I love how each snowflake is different. Recently I discovered how to make paper snowflakes and wanted to share with you this snowflake cutting tutorial. Whether you make them from book pages or not... you'll be able to have a snowstorm of snowflakes around your house. You can even decorate a Christmas tree with them.

 

I’ve been hearing this question a lot lately, “Is there enough snow for you?”

Having lived in West Michigan and in the Buffalo area, I am familiar with snow.  Lots of it.  Record snowfalls.  This year, it snows or seems to snow every day.  Regardless of the amount, it’s enough!

 

Prior to this year’s white avalanche, I shared my winter mantel and asked if anyone wanted me to create a tutorial for making pretty snowflakes.  It seems that I am not the only one who did not know that there was a paper-folding technique that would make all the difference in the world.  So, today, just in case you don’t have enough snow….here’s a snowflake cutting tutorial.

 

Handcut Book Page Snowflakes :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

I chose to make my snowflakes from old book pages, because I love decorating and crafting with book pages….a lot….like here and here and here.  You can choose to make yours from any paper.  Keep in mind that thinner paper will be easier to fold and cut.   Mine were a wee challenge…but I won.

 

Paper Snowflake Tutorial

Supplies:

  • Paper 
  • Scissors
  • Pen/pencil optional

 

Make Snowflakes :: Snowflake Pictorial Tutorial :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Instructions: 

  1. Trim your paper to a 4 inch square.
  2. Fold paper in half.
  3. Fold paper in half once more and crease it at the point of the fold only.
  4. Make a quarter fold as shown. (It took me a few tries to get them even.)
  5. Make the second quarter fold as shown.
  6. Fold the paper in half.
  7. With fingers on the fold, use a pen/pencil to draw a guideline as shown for the first few snowflakes you cut.  Cut your paper across that line.
  8. Continue to keep your fingers on the fold as you cut small triangles.
  9. This is where it gets more difficult.  Work your scissors as you cut curves into the folds of your paper.  Make a few cuts on the fold line which you have been holding.  This is what a finished snowflake looks like still folded.
  10. Carefully unfold your snowflake.  This is one side unfolded.
  11. Continue to unfold your snowflake.  This is the second side unfolded.
  12. Unfold one more time to reveal your completed snowflake.
  13. Using a hot iron, press your snowflakes so they are flat.
  14. If you wish to hang them, a single thread is a nearly invisible hanger.

 

Snowflake Pattern :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

These are completed snowflakes prior to being unfolded and what they look like fully unfolded.  Hopefully it gives you some creative cutting ideas.

Note…A1 shows the fold side that you hold on the (bottom) left and B1 shows the folded side on the (bottom) right.

 

Book Page Snowflakes - Tutorial :: AnExtraordinaryDay.net

 

Every snowflake you create is different, no two are alike, just in nature.

If you look closely, you’ll see that my snowflakes are not perfect.  The irregularity comes from using the heavier book pages, and my inability to fold paper precisely.  [wink]  I confess…I strive toward perfection and did not achieve perfect snowflakes.

You know what?  It’s okay.  When I sat at the table in the dining room and looked over at my bucket of dangling snowflakes I did not notice their imperfections.  Nope.  Instead, I appreciated their individualism and their beauty as a whole.

I guess snowflakes are kind of like us.  We’re not perfect….  Each of us excel or flop at different things…  And we are still beautiful.

 

There’s still snow in the forecast.  Will you accept the challenge to make some inside snow? 

If you’re like me and never learned, or know some else who didn’t take the class to make pretty snowflakes, why not you share or PIN this snowflake cutting tutorial?    It would make my day.

 

Thank you for stopping by today.
I appreciate you and your sweet comments make my day.

Make extraordinary moments…

Diane

To receive FREE bits of inspiration like this
in your inbox or reader, subscribe now.

I’d be delighted if you’d share the goodness here with your friends.
Click any of the sharing buttons at the bottom.

Comments

  1. I love these, Diane! We just got back after 5 (?) days without power, so these are the only snowflakes I want to see for a while! :O)

    • Diane says

      Oh LuAnn….that is terrible. I’m so sorry. I hope everything is okay, now.
      Several years ago we were out of town and there was a terrible storm with the power out. Fortunately I had a friend who checked on my house and we stayed a few more days. That’s the best way to lose your power. 😉

  2. The Quintessential Magpie says

    These are just so cute! I am glad you shared.

    Dropping by for Thrifty Things Friday!

    xo

    Sheila

    • Diane says

      Awwww…thank you soooo much!!!
      Hope your weekend is extraordinary!

  3. Cindy says

    Thanks for posting the tutorial on bookpage snowflakes. These are on my “to make” list for this weekend!

    • Diane says

      Yay!! I’m so glad that you can use it. Have fun! Post a photo on my FB page. I’d love to see how they turn out.

  4. So beautiful! Love that you made these from book pages and they look so whimsical on the birch sticks. Really, so so beautiful!

    • Diane says

      Thank you Audra….they were fun to do. It’s always a surprise when they’re unfolded to see the designs they will reveal.

  5. karen says

    I made many snowflakes as a child, but never as lovely as these. I have never seen a tutorial like this before and I love the look of book pages too.

    • Diane says

      I haven’t seen a tutorial either, Karen. I did see a pattern in a book which you were to copy and follow the lines for folding and cutting. That was the impetus for showing this tutorial. Most of us don’t want to have to copy something, nor have to deal with printed lines showing up. Plus…it wouldn’t be “our” creation. So this is what I came up with….I hope it helps.

      Blessings!

  6. Gwen says

    I used to teach my first and fourth graders. Trace the cool whip lid. Fold to make a taco. Now comes the tricky part. We have to make a teepee!! Take corner and fold to bottom about a third in not straight down. Fold other tip to other side to make the teepee. I’d show it several times and we’d check each others!! Oh we want to cook in our teepee. Lets cut a hole in the top. Now it can be straight or jagged like teeth. You choose. Oh dear we need a door!! So lets cut a triangle out for our door. Oh I want to get more air in my door so I’m cutting little triangles on the inside of the teepee opening. And on the bottom of our teepee? Lets make little triangles so our kitties can come in at night. Oh let’s decorate the side walls of our teepee. Oh but we must be careful not to cut all the way to our door!! Lets cut little triangles. Little half circles. Now lets open them slowly!!! And we had read the book where some snowflakes had lost parts in the storm so it was okay. Or if a dot of tape held a just snipped piece back together I’d allow it. But mostly we would stand in awe for with all of them up together, they did look amazing!!! No two alike.
    And please…pray for snow in our Sierras. Or our farmers will have no water!! As an AG place, we are if compared to countries as well, about hmm is it sixth? Or third? In food production. And we produce oil which needs water for the steam. There is zero allotted to oil. We prayed for rain last night and it sprinkled today. Praise God!!! Alleluia!!! Please join in praying for our worst drought ever recorded. We get all our water in the winter from snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. We need rain here but we really really need snow in all the Sierras Lord. All glory is given to You Lord. Lord in Heaven, Hear our prayers. Amen!!
    And thank you for showing me a new way to snip paper to make gorgeous snowflakes too!! I’m leaving mine up as I pray for more snow and rain!

    • Diane says

      Gwen…you were and still are an amazing teacher. I cannot imagine how fun it was to be in your classroom. Your kids must have been so excited to come to class every day!!

      I will pray about the snow and rain you need. I was not aware.

  7. Gwen says

    I looked it up. California ranks fifth in the world for food supply. California supplies over half our countries food–fruits, nuts, vegetables, dairy….so we really need rain and snowpack. We feed the nation. Lets keep praying. Thank you!!! I’m using my snowflakes as a visual to pray.

    • Diane says

      I pray a prayer of agreement with you. Amen.

    • Diane says

      I knew California was important to my table….but that number is amazing.
      Thanks, Gwen.
      I shared it on FB to pray.

  8. Love this project! Thank you for the great tutorial!

    • Diane says

      Awwww…thanks Ashley. Hope you have fun making a whole snowbank!! 🙂

  9. My snowflakes always look so juvenile. I can’t wait to try yours out. So beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial. Enjoy your weekend!

    • Diane says

      Exactly!!! That’s why I’m sharing this, Brooke. I was so excited when I produced a ‘grown-up’ snowflake I danced around. 😉
      Blessings!!

  10. Another great tutorial on your blog. Love the snowflakes and thanks for sharing at TTF!

    • Diane says

      Thanks Linda! I can’t say I love doing tuts, but I do like helping people get creative. 🙂
      Hope your weekend is Extraordinary!

  11. Thanks so much, I pinned it for future use, so sick of snow right now:)

    • Diane says

      Oh Rondell….on the way home from church it was lightly snowing and it was stunningly beautiful and my husband and I both said….we’ve had enough. 🙂 I guess you really can have too much of a good thing. 🙂
      Thanks for your kind words!

  12. These are beautiful! I used to make these with my children, but I’m going to try some with old book pages. What a great idea!

  13. Michelle H. says

    These are gorgeous, using the book pages is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

    • Diane says

      Thank you Michelle! It was such a fun little project. Hope you give it a try. Providing you want more snow. LOL 😉

  14. These look so pretty!

    • Diane says

      Thank you so much Debbie!
      Hope your week is off to an extraordinary start!

  15. I love these Diane. I just pinned it, but I think I will wait for next year to make them…I don’t think I can face anymore snow right now lol!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

    • Diane says

      Haha!! Yes….I think we’ve had enough snow!!!!

  16. These snowflakes are so perfect! I love um!
    You rock!! 🙂
    hugs x, Crystelle
    Crystelle Boutique

    • Diane says

      You are so sweet, Crystelle! Thanks for putting a smile on my face!

  17. I love the idea of using book pages for the snowflakes! It is so classy!! Next time I read a truly awful book, I will have to try this out! Haha!

    • Diane says

      Haha!! I love it….cut up a bad book….that’ll give it value. 🙂
      Thanks for stopping by and leaving your kind thoughts, Lindsay!

  18. These look so beautiful! Love the subtle book page typography too. 🙂 Thank you for linking up at The Weekend re-Treat Link Party!
    Shannon
    http://www.akadesign.ca

    • Diane says

      You are so kind, Shannon. Thank you!!
      Hope your week is off to an Extraordinary start!

  19. Fabulous Diane! I used to make snowflakes with my kids when I taught K and 1, but they were much bigger and made for little fingers. I like your grown-up directions! I am in the northeast and there is just so much snow outside, with more predicted for tomorrow, but I could see myself adding a few pretty flakes in the house…especially when I don’t have to shovel them! 😉

    • Diane says

      Awwww…thanks Kim! I love that you taught your kids to make snowflakes….I wonder how I missed on that? 😉
      They are so fun to cut out….I know you’ll enjoy making your own snow pile. We have had more than enough snow. I’m so glad the sun came out this morning…if I don’t look out the window it almost feels like spring. Guess…that’s wishful thinking. 😉 Hope the snow doesn’t materialize for you.

  20. Diane! I can not get enough of your projects. You are amazing…seriously. I love your style and your ideas are beautiful. Thanks for linking up at the Link It or Lump It Party! I’m gonna feature this as a mid-week spotlight today on 2IY’s Facebook page. -Melissa

    • Diane says

      Melissa….you truly made my day! Thank you so much for you kind words. I find that I’m drawn to your projects as well. Hmmmmm. 😉
      Thanks for the spotlight, friend!!!

  21. HI Diane, Popping in to tell you that I feature your book page snowflakes this week on Link it or Lump It! Thanks, as always, for linking up. Melissa
    http://www.twoityourself.com/2014/02/link-it-or-lump-it-party-26-plus.html

  22. Diane — Excellent tutorial! I even cleaned the many bookshelves this weekend so I have some books to use. But now I have a dilemma. Do I actually do them and prove that I am still a failure at making snowflakes even with great directions? Or do I dream of the possibilities and bask in the warmth of knowing that I have wonderful directions and could make them if I just would do it? There are the photos of yours to prove how beautiful they would be — and you did say that imperfections are acceptable. . . . 🙂 You are featured this week at Busy Monday! thanks so much for sharing.

    • Diane says

      Oh Charlene….you just put the biggest smile on my face. 😉
      Dreams are good. But experiences are even better…even if they aren’t perfect. That being said….grab a pair of small sharp scissors and have some fun!! [hugs]

  23. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co. says

    I love the idea of using book pages for snowflakes!

    • Diane says

      You’ve got to try you hand at these Sharon. I know you would have so much fun creating and displaying them.
      Blessings!

Trackbacks

  1. […] I mentioned on Facebook that I finally learned how to cut paper snowflakes.  Someone suggested that I might have learned how to cut snowflakes in grade school.  Maybe because there was so much of the real white stuff around there was no need.  Haha!  You probably are a snowflake cutting pro, but on the outside chance that you are not and want to know how, leave a comment, I just might create a little tutorial.  [Note: The tutorial is now up here.] […]

  2. […] Remember my winter birch branch mantel with the hand cut book page snowflakes? […]

  3. […] Fruit  Roll Cake   Creative Chaos — Beautiful Lip Balm   An Extraordinary Day — Book Page Snowflakes: a Tutorial   Jewelry Making Journal – 6 Ways to Wear a 5 foot Long Chain   Skinny Kitchen – Hash […]

  4. […] Pin it :: Book Page Decorating | Snowflake Cutting Tutorial […]

  5. […] How to Make a Book Page Snowflake | Tutorial […]

  6. […] old book pages, don’t they? If you don’t remember exactly how to make them, check out An Extraordinary Day to brush […]

  7. […] Book Page Decorating ~ Snowflake Cutting Tutorial […]

Please Share Your Extraordinary Thoughts!

*

AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.