too many cuts... but still fun! 

Examples

Finished examples:

Tips

• Sharp scissors make this MUCH easier.
• If you can imagine or "see" the outline of something, you can probably cut it.
• You can sketch your pattern lightly in pencil on the blank if you need some extra help.
• The fewer cuts the better. 3-5 is the best range. Anything more or less than that gets pretty choppy pretty quickly.
• The neatness of the initial folds determines the overall symmetry of your snowflake.
• Always leave at least half an inch of each folded side left uncut. Any less than that, and the snowflake will be too delicate to hang.
• You also could use a utility knife for smaller cuts. Make sure to have something underneath protecting your work surface.

Warnings

• Scissors are edged tools. Handle with appropriate caution.

Things You'll Need

• White paper
• Utility Knife (optional)
• Sharp Scissors