How to Make a 3D Paper Snowflake

Snowflakes are delicate and beautiful, nature's way of illustrating its work. Many families, during winters, decorate their homes and offices with hanging paper snowflakes and welcome the coming season. Perhaps you love to decorate your home with six points snowflakes that resemble just like the real ones. Hanging snowflake decorations are a great way to enhance the entire decor. You can choose colorful papers instead of just plain white ones and drizzle glitter on top, and liven up a dull corner of any room. In the following article, we will provide you detailed instructions on how to make a 3D paper snowflake. Gather all the material required for this wonderful paper craft and learn to make one in a not-so-traditional manner.

3D Paper Snowflake

The instructions mentioned below will help you create a snowflake which has 6 points and will look like a real snowflake. You can also ask your kids to join you into helping and learning this new art. So let's get to the main part of the article and see how a traditional snowflake can be changed into a 3D craft.

Materials Needed

• Paper
• Tape
• Glue
• Ruler
• Staples
• Scissors

Step #1: In order to make the snowflake, you will need to clear a workstation and place all the materials out in front of you. To make the pattern, you can either tape and staple all the parts together. However, you can also use glue to stick them with each other. It may take longer for the glue to dry and hold itself, but the snowflake won't fall apart easily.

Step #2: First thing we do is measure the paper. You will need 6 equal squares for a perfect 3D snowflake. So for the measurements, you can use 5 inches, 6 inches, and 8 inches. For the purpose of this article, let's stick to just one measurement and choose 6 inches for all the 6 squares. Now fold all 6 pieces of paper diagonally in half. Don't match up these squares, just trim any of the excess sides.

Step #3: Take the scissors and cut the 3 lines on each side of all the triangles starting from the folded edges. Make sure that you don't cut through the other paper edges, the unfolded ones; otherwise it will only mess up the entire 3D illusion. If any of the unfolded edge does get cut, don't glue or tape it back together. Start over and be careful this time. And as you cut the folded edges, make sure that the lines are parallel to one another with the space between them as well.

Step #4: Now unfold the paper and turn it around so that the diamond-shaped side is facing you while you're working with it. First roll the first 2 paper lines which are inside. Roll them together and form a small tube. Apply little bit of glue here and hold the tube properly so that it sets. Move your fingers only after the tube is set.

Step #5: Now turn the diamond around again to face the other side. Again take 2 more paper lines and roll them on the opposite side of the tube. Apply glue on the new tube again and hold it till it sets properly. Follow the instructions of turning the paper and gluing the paper lines together. All the sides should be glued together.

Step #6: Once the inner paper lines are done, repeat with the same steps 4 and 5 with the outer paper lines as well. Bring the 3 completely rolled pieces together from one end (use one hand's fingertips to do this) and glue it properly with your other hand. Similarly, bring the 3 other pieces to glue them as well. Now you have the two halves of your snowflake's arms.

Step #7: You again need to apply glue to the two new pieces we just got by gluing the first 3 and the second 3 pieces together. Bring the pieces together and glue in the middle. As you can see, you will have an almost shape of your 3D snowflake right about now. Apply glue where all the 6 arms meet together.

Apart from the pattern we just illustrated, you can also make different paper snowflake patterns as well. Making a 3D snowflake is a great kids' craft activity which can be enjoyed by adults as well. Keep your kids and yourself busy this weekend. Help them educate even more with fun activities and have a great time.