Paper Snowflake Template
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Save to PinterestA paper snowflake template is a printed circle with the cutting pattern already drawn on it: fold it along the dashed lines, cut away the shaded shapes through every layer, and unfold a six-pointed snowflake. Every fold line here is numbered in folding order.
- Designs:
- Simple (big, straight cuts), Star, Fern (more cuts), Lace (most cuts)
- Per page:
- 1, 2, 4 — this page opens on 1
- Printed size:
- About 7.5 in on US Letter (185 mm on A4) at 1 per page
- Paper sizes:
- US Letter and A4, printed at actual size
- Cost:
- Free — no signup, no email, no watermark
Updated
How to make a paper snowflake
- Print on plain copy paper — thin paper folds into twelve layers far more easily than card stock.
- Cut out the circle along its outer solid line.
- Fold it in half along line 1 with the printed side out.
- Fold the half circle into thirds along the two lines numbered 2, one third forward and one back, like a fan.
- Fold that wedge in half along line 3, keeping a printed side facing you.
- Cut away every grey shape through all the layers, then unfold.
What's included on the snowflake template
Each snowflake prints as a circle crossed by six dashed fold lines, every one labelled 1, 2 or 3 at both ends. The grey shapes are the paper to cut away and the white is the finished snowflake, so the printed sheet is also a picture of the result. The pattern repeats around every fold line, which is why the layers line up after folding whichever way the folds go. At one per page the circle's diameter is about 7.5 in on US Letter (185 mm on A4).
Tips for cutting paper snowflakes
- Start younger children on the simple pattern at one per page: the cuts are big and straight, and the circle is wide enough to fold neatly.
- Pinch each fold flat with a thumbnail before making the next one — a loose fold gives lopsided arms.
- Turn the folded wedge, not the scissors, when a cut changes direction.
- Cut the shapes that touch a folded edge first, while the wedge is still stiff.
- Flatten the finished snowflake under a heavy book for an hour before taping it to a window.
- Four small snowflakes per page string into a garland — punch a hole near the tip of one arm.
Customization options
Snowflake pattern
Simple has a few large, straight cuts a young child can manage. Star adds diamond cut-outs along the arms, fern gives every arm a row of branches, and lace has the most cuts. Each pattern is drawn so the paper left between two cuts is at least 4 mm wide on the folded wedge, so the arms do not tear.
Snowflakes per page
One large snowflake, two, or four small ones. Fern and lace print at one or two per page only — at four per page their narrow cuts would be too fiddly through twelve layers.
Paper size
US Letter or A4. The circle is fitted to whichever sheet you pick, and the file opens the print dialog at 100% so the snowflake keeps its size.
Frequently asked questions
How do you fold paper for a six-pointed snowflake?
Fold the circle in half on line 1, fold the half into thirds on the lines marked 2 so it looks like a fan, then fold that wedge in half on line 3. Those three folds stack twelve layers, and because the pattern repeats around every printed fold line, every layer's cut lines land on top of each other.
Why does a paper snowflake have six points?
Real snow crystals grow with six-fold symmetry because water freezes into a hexagonal crystal lattice. Folding a circle into sixths and then twelfths copies that symmetry, so a six-pointed paper snowflake is the realistic shape; folding a square instead gives four or eight points.
What paper is best for paper snowflakes?
Plain 20 lb copy paper. The folded wedge is twelve layers thick, and card stock or construction paper is too stiff to cut cleanly through that stack.
Can kids cut the snowflake without folding it?
Yes. The whole finished snowflake is printed, so an older child can cut it out flat like a detailed outline. Folding is quicker and makes every arm identical.
How big is the printed snowflake?
At one per page the circle's diameter is about 7.5 in on US Letter (185 mm on A4). Two per page makes it a little over half that, and four per page about half.
Which snowflake pattern is easiest?
Simple: a handful of large, straight-sided cuts that a five- or six-year-old can manage with safety scissors. Star is the next step, then fern, then lace.
What do the numbers on the fold lines mean?
They are the folding order. Fold on line 1 first, then on the two lines 2, then on line 3. Each number is printed at both ends of its line, so one is still visible on the top layer whichever way you fold.
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