You will never guess what happened? A mad wind whirled in and brought ice cold weather, along with a chance for snow tomorrow. Can you believe it? From bikinis to parkas, nuts, simply nuts. But fun because, it now feels like December. Which means, hot chocolate sipping and paper cutting ensues….
I know I gave tips for making these a while back, when I made the paper flower chandelier. And, there are also the paper spider webs, which are a bit different cut. But, snowflakes are so calling me, and with a few cold and rainy days to come, I can't think of anything more fun to do. I so hope you agree?
Whether you know how to make these or not, let's delve into it a little shall we? It is so calming and lovely to just sit and cut paper, whilst listening to music. I choose Windham Hill's Carol of the Bells, a favorite version, for my paper cutting song. The steel drums do me in, I am just crazy about them.
Festive, easy, pretty and bonus, you probably have everything you need to make them.
All you really need are paper and scissors.
I use a little glitter and spray paint on mine, but they are pretty with or without.
Okay so, let's get started.
I am going to make two versions.
One using scrap book paper, and one using everyday printer paper.
I am starting with the scrapbook paper…
Which I cut into 4 squares.
After you cut your 4 squares, take one of the squares, and fold it in half to form a triangle.
Once you have folded it in half and are holding it as I am holding mine in the photo above, you will fold your right corner to the center…
The next step will be to fold the left corner towards the back.
(You are folding it just as you folded the right piece to the front, only, you are folding it to the back, and lining up the edges)
Like so…
Making sure you create a "V" shape.
Now, you will want to cut the tops off, as you see below…
Leaving you with a clean "V" shape, below…
The next cutting part is where you will determine what your snowflake designs will be like. I wing it and try all sorts of crazy cuts.
You can cut into the tops, the sides, and the way bottom. (as you will see below)
BUT, make sure you don't cut through the sides completely. I have marked arrows on the image below, showing you where you do not want to cut through. These are the areas that hold your snowflake together.
Once you have played with your cuts a bit, open up your snowflake and see what you have made. The best part is that you can try again and again…
By the way, I have a great snowflake cutting helper 😉
Next…
Let's try to make a snowflake with standard computer printer paper, since most everyone can scrounge up a piece of printer paper.
With your paper facing you "landscape" style, fold the right corner up to the top of the paper, forming a triangle.
Then, cut off any excess, as you see below…
You will now have a large triangle, that you will fold in half to create a smaller triangle.
You will now fold the right corner, up towards the center…
Next, fold the left side towards the back…
In order to create your "V" shape, as seen below…
Next, cut the tops off like so…
Perfect!
Now, it's time to cut into the top of your "V" shape.
The top cuts create what the outside of your snowflake will look like…
Then make cuts into the sides, as seen below. These are the cuts that create the inner designs of your snowflakes. I also like to make a tiny snip at the bottom point.
Make sure not to cut completely through the sides that hold your snowflake together. You can see those crucial points marked below with arrows.
Once you finish cutting, open up your snowflake to see what you created (the funnest part really).
Inspect your snowflakes well, sniffing them if you'd like, like below, tee hee 😉
After you have as many as you'd like to use as decorations, you can decide if you want to paint them or glitter them, or leave them as they are…
I like to spray paint mine, as it makes them sturdier. But, before the paint dries, I like to throw a few sparkles onto the wet paint, which acts as a glue. Easy as pie!
I have some glitter on hand, along with spray paint in white, clear, gold and silver…
If you are spray painting, make sure you do it outside, for ventilation.
I waited for the rain to let up a little and then ran out there to spray paint my snowflakes. It was cold, but fun!!
As I shared before, I like to sprinkle glitter when the spray paint is still wet. It acts as a glue…
Voila!
Sparkly snowflakes!!
I use the clear spray paint on the fancy scrapbook paper, then toss some iridescent glitter on them. On another snowflake I use silver spray paint, and try different shades of glitter.
Ooooo, aaaah 😉
I love this part…
So pretty, so easy!
I use silver ornament hooks to hang my snowflakes from a strand of lights.
I even hang some from each other, to create length, which allows me to display more.
Then, I sit back and enjoy 😉
And, in one cold evening, with a little paper and a little glitter, it officially feels like December.
Hooray!
Happy snowflake making!
I would love to giveaway one of my snowflakes. Any comments will automatically have their names put into a proverbial hat. I'll draw a name in the next post. The person drawn can choose whichever snowflake he or she wants, does that sound like a deal? Fun fun!
See you soon!
Love, V
ps: Have you seen The Christmas Bunny movie? All of a sudden, I want a barn full of bunnies, oh my!! And the house is decorated just charming! You can watch it instantly on Netflix. I loved it.
Vanessa, I have been trying to convince my boyfriend that we need to watch that movie! It looks like 100 percent cute. Was it enjoyable?
It was heartening and enjoyable, and I cried, and I laughed, and it was
lovely G rated feel good warm your heart stuff 😉 Watch it, it is
wonderful!! 😉
Love your snowflakes as much as I love your little helper… 😉
Love the snowflakes, Vanessa! I especially like the one with the music sheet paper. I may have to try that as I have a lot of Christmas sheet music saved on my computer.
I got my print today! So excited; thank you! It is beautiful and I’ll be out looking for a frame to show it off soon.
Vanessa, I’ve been reading your blog for some time now, but this is the first time I’ve left a comment. I wanted to thank you for posting this snowflake tutorial, it’s the BEST I’ve ever seen! I’m going to try to make some out of some leftover 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper, although that might be too thick…I’ll let you know how they turned out!
Thanks again for posting this,
Blessings,
Victoria from Brushstrokes
well thank goodness
for you sending these instructions!
🙂
down here in florida
we have
rain
rain
rain
coming on wednesday
plus a couple of more days
so
i will get prepared…
to hunker down.
{{ highly Unlikely
we will get snow
unless
SOMETHING freezes over,
if
you
get
my
drift…. }}}
Thank you for the giveaway Vanessa! These are lovely. I haven’t tried to make a snowflake since i was a kid. May have to give it a try. Hugs! deb
I had not heard about the Bunny movie and know I have friends who will love it.
I have been looking for simpler crafts to make with my mom at the nursing home. I had forgotten about snowflake making. Have never tried spray painting them. although it will be a mess we have to try the glitter method.
I have a suddenly empty weekend. I also have a pile of computer paper, scrapbook paper, glue, paint and glitter. I know what I’m doing this weekend!
These are gorgeous! I just bought the most adorable tiny ornament balls from Target and am going to hang them up in my window seat nook, and a couple of these bad boys would look mighty fine along with them! Unfortunately none of that is going to happen for like a week while I am finishing up the semester. Darn school, getting in the way of my decorating!
Darling V,
You are simply fantastic. I love all of your snowflakes, and I sooo appreciate the step by step instructions. So easy, so fun, so wonderfully winter-wonderlandy. And beautiful! I am definitely going to be decorating my room this way for the holiday season!
Thanks so much, and I would love to win one of your snowflakes.
Teehee! xoxoxo
Jessica
A Woodland Fantasy
Yay, snowflakes!!! =D I looove making paper snowflakes! ^-^ I can’t wait to get home & make some…
I’ll have to find my glitter though… can’t remember where I put it. ^-^
XOXO
Hi Miss Vanessa, Here in Michigan we got our first snowfall…Not much as it melted. I know that more is coming. Your snowflakes are wondrous. I love all the sparkle and fine cuts and your instructions were so very clear to follow. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, my internal clock has me rising much too much too much too early at times. My parents are visiting, and I have been conking out in the evening in the middle of conversations!!!
Last night we went on a Christmas home tour of a historical area of town. So enjoyable and inspiring.
Well, on this early morn, I was sooo pleased to find you had popped in here again, this time to show us your beautiful snowflakes and tutorial. Thank you!
OK. That’s just jaw-dropping!
I love your snowflakes! didn’t try them last year, but I think that will be the perfect quiet activity for today. Thanks for the tutorial!
Vanessa,
I love your snowflakes! I hope to try some of these myself. And your helper is beyond precious!
Here in Southern Calif snowflakes are very few. Thanks for sharing your snowflakes, they are beautiful. Looks like something my grandaughter and I could do together.
Now I know why the 14 glitter pack was calling me! This is why we all love you Mz. V!!!!!
I love the way your snowflakes look. They are like snowflowers 🙂
Ooh such a good idea! I cant wait to try this now!
XOXO, Ariel
These are great! My Daughter read the post and wants to make them for our winter wonderland-themed Christmas party!!
Sandy xox
I love these snowflakes very much! Thanx for the tutorial. hugzz…peebee
Ohhhh! I love your snowflakes so much, so inspiring! Specially the silver/purple one!
thank you for yet ANOTHER fun beautiful thing to do at home with my lovies 🙂 I’d love a snowflake!
Hey sis… I used your tips but instead of using scrap or computer paper, I used those cupcake liners our mum put in our stockings last year… you know the toile print ones?… My cuts didn’t come out as good as yours, but they look cool enough to hang.
Thank you so much for this tutorial! I tried to make some the other night but they were def wonky, I see now I was folding them incorrectly. Clear spray paint! Who knew.
Oh sparkles!!!! I love these Vanessa. Thanks for the gorgeous ideas, I’ll definitely have to whip some of these up. I don’t think they could ever be as pretty as yours though.
Lots of love,
Jenn
thanks – I really needed this.They brought a smile to my face. Actually, your site always does.
Oh that was just what I needed as I’m glittering doilies as we speak! Similiar fun and I’m covered in glitter, we’re – sparkling, darling! Love your site, it’s enchanting & inspiring! Thanks!
What a fun post Vanessa! Creative magic as usual! I love popping by to see what you are up to. Usually something magical and these are those!! I’m loving the whole idea of these. Thanks for the tutorial. Have a fun day today!
Magical! Thanks for sharing!
OOOO I just love stuff like this! I’m gonna make some! But first I will watch the Bunny movie! It’s been in my Netflix Que for awhile now. I love your taste, so I know I will enjoy it!
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/photos/photos.htm
~elaine
I am inspired to make snowflakes for our new tree made from lights!
Hi Miss Valencia!! I hope all is well:) I haven’t been able to post a little comment lately, but do know that I always visit with you on your blog!! You know how much it makes me smile! Thanks for sharing the snowflake tutorial. They are stunning!!! I was making snowflakes this weekend out of felt to hang around the house and as always you inspire me, so I am going to make some out of paper too, and hang them all over!!
Take care and Happy Holidays!!
I love your snowflakes, magical! I want to make some with my daughter. :o)
Thank you so much for emailing me with the answer to my garden question.
I sooo love your snowflakes and will definitely have to give them a try. I think the last time I cut out paper snow flakes was in Kindergarten… when Santa was a child ;o)
Have a great day
Always, Queenie
I’m off to make glittery, magical snowflakes. Thanks for the inspiration Vanessa!
I love these as much as last years’ and I have so little decoration right now these are perfect! In doing this and then posting photos! So there!
What a wonderful inspiration, I can’t wait to try making these.
Oh, Vanessa, I feel as though I have been gone a lifetime…..I see I have so many wonderful posts to catch up on clear back to October! These enchanting snowflakes are so lovely for the season….I am putting spray paint on my list today…I think this will be such a fun project that even my kids will adore! We even got snow down here! Yes, we actually did! Enough my son made snowballs! Crazy! We had rain that night, thunder, lightning…had no idea it was going to gift us with a bit of snow during the night….
oooh they’re so pretty. I love the glittered ones. I just put my tree up today now I want to make some of those. Hugs Sara
Love these so much!
Your snowflakes are beautiful! My daughters will have a blast making these 🙂
I love the pics with your adorable fur baby!
That movie looks sweet. I finally got a bunny a little over a year ago. He is so full of personality and curiosity! He’s a white dwarf angora with blue eyes rimmed with dark fur. When he hops around his wispy fur waves like a field of tall grass in the wind.
Thanks for the holiday cheer!
That was fun! Just this morning I was thinking of trying to remember how I use to make them and then I saw your post! Yours are much fancier that the ones I use to make! Thank you Vanessa!
I love the snowflakes…and may I say, as another year comes to an end ,thank you for sharing your blog.It never fails to cheer me up and has recently lifted me from the misery of shingles.Sue x
Oh how VERY magical, Vanessa!!!!! I most especially love the glittery snowflakes. Congrats to your lucky snowflake winner. 🙂 xoxo
I can’t wait to get started on these! I live in a hifh ceiling victorian house, so im going to do hundrds of these to hang from the hall way ceiling 🙂 how cute will they look when the door opens to invites friends in?!
You are so creative! I’m really trying to save money for my daughter’s college education and am looking at having a very lean Christmas. Your ideas are so beautiful, heartfelt and inspiring! They will make wonderful gifts for me to send back home to my family members (many miles away). Thank you so much for making me smile with excitement!
God bless.
I really love the paper snowflakes…great idea and particularly great for a disabled person like myself with a painful muscular disease. It is easy and fun and creative….I remember my youth now….beautiful….
Thank-you.
These are gorgeous…Going to make some to put back for next Christmas..
Oh how I love these snowflakes, I cant wait to finish mand hang them in my bay window, I’m getting my grandkids to make some too, the more the merrier….HOHOHO
I had to do way to many “samples” before I did it right….I maybde slow but I’m always ready to goooo
Beautiful Snowflakes Love them all Great job!!!!
I love his idea. It’s not the same old same old. Thanks so much for sharing.
I have never tried any type of paper cutting, but it is cold outside, I am feeling very hot chocolate and Christmas-ish!
Turning on the music and giving it a go. 🙂 thank you!
lovely.. festive and fun. Thank you~
Tamara <3
Hi Vanessa! Thank you so much for taking time to show us this method of snow flake making. I am wondering if I can have a kiss from your doggie helper? LOL You are fantastic! Thank you! Flakely yours, Cynthia