To make a simple paper snowflake, you only need a square piece of paper and scissors. Fold, trim, and cut small shapes, then unfold to reveal the pattern.

Get your paper ready

• Start with a square sheet of paper; if you only have a rectangle, fold one corner over to the opposite edge to make a triangle, then cut off the extra strip so you’re left with a square.
• Use thin printer paper; it folds and cuts more easily than thick paper.

Fold the snowflake base

• Fold the square diagonally in half to make a triangle.
• Fold the triangle in half again so you have a smaller triangle.
• Now imagine this triangle in three equal sections like slices; fold one “third” across the front, then fold the other side across the back so you get a long, narrow wedge shape.
• Trim the top of this wedge straight across with your scissors so all the layers are even; you now have the base ready for cutting.

Cut the design

• Along the sides of the folded wedge, cut out small triangles, curves, or other shapes, but do not cut all the way from one edge to the other or the snowflake will fall apart.
• You can also snip a tiny piece off the tip of the wedge to make a hole in the center of the snowflake.

Unfold and finish

• Carefully unfold the paper to reveal your snowflake pattern.
• Smooth it flat with your hands; if it’s very wrinkly, you can press it briefly under a heavy book (or between sheets of paper with a warm iron and very low heat, with adult help).

Quick variations

• Use colored or patterned paper for different looks, or glitter paper for sparkly snowflakes.
• Make several sizes (from small squares and big squares) to hang in windows or on a string as a garland.