Rebecca’s gift for 2010: How to make a 3D paper snowflake in 10 easy steps
The holidays are over. Lights have come down, menorahs are packed away for next year, and tinsel-strewn trees are piled high at the curb. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the winter has to be dreary and decoration-free. Hanging in a window or against a brightly-painted wall, cut paper snowflakes can lend cheer to the blustery days ahead. Plus, they’re a great way to reuse office scrap paper before it hits the recycling bin.Here’s what you’ll need to make your own:
- scissors
- double-stick tape
- six (6) equally-sized paper squares
A note on size: Using 8.5-inch squares cut from regular letter-sized paper will result in really big snowflakes. This is great if that’s the look you’re going for. But squares cut closer to 4 inches will result in flurries of a more manageable size.
1. Start with a square sheet of paper.
2. Fold the sheet in half diagonally to form a triangle.
3. Fold the triangle in half again. The open edges should be along the bottom.
4. Starting at the folded edge, make three parallel cuts, stopping a little bit before you reach the opposite edge.
5. Unfold and flatten out the sheet. You should have a series of v-shaped cuts on both sides.
6. Bring the two smallest points together to form a narrow cylinder and attach with a small piece of double-stick tape.
7. Flip the sheet over and tape together the second-smallest pair of points.
8. Continue to flip and tape until all points have been paired up. Repeat steps 1-8 with all six paper squares.
9. Line up all six pieces, and tape together the outermost points.
10. Pull the two end pieces around to form a circle, and tape the edges together. Tape together the center points as well. Attach a ribbon, hang, and enjoy.
