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Maximize Your Learning Potential with Free Digital Note-Taking Tools

In today’s digital age, traditional pen and paper note-taking methods are slowly being replaced by innovative digital tools. These free digital note-taking tools not only help you stay organized, but also enhance your learning potential. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who simply loves to take notes, these tools offer a wide range of features to make your note-taking experience seamless and efficient. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using free digital note-taking tools and how they can revolutionize the way you learn.

Convenience and Accessibility

One of the primary advantages of using free digital note-taking tools is the convenience and accessibility they offer. With these tools, you no longer need to carry around heavy notebooks or worry about misplacing important information. All your notes are stored digitally and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Additionally, these tools often come with synchronization features that allow you to access your notes across multiple devices seamlessly. This means you can start taking notes on your laptop during a lecture and continue editing them on your smartphone while commuting. The ability to access your notes anytime, anywhere ensures that you never miss out on important information.

Organization and Searchability

Another compelling feature of free digital note-taking tools is their ability to keep your notes organized and easily searchable. Unlike physical notebooks where finding specific information can be time-consuming, digital platforms offer search functionalities that enable quick retrieval of specific keywords or phrases.

These tools often provide various organization options such as creating folders or tags for different subjects or topics. You can categorize your notes in a way that makes sense to you, making it effortless to locate them when needed. Additionally, some advanced note-taking apps even have optical character recognition (OCR) capabilities that allow you to search for text within images or scanned documents.

Collaboration and Sharing

Free digital note-taking tools also excel in fostering collaboration and sharing among individuals. Whether you’re working on a group project or sharing study materials with classmates, these tools make it easy to collaborate in real-time.

Many note-taking apps allow users to share their notes with others, either by granting them view-only access or enabling them to edit the content. This feature is particularly beneficial for students who can create shared study guides or professionals who need to collaborate on meeting minutes or brainstorming sessions. By leveraging the collaborative features of these tools, you can enhance teamwork and productivity while maximizing your learning potential.

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In addition to convenience, organization, and collaboration, free digital note-taking tools offer a plethora of enhanced features that can elevate your note-taking experience. These features include the ability to add multimedia elements such as images, audio recordings, and even video clips to your notes.

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Furthermore, certain advanced note-taking apps offer intelligent features like text recognition that can convert handwritten notes into searchable text. This feature eliminates the need for manual transcription and saves valuable time.

Free digital note-taking tools have revolutionized the way we capture information and learn. With their convenience, organization capabilities, collaboration features, and enhanced functionalities, these tools empower individuals to maximize their learning potential.

Whether you’re a student looking for a more efficient way to take lecture notes or a professional seeking a tool that streamlines meeting minutes, there is an abundance of free digital note-taking options available for you. Embrace technology’s role in learning and unlock new possibilities with these innovative tools today.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes

Try one of our printable templates, then invent your own. With a little practice, you'll craft a whole flurry.

An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.

The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing.

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to decorate your home for the holidays is with paper snowflakes. A few quick snips with the tips of your scissors is all it takes to make a whole flurry that you can use to decorate your tannenbaum, gifts, windows, walls, and beyond.

Start with a square piece of paper—then follow our step-by-step tutorial on how to fold, cut, and create a six-pointed snowflake. When choosing paper, remember that lightweight paper (wrapping paper, tissue paper, or crepe paper) is easy to cut but more fragile for decorating. Medium to heavy-weight paper (butcher paper, card stock, or text-weight poster paper) is harder to cut but is more sturdy for decorating.

With supervision, kids can happily occupy themselves by cutting out snowflakes by the dozens. Then adults can step in to help decorate your home. Together, you can watch your family's own blizzard materialize.

What You'll Need

• 12" by 12" paper
• Craft scissors
• Snowflake templates (optional)

Instructions

Gather your paper:.

Start with a square piece of paper.

To cut a perfect square from a standard 8-by-11-inch sheet of paper, fold paper into a right-angled triangle; trim off excess.

Fold Paper in Half:

Fold paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.

Fold Paper in Half Again:

Fold paper triangle in half so that the pointed corners meet.

Fold Paper Into Thirds:

Fold paper triangle in thirds, overlapping the lefthand pointed corner over the triangle.

Overlap Pointed Corner Over Triangle:

Overlap the righthand pointed corner over the triangle. (Note: You may need to adjust these folds a little to get the sides to match up, so don't crease the paper until the folds are just right.)

Trim Pointed Ends:

Trim the pointed ends so the paper triangle looks as shown.

Cut Out Snowflake:

Cut your folded paper with variations of cutouts. (Tip: The ones with straight lines are easier to make than the ones with curvy lines.)

Optional: If using one of our downloadable templates, scale to your paper size, print, and cut out. Staple template to folded paper in areas to be cut out and use craft scissors to cut uncovered portions and along all solid lines. 

Unfold Snowflake:

Unfold it gently. Don't worry if your snowflake isn't exact: No two snowflakes are ever alike.

To smooth out any creases from folding, lightly iron one paper snowflake at a time on a low setting. You can also spritz a little spray starch to stiffen and flatten out the snowflakes.

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes for the Holiday Season

Grab paper and scissors to bring this easy 3D craft to life. It's the perfect DIY for kids and adults!

Show off your creativity this winter with one of our favorite seasonal crafts: making paper snowflakes.

Gather all of your materials, including scissors and paper, and follow our step-by-step tutorial below to make classic paper snowflakes and 3D paper snowflakes. Both are beginner-friendly and require a bit of cutting and folding. You can watch the video above on how to make paper snowflakes to help visualize exactly how they should look. The best part? It's an easy DIY for kids and adults alike.

How to Make a Classic Paper Snowflake

• Optional: Paper Snowflake Templates

Instructions:

Tip: Smooth out creases using a low heat setting on your iron.

What Paper and Scissors Should I Use to Make My Snowflakes?

Any scissors should work as long as they are durable and sharp. You may find children's scissors too dull to cut paper snowflakes. However, this can also depend on the type of paper used to make them. Printer paper, construction paper, parchment paper and newsprint paper are all great materials for this craft.

How to Make 3D Paper Snowflakes

• 6 pieces of paper

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping , where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine . She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions , in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community , a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes—the Easy Way

Follow these simple steps for a flurry of elegant DIY decorations.

Marla is a freelance home expert for RealSimple.com, where she offers eco-friendly solutions for the home.

Highlights: * Has worked as a fact checker for Real Simple since 2022 * Worked as a staff writer for Mochi Magazine * Currently runs and operates the United States blog for Student Beans

Paper snowflakes perfectly capture the magic of winter snowfalls. And learning how to make them is much easier than you think. From simple paper snowflake designs the kids can make themselves to elaborate creations, every paper snowflake is a little different. These simple steps will help you make an elegant flurry of snowflakes to deck your halls or create a storm of snow for viewing Christmas movies on Netflix .

Luckily, you don't need professional-level craft skills or fancy supplies. Grab ordinary printer paper and follow the folds outlined below, and snip your way to pretty DIY decorations. Once you get the hang of it, be creative with your patterns and experiment with intricate designs.

What You'll Need

• 8.5-by-12-inch paper

How to Make Paper Snowflakes

Fold your paper to make a square..

The easiest way to cut the paper into a perfect square is to fold one corner of the paper to meet the opposite edge, creating a triangle and a rectangle. Then, fold the rectangle into the center, creasing along the edge of the triangle.

Cut a square shape.

Open up the piece of paper and cut off the rectangle. You now have a perfect square.

Fold again to create a small triangle.

Fold your paper diagonally, creating a triangle, then fold it in half again to form a smaller triangle.

Fold the triangle into thirds.

Fold the triangle into thirds, being careful to line up the left and right edges of the paper. Trim off the bottom points by cutting along the horizontal edge.

Design your snowflake.

With the paper still folded, create your paper snowflake design. Experiment with different shapes, sizes, and styles to create a variety of designs and patterns. Have fun with it!

Cut carefully along the stencil.

Cut out your paper snowflake pattern, making sure to keep some of the folded edges intact or your snowflake will fall apart.

Reveal your final snowflake.

Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your unique paper snowflake. That's it! Now you have festive paper snowflakes you can use as creative touches for wrapping holiday gifts, winter wonderland home decor, and more.

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How to Make 6-Pointed Paper Snowflakes

Introduction: How to Make 6-Pointed Paper Snowflakes

This step by step guide will teach you how to make SIX pointed paper snowflakes. Most people make (and most how-tos teach) snowflakes with four or eight points. Real snowflakes in nature form with six points (or occasionally three if they formed weird) so I choose to make my own with six points.

Be sure that you follow each step carefully. Each step is one fold, but some steps have two pictures shown to help explain things, so please read the description underneath.

Instructables.com doesn't always show all of the steps on one page, so hit "next" to go on to the next step. Steps 4-6 tend to be the trickiest, so step 6 has an extra image to hopefully help explain better for those who are having difficulty.

All you will need for this is paper and scissors. Some people like to use fancy paper, but I use plain white copy paper because somehow the simplicity of white is more beautiful to me. If you want to view a gallery of my snowflakes, see me on Flickr: Paper Snowflake Gallery . Remember to rate this Instructable!

Step 1: Start With a Square

First, begin with a square piece of copy paper.

I have outlined the edges of my paper in blue to make it easier to follow along with the steps. As I fold, I keep the paper in place, so you shouldn't need to rotate or flip over the paper to follow along (unless otherwise stated). Just fold it exactly as it shows.

(TO MAKE A SQUARE: You can make a square from a rectangular piece of paper simply by folding one corner down to form an isosceles triangle and trimming off the excess paper. See second picture.)

I usually make two snowflakes for every 8.5"x11" piece of paper, so I first cut the paper in half, and then make a square from each half. This makes a snowflake about 5" across. If you're just learning to make snowflakes, using a full piece of paper for each snowflake may be easier to practice with.

Step 2: Fold in Half Diagonally.

Fold the square of paper diagonally to make a triangle.

(Note that I have marked the center of the paper square with a yellow star, as well as outlines of what the paper looked like before it was folded. This is just to help make a reference point for following along.)

Step 3: Fold in Half Again.

Fold this larger triangle in half to make a smaller triangle.

Step 4: Fold One Third.

Imagine this triangle in thirds (as shown in the first picture), and then fold the right "third" over, as shown in the second picture. If you want to be precise and have a protractor, each "third" in this step is a 30 degree angle.

Step 5: Fold Again.

Fold the left third over. Try to get all of the folds to line up as close as possible for the most symmetrical snowflake.

Step 6: Cut the "top" Off at an Angle.

Flip your folded paper over so that you're looking at the back. Then, cut off the top of the paper at an angle. Make sure to cut if off so that all remaining layers of paper are equal. As you can see, I'm basically cutting off all of those excess blue edges.

Cutting at an angle is what makes the points of the snowflake. Eventually, you'll learn to cut at different angles to make snowflakes with points that are more or less sharp.

BONUS: The extra image shown in this step is from a worksheet I made for a class, which just re-explains steps 4-6 for those who may have a harder time visualizing the "fold in thirds" part. If you've already got the hang of it, just ignore the second picture and continue on to step 7.

Step 7: Shape It!

This is where your imagination comes in. Begin cutting away from the sides of the paper. Usually, cutting small triangles from the sides is easiest, but don't forget to try other shapes.

Be careful not to cut all the way from one side to the other, or else you'll chop your snowflake in half!

In this particular snowflake, I cut the top edge (that original angle that we chopped off) to make the points turn out differently, I added some spiky cuts around the middle there, and I snipped off the very bottom at an angle (which will make a star shape in the middle of the finished snowflake).

I don't use patterns for my snowflakes: I just cut as I go. My snowflakes are never the same because I don't usually plan out my snowflakes. Sometimes I find a new cut or shape that I like, and I may use the same technique on a different snowflake, but I don't copy the whole snowflake.

Step 8: Unfold to Reveal!

Unfold the paper very carefully.

The snowflake will not lay flat right away, so I like to tuck them between the pages of a book for a while before displaying them. I have also ironed them (between two pieces of plain paper) to make them extra flat. Watch out though, because paper can get very hot to the touch when ironed (don't use steam!) so be sure to let it cool for a second before handling the paper, and as always excercise caution to avoid fire and burns. Ironing them also seems to make them a tiny bit stiffer, which could be good if you want to hang them rather than tape them to a surface.

Step 9: Tips!

Materials: - Make sure you have sharp scissors and clean hands. Dirty hands make for dingy snowflakes! -Some people recommend using cuticle scissors so that you can make even more intricate snowflakes. I don't like this for two reasons. First, cuticle scissors are not comfortable in your hand. A comfortable grip is essential. Second, it is possible to get too intricate. Too many tiny snips and not enough shaping will just make your snowflakes look like lace doilies. -Snowflake experts recommend using tracing paper and an X-acto knife to make snowflakes, to make them even more delicate and more perfectly symmetrical. However, I still like plain paper and scissors, since those are things that anyone has and you can use them with kids. -Some people like to use wrapping paper or other fancy paper to make their snowflakes. Use whatever you like to create the desired effect. I stick with plain white copy paper because somehow I get a lot of satisfaction from creating something so beautiful from something so ordinary. Making Snowflakes: -I usually make my snowflakes while sitting down on a couch or chair with a coffee table in front of me, and a small trash can between my knees. This way I can lean forward to fold the paper on the table, and then sit up and snip bits of paper into the trash can. This makes less mess. -When folding, steps 4-5 are the hardest, when you have to try and estimate thirds. Often, you'll fold the second third over, only to discover that it doesn't line up exactly in thirds. You'll have to unfold and refold until it's as exact as you can get it. The closer to exact thirds you can get it, the more symmetrical your snowflake will be. As it is, the thickness of the paper and the amount of folding that you do will make it so that making a precisely symmetrical snowflake is almost impossible. This will be most obvious in the center of the snowflake: look at some of mine. The star in the middle of some is not perfectly symmetrical. It happens. Real snowflakes have defects too, so don't worry about it. -Avoid what I call "blank space". This is when you're cutting your snowflake in Step 7, and you leave behind big spaces of blank paper in your snowflake. Generally, anything thicker than 1/4th of an inch gets cut down into a thinner line, or by decorated it in some way (like by making tiny triangle snips all along the edge to give it "teeth"). Otherwise, when you open your snowflake, it will have thick, clunky lines instead of nice delicate ones. Sometimes thicker lines do create a different effect when contrasted with thinner lines, but use sparingly. Decorating With Snowflakes: -A tiny piece of double-sided tape behind each point is a good way to stick them to a surface. I love to put mine on windows so that they're visible from inside and out. They show up beautifully at night against the dark glass. -These can be hung from the ceiling, but be careful because they are delicate. It may be wise to cut some with thicker lines for support (imagine making a skeleton for the snowflake: thicker lines for structure surrounded by the delicate parts for show) if you want to hang them. White or invisible thread, or fishing line, works great. -Use your practice snowflakes to decorate gifts instead of a bow. I like taping a single snowflake to a gift, and then putting a plain gift tag on top of it. The lacy looking snowflake makes a pretty backdrop for the tag. -Save the end scraps of paper from when you cut the original sheet of paper into a square. Use these little pieces to make tiny simple snowflakes that you can place around your larger snowflakes when decorating. This makes a "sprinkle" effect that looks wonderful, and you can fill more space without using up all your larger snowflakes. I didn't discover this idea until after the picture above was taken.

Step 10: Analyzing a Snowflake

If you do want to try and copy a snowflake that you see, or at least get an idea of how to make one similar, try to visualize the slice of the snowflake that represents the completely folded paper. This is one slice out of twelve symmetrical slices. It will be a line that cuts through the middle of one point, and intersects with a line cut though the middle of the "valley" between it and the adjacent point. If it makes it easier, pretend that the snowflake is a clock and the lines you're imagining are the hands when it's one o'clock. See picture. This slice of the snowflake shows what your cuts should look like if you want a snowflake that looks like this. It may be easier to visualize if you look at the black (cut out) spaces and think about those shapes being cut away. This is how you can make a "template", in a way, based on snowflakes that you see.

Step 11: Replicating a Real Snowflake

From time to time I try and copy a real snowflake that I see in a book or online. It's impossible to copy an actual snow crystal exactly because they're simply too intricate, they're 3-D, and some parts of the snowflake are attached with a layer of ice so thin that it looks invisible.....if you tried to copy one exactly, it would fall apart. However, you can still try to mimic the form of a real snowflake. Real snowflakes often have large areas of "blank space" that don't look very good when rendered in paper. A flip through a snowflake photography book shows that quite a few snowflakes form as just a simple hexagon with few details. If the snowflake you're copying has a lot of blank space, embellish it anyway. Since it can't be an exact replica, it might as well be pretty! Basically, just use the technique from step 10. Imagine the how a real snowflake would look if it were a slice of a pie. Think of the clock hands at 1 o'clock. Above are two examples of snowflakes that I've tried to replicate. I've added a second view of each with the "slice" highlighted.

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393 Comments

26 days ago

I haven't made these since my daughter was young and I'm glad I took a look because I forgot about the 1/3rd fold. These will be fun to make with my grandson at Christmas time. I also plan to make some more intricate ones to use to embellish gift wrapping - great idea. Yours are inspirational. Excellent easy to follow instructions. Thank you!

10 months ago

good job jessica from 7 years ago

11 months ago

Most snowflakes only have 6 edges due to the way snowflakes form in the first place.

The most viewed Instructable on the whole site, wow!

2 years ago

LOVED it!!! This was exactly the kind of inspiration I needed for a cold gray COVID kind of afternoon. Thank you!

Reply 1 year ago

My collection keeps growing, and I think they make lovely window decorations, as you suggested...

These are great! I had to do a double take to be sure they weren't some of my own!

That’s so sweet, thank you! Yours were very inspirational so I copied a few and then branched off. I’m going to enclose some with Xmas cards, for friends to ‘open’ as a little surprise.

Reply 2 years ago

Those look great!

Question 2 years ago

It’s really comfuzi

Tip 2 years ago

2 years ago on Step 8

So I wanted to start off by seeing if I was doing it right, I just cut abunch of squiggly lines in it and I made bunny rabits. 😂😂

3 years ago

I'm going to teach my 8 year old grand-daughter starting now so she will have maybe 1 done by Christmas!!!! Lol will need to get thinner paper than copy paper. Will be to hard for her to cut!!! Oh. MICHAELS!!!! Here we come!!! Lol

Reply 3 years ago

haha. That's really funny

woahh noice

Can i impress my crush with this?

Yes of course

Thanks so much for the idea! My afternoons are usually boring. Thanks again! :)😁💮

2 years ago on Step 11

Brilliant detailed tutorial!!! Thanks a million!

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes

Paper snowflakes are so fun and simple to make. You can create beautiful snowflake designs using a simple piece of paper and a pair of scissors – in less than 5 minutes! This classic craft never gets old and is a very inexpensive way to add some winter cheer to any room. You’ll have your own little paper blizzard before you know it!

We’ve created 9 free printable snowflake templates that you can print off (you’ll find those near the bottom of this post), or you can follow the simple folding technique and create your own 6 pointed paper snowflake patterns.

Hang them on the fridge, or in the window. Or attach a piece of fishing line and tape them to the ceiling. This is such a great winter craft and a super fun way to make decorations that can stay up all winter long!

Remember making paper snowflakes when you were a kid? You’d do your best to fold the paper just the right way, and then go to town cutting out random shapes?

I remember being so excited to unfold them to see what shape I had created. It’s pretty amazing to see the beautiful snowflake shapes you can create with just a few cuts!

Check out our video for how to make snowflakes out of paper:

Looking for even more winter themed craft ideas? Here’s a few of our favourites:

Coffee Filter Snowflakes

Paper Christmas Tree

Paper Roll Snowflakes

Kids Winter Hat Art Project

First you’ll need a square piece of paper:

Using a standard piece of letter sized printer paper, take the bottom right corner of the paper and bring it up and over to the left edge. The bottom edge should line up perfectly with the left edge.

Run your fingers along the diagonal edge to make a fold. You should have a perfect triangle shape, with a long rectangular shape above it.

Cut the rectangular strip off right at the edge of the paper that was folded over. You’ll be left with a triangle that unfolds into a perfect square!

How to Make Paper Snowflakes:

Step 1: Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.

Step 2: Fold the triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.

Step 3: Fold this smaller triangle into thirds. Start by bringing the right point towards the left by one third.

Step 4: Then bring the left point towards the right by one third. It’s easy using the templates below, but if you’re doing it freehand, you might have to adjust the folds to make sure the edges line up perfectly.

Step 5: Cut off the pointed ends so you’re left with a small triangle.

Step 6: Cut your snowflake pattern into the sides of this small triangle. You can cut triangles, diamonds, curves, even half hearts. If you cut off the tip, you’ll have a snowflake with a hole in the middle.

Step 7: Unfold your snowflake carefully and use your fingers to flatten it out. If you want it to be really flat, you can iron it using a very low heat setting.

What kind of paper should you use for paper snowflakes?

You can use printer paper, newsprint or construction paper to make paper snowflakes. Don’t use heavy paper or it will be hard to cut out.

I like to use plain old letter (8.5″ x 11″) printer paper, but any size will work. You can use legal sized paper (8.5″ x 14″) if that’s what you have – then use the scraps to make two smaller snowflakes to go with it. Or if you have any tabloid size paper (11″ x 17″), you can make extra large snowflakes.

If you’re having trouble cutting through printer paper, try parchment paper instead. Parchment paper is much thinner than regular paper which makes it easier to cut.

What kind of scissors should you use for paper snowflakes?

You can use any scissors as long as they’re strong and fairly sharp. Children’s scissors often aren’t strong enough to cut through all the layers of paper.

I like to use “detail scissors” for paper snowflakes. They’re mini scissors (they’re my pink scissors in the video below) with shorter, sharp blades that make it easier to do detailed cutting work.

Here’s an Amazon affiliate link to the exact scissors that I used .

Paper Snowflake Templates

We created 9 printable paper snowflake templates that you can print out and use to make beautiful snowflake patterns every single time!

Watch our video to see how to use the template to make snowflakes:

The templates are numbered according to the following image:

Find the pattern you like in the image above, and click the link below to get the corresponding printable template:

>>> Snowflake Template 1 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 2 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 3 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 4 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 5 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 6 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 7 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 8 <<<

>>> Snowflake Template 9 <<<

When you’re using the templates, the process is exactly the same as above, but I’ve marked out the lines and patterns where you need to fold and cut.

Just make sure that the printed lines stay on the outside as you fold . Don’t fold towards the lines, otherwise you won’t be able to see them when it comes time to cut out the pattern.

• 1 piece Paper

Instructions

• Take a square piece of paper and fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle.
• Fold the triangle in half again to make a smaller triangle.
• Fold this smaller triangle into thirds. Start by bringing the right point towards the left by one third.
• Then bring the left point towards the right by one third. You might have to adjust the folds to make sure the edges line up perfectly.
• Cut off the pointed ends so you’re left with a small triangle.
• Cut your snowflake pattern into the sides of this small triangle.
• Unfold your snowflake carefully and use your fingers to flatten it out.

Paper snowflakes are SO SIMPLE and super inexpensive to make! This is such a classic kids craft and a super fun winter activity for kids, teens, tweens, grown ups and seniors. Make up your own designs or use one of our printable paper snowflake templates. It’s easy to make beautiful and perfect looking snowflakes every single time!

For even more winter themed crafts be sure to check these out:

Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids  is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!

Where to buy:

You can purchase  Low-Mess Crafts for Kids  from  Amazon , or wherever books are sold:

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   |    Books- A- Million   |    Indiebound   |   Indigo   |   Amazon Canada

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About Debbie Chapman , the Author of this Post

I'm Debbie Chapman, founder of One Little Project and author of the book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids . I love creating fun and easy crafts and cooking up delicious recipes for my husband and 3 kids.

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September 18, 2020 at 11:44 pm

Love these how to crafts

October 29, 2022 at 8:41 pm

Thank you so much for your snowflake instructions and printing. Yours is the best and easiest I have seen anywhere.

October 31, 2022 at 8:11 am

Thanks so much, Gina!

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Paper Snowflake

Follow our easy instructions for folding and cutting paper into beautiful and unique paper snowflakes.

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Paper Bowl Jellyfish

Supplies needed.

• Paper (preferably thin or lightweight paper)
• Protractor (optional)

1 Make a paper square.

Start out with a square piece of paper, preferably thin or lightweight paper. You can use square origami paper or follow these easy steps for making a square from any rectangular piece of paper.

2 Fold diagonally in half.

Fold the square diagonally in half to come up with a triangle.

3 Fold in half.

Fold the resulting triangle in half to make a smaller triangle.

4 Divide the triangle into 3 sections.

The most crucial and perhaps the trickiest step in making a paper snowflake is dividing the triangle into three equal sections. The most accurate way to do this is to use a protractor to divide the angle at the triangle's apex (the corner opposite the longest side) into three sections, each with a 30-degree angle. If you don't have a protractor, you can estimate the size of the sections as you do Steps 5 and 6.

5 Fold the left section.

Once you've marked out the three equal sections, fold the left section towards the front.

6 Fold the right section.

Similarly fold the right section towards the front.

7 Flip the shape.

Flip the shape over so that the side with the horizontal edge is facing front.

8 Cut along the horizontal edge.

Cut along the horizontal edge so that you end up with a wedge.

9 Cut random shapes.

While keeping the wedge folded, cut out random shapes out of the edges.

If you're looking for printable ready-to-cut snowflake patterns, you can find them here .

10 Unfold the paper.

Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your paper snowflake. Like real snowflakes, your paper snowflake has a 6-point or six-sided symmetry.

11 Make more snowflakes.

In nature, no two snowflakes are exactly the same. Try making different shape cut-outs in Step 9 to come up with your own unique snowflakes.

Check out more paper snowflake instructions for:

• 4- and 8-Sided Snowflake - though real snowflakes have 6 sides or points, try making 4- and 8-sided paper snowflakes just for fun!
• Paper Snowflakes with Printable Patterns - check out eleven templates that you can print out and easily cut and fold into beautiful paper snowflakes.

Make glitter snowflakes.

Make your paper snowflakes extra sparkly by embellishing them with glitter. See how it's done in our Glitter Snowflake craft.

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How to Make a Paper Snowflake

Last Updated: April 9, 2023 Tested

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 106 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. The wikiHow Video Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 1,958,716 times. Learn more...

Each snowflake is unique and so will be the ones you make! Whether it's December 24th or July 24th, these snowflakes are beautiful and quite easy to make; all you'll need is some paper and a pair of scissors. Because of their simplicity and aesthetic appeal, paper snowflakes are a fantastic craft idea for kids and adults alike.

Round Snowflake

• If you found that confusing, fold one side over about 1/3 of the way and then fold the other side over to cover the first side. Any better?
• When you're handling your soon-to-be snowflake, always keep the point down. This is the center of your snowflake.

Angular Snowflake

• At all steps in this method make sure your creases are firm and straight. If they're not clean and symmetrical, you may end up with a wonky snowflake.
• At this point, you may fold it again to create a different, much smaller, base for your snowflake. Experiment! However, for kids, folding it again renders it much more difficult to work with.
• You may find it useful to hold on to the center of the snowflake -- the very tip. Though you can cut it off and the snowflake will hold together! The more paper you cut off, the flimsier it will be -- not necessarily a bad thing.
• If you're not happy with your pattern, fold it back up and take a few more whacks at the paper. Problem solved.

Printable Templates

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

Community Q&A

• If you don't want to cut a circle out or can't cut a good one, try using a coffee filter instead, all you do have to do is fold it half and follow the steps. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
• If you punch a hole in your snowflake, tie some yarn in the hole and cover the snowflake in glue and glitter; it makes a great ornament. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• You'll have lots of excess paper that can be recycled. Go green. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1

• Adult supervision of young children is essential during the cutting stages, as they may cut themselves. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3

Things You'll Need

• Markers/crayons (optional)

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About This Article

To make a paper snowflake, cut a piece of paper into a square shape. Fold the paper in half diagonally to form a triangle, then fold it in half twice more. Using scissors, make cuts into the sides of the paper, such as triangles, rectangles, or round shapes. Then, carefully unfold the paper to reveal your paper snowflake! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to make a paper snowflake

• Rachel Beckwith

Learn how to make an easy paper snowflake as a fun Christmas project with the kids – simply follow our step-by-step instructions for a perfect result.

You only need paper, scissors and a sprinkle of festive spirit for this super easy activity! Making paper snowflakes is a great project for all ages – younger kids can use safe scissors and a bigger piece of paper to make it easier, whereas older kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy the challenge of making an intricate design. Best of all, every snowflake is unique – so you can be as creative as you like.

For more fun ideas, try our top 5 Christmas crafts for kids .

Makes one snowflake Prep 10 mins

You will need • A square piece of paper (if using A4 paper, simply fold the bottom of the paper upwards into a triangle and cut away the excess) • Scissors

Fold a square piece of paper into a triangle, as shown below.

Fold the triangle in half again, to make a smaller triangle.

Fold over the right hand side of the triangle so that you are folding into thirds.

Turn the paper over.

Repeat the fold as you did for step three, this time on the other side.

Use scissors to cut straight across the top, as shown, so that you are left with a thin folded triangle.

Now you can cut any shape into the folded snowflake, being careful not to make any cuts that go all the way across (this will break your snowflake).

When you’re happy with your shapes, unfold your snowflake to reveal your finished design!

Looking for more festive craft projects? Try these guides…

How to make fake snow Top 5 Christmas crafts for kids How to make a snow globe How to make a hot chocolate cone How to make salt dough decorations How to make a bath bomb

Tell us what festive fun you have planned this year in the comments below…

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes

A great winter or Christmas craft to make with kids, you can let it snow inside by creating your very own wintry flurry of snowflakes out of paper.

Winter Craft Projects and Activities for Kids

Learn how to make paper snowflakes that are intricately cut like these.

Photo by: Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Related To:

There is something magical about creating art from paper. Paper snowflakes are said to have originated in the Victorian era when paper snowflakes were given as gifts. Today, easy paper snowflakes are among the most versatile and family-friendly holiday crafts. Try using paper squares of different sizes for paper snowflakes big and small. You can also add a little sparkle with glitter. Use your finished paper snowflakes to decorate the windows or string them together to make a garland. You can also use double-sided tape to stick paper snowflakes to mirrors or hang them from the center of a curtain rod to mimic falling snow.

Materials Needed

• white printer paper or card stock
• paint or glitter
• decoupage medium
• chip or foam brush
• dropcloth or plastic to protect work surface

1. Master the Paper Fold

The key to easy paper snowflakes is folding technique. First, s tart with a square sheet of paper and fold it into a triangle (Image 1). Then, fold it in half again (Image 2). Next, fold the paper in half at the arrow but pull the tip of the triangle down like so (Image 3). Finally, fold the right side over the left (Image 4).

Square One: Start with a square sheet of paper and fold it into a triangle.

Photo By: Emily Fazio

Fold in Half Again: Lay that triangle like so, and fold it in half again.

Fold and Tug: Fold the paper in half at the arrow but pull the tip of the triangle down like so.

Fold the paper over one last time.

2. Cut and Add Shapes

Cut across the dotted line (Image 1). Cut patterns and shapes into each snowflake like so (Image 2).

Cut across the dotted line.

Cut patterns and shapes into each snowflake like so. I even added a heart silhouette!

3. Optional: Add Some Color and Sparkle

Unfold your snowflakes and enjoy the results. If you want, at this point you can use the brush, paints or apply a thin layer of decoupage medium and sprinkle with glitter. Once they are fully dry, place your snowflakes under a heavy book to flatten the paper.

Enjoy your homemade paper snowflakes.

65 Christmas Crafts for Kids 83 Photos

It's no secret that kids love Christmas — they also love crafts, so combining the two is a guaranteed win-win. Build their anticipation for the big day with our fun project ideas for crafters big and small.

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How to Make Paper Snowflakes from Coffee Filters

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