How to fold paper for a six-pointed snowflake
- Start with a square. From a Letter or A4 sheet, fold one corner down to the opposite edge and cut off the strip below it.
- Fold the square corner to corner into a triangle, with the fold at the bottom.
- Find the middle of the folded edge and pinch it lightly. That point becomes the center of the snowflake.
- Fold into thirds from the middle: fold the right side up and over so it makes a 60° angle at the middle point, then fold the left side over the top of it. Line up the edges so the three layers match.
- Fold in half lengthwise, keeping the point at the bottom. You now have a narrow wedge, 12 layers thick.
- Cut: cut out a template along its outline, lay it on the wedge with its point on the center point, staple or hold it in place, and cut away the gray parts through all the layers. Unfold slowly.
Real snowflakes have six arms because ice crystals grow in hexagons. Folding a square in half three times gives four or eight arms instead; folding into thirds is what makes six.
Tips for crisp snowflakes
- Use thin paper. Plain printer paper works, but 12 layers are thick; origami paper, tissue paper or thin wrapping paper is easier to cut.
- Small, sharp scissors make the fine cuts. Cut the inner shapes first and the outline last, while the wedge is still stiff.
- Holes in the middle of a detailed template don't touch an edge. Cut them with a craft knife on a cutting mat, or skip them.
- Flatten the snowflake by pressing it inside a heavy book for an hour, or iron it on low with a sheet of paper on top.
What to do with them
- Windows: stick them on with a tiny loop of tape, or a dab of water and dish soap that wipes off later.
- Garlands and mobiles: string them on thread at different heights.
- Gift toppers and cards: glue a white snowflake on dark wrapping paper, or a small one on the front of a card next to a gift tag.