How to make paper snowflakes

Make your own paper snowflake

With Jack Frost nipping at our toes and leaving lacy patterns on window panes, thoughts have well and truly turned to Christmas, and how we all decorate our houses for the festive season. These paper snowflakes provide a great festive embellishment for anywhere in the house. Attach them to window panes with blue tack or, if your pattern allows for it, make a wreath by tying them together with string through one of the holes at the side and hanging them up.

All you need is a pair of scissors, a square piece of paper and a crafty mind. The best way with this is to make up your own design. 

Top tip
If you’re starting with an A4 piece of paper or a rectangular shape, make a square by folding one corner down to form a triangle and cutting off the excess paper. 

Step one
Begin with your square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.

From the square, fold the piece of paper over to create a triangle.
Paper is folded into a triangle
From the square, fold the piece of paper over to create a triangle.

 Step two
Fold the triangle in half from the top corner to the bottom one, making a smaller triangle. 

Step three
Fold the triangle into three, from left to right as shown here. Try to get these sections as even as possible. 

Begin to fold the triangle into three.
Fold into three.
Begin to fold the triangle into three.
The triangle folded into three from left to right.
Folded into three
The triangle folded into three from left to right.

Step four
Cut across your paper to create a straight edged triangle. 

Cut the points off the bottom of your triangle to form a straight edge.
Cut the points off the triangle to form a straight edged triangle
Cut the points off the bottom of your triangle to form a straight edge.

Step five
Now’s the time to get creative and give your snowflake a pattern. Cut some straight and/or curvy lines into the edges of your paper – these can be different sizes and shapes but be careful not to chop right across the paper or you’ll end up with a much smaller snowflake. 

Cut small holes into the edge of your triangle to create the pattern.
Cutting the paper snowflake
Cut small holes into the edge of your triangle to create the pattern.

Step six
The reveal. Gently unfold your paper to reveal your snowflake and your unique design.

If you're in Grasmere, head to Allan Bank where you'll find a room full of paper, pens and paints to help you get creative. 

Allan Bank in Grasmere Lake District

Getting to Allan Bank 

Allan Bank is set on a hill with views over Grasmere lake and the surrounding fells, a short 10 minute walk from the centre of Grasmere village. We have a very small car park that we reserve for blue badge holders on-site but there are three pay and display car parks in Grasmere village (not National Trust).