Paper snowflake decorations vary in how much work they involve and how they look when finished. Some are cut from a single folded sheet of origami paper, some are built from several folded pieces into a larger decoration, and others use drawing paper to create a three-dimensional shape.
This article introduces three snowflake crafts whose creators share how to make them in videos or on illustrated step-by-step pages. Compare the materials, the steps that take the most work, how adults and children can share the tasks, and where each one can be displayed, then choose the one that suits your home, preschool, or childcare setting. Detailed folding and cutting instructions are available in each creator’s video and guide.
Table of Contents
Comparing the Three Snowflake Decorations
| Craft | Main materials and tools | Flat / 3D | How it’s made | Suggested roles for adults and children | Where to display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut-paper snowflake (Tatsukuri) | 1 sheet of origami paper, scissors, a pen | Flat | Fold → draw the pattern → cut → unfold | Children choose the pattern and unfold it. Adults help with cutting through the folded layers as needed | Windows, walls, cards |
| 8-piece origami snowflake (Origami no Jikan) | 8 sheets of rectangular origami paper, glue | Flat | Fold 8 identical pieces, slot them together, and glue | Share the folding of the pieces, then assemble together with an adult | Walls, a wreath base, a Christmas tree (when made smaller) |
| 3D snowflake (Zukoujin) | Drawing paper, template, scissors, glue, stapler, ruler, etc. | 3D | Cut using the template → prepare the fold lines → make the pieces → assemble | Adults handle the craft knife and stapler. Children join in with folding and gluing | Walls |
Each of the three is approachable in a different way. If you want to start right away with few materials, try the cut-paper snowflake. If you enjoy taking your time with folding, try the 8-piece origami snowflake. If you’d like to take on a 3D project, try the drawing-paper snowflake. With any of them, a child won’t necessarily be able to do every step alone. The roles in the table are TamagoDaruma’s suggestions, based on the nature of each step.
A Cut-Paper Snowflake from One Sheet
This project starts with a single sheet of origami paper, so you can get started with just a few supplies. It uses a kirigami technique: folding paper, cutting a pattern, and unfolding it to reveal a snowflake. Part of the fun is how the pattern appears when you open up the folded paper.
Features and Materials
This design is by origami artist Tatsukuri, who shows three pattern variations so you can choose the shape you like.
- Materials and tools: 1 sheet of origami paper (15 × 15 cm / about 6 × 6 in is recommended), scissors, and a pen. Masking tape is also handy.
- Finished size: about 14 × 14 cm (about 5.5 × 5.5 in) when made with 15 cm paper
- Estimated time: 10–20 minutes (varies by person). This is the creator’s estimate.
For a white snowflake, use origami paper that is white on the back. The creator notes that paper that is too small makes cutting with scissors very difficult.
(Source: How to Cut a Simple Origami Snowflake | Tatsukuri no Origami WEBSITE (in Japanese))
What’s Involved and Where You May Need Help
Fold the origami paper several times, draw a pattern with a pen, cut along the lines, and unfold it to finish.
The step that takes the most work is cutting through the paper once it has been folded into thick layers. The creator’s guide suggests holding the folded paper with masking tape so it doesn’t shift while you cut. The paper tears easily as you open it, so unfold it slowly.
How Adults and Children Can Work Together
Children may especially enjoy choosing a pattern and unfolding the finished snowflake. If your child isn’t yet comfortable with scissors, an adult can help cut through the folded layers, or the adult can do the cutting and let the child do the unfolding.
Photo Guide
Photos and explanations for each step are on the creator’s guide page.
(Source: How to Cut a Simple Origami Snowflake | Tatsukuri no Origami WEBSITE (in Japanese))
An Origami Snowflake Made from Eight Pieces
Once you have paper in the specified size, this snowflake is finished entirely by folding and gluing. Because it combines eight identical pieces, the finished snowflake makes an eye-catching decoration.
Features and Materials
This snowflake was designed by Origami no Jikan (Origami Time), a creator of original origami. Changing the color or pattern of the paper gives each snowflake a different look.
- Materials: 8 sheets of origami paper (15 × 7.5 cm / about 6 × 3 in) and glue
- Choosing a size: Made with 15 × 7.5 cm paper, it works as a wall decoration or a wreath base. Made with 7.5 × 3.75 cm paper, it works well as an embellishment for a wreath or as a Christmas tree ornament.
(Source: How to Make an Origami Snowflake | Origami no Jikan (in Japanese))
If you’re starting from square origami paper, cut a 15 cm sheet in half to get 15 × 7.5 cm pieces. It’s best for an adult to do this cutting before you begin.
What’s Involved and Where You May Need Help
Fold eight pieces of the same shape, connect them by sliding the corners into the gaps, and glue them together to finish.
The steps that take the most work are making eight matching pieces and the final assembly. Each piece involves quite a few folds, so allow plenty of time. If the pieces don’t match, assembly becomes harder. Fold the first piece carefully while watching the video, then fold the rest the same way.
How Adults and Children Can Work Together
Since every piece uses the same folds, you and your child can each fold some of the pieces. Slotting and gluing the pieces together means adjusting the shape as you go, so it works well as a shared task. For example, the adult can hold the pieces in place while the child applies the glue.
Video and Guide Page
Creator: Origami no Jikan (YouTube channel: “おりがみの時間【折り紙作家】”)
(Source: How To Make an Origami Snowflake | Origami no Jikan (YouTube))
(Source: How to Make an Origami Snowflake | Origami no Jikan (in Japanese))
A 3D Snowflake Made from Drawing Paper
This is the only three-dimensional project of the three. On a wall, it adds depth that flat decorations don’t have.
Features and Materials
This project comes from Zukoujin, a Japanese website sharing art and craft projects for elementary school classes, where it is presented as a December wall decoration. The complex snowflake shape is broken down into separate pieces to make it easier to build. According to the creator, the branches are shaped by folding, which saves cutting and makes them sturdy and three-dimensional. The page shows three snowflakes of different sizes and shapes.
- Materials and tools: 2 sheets of white drawing paper (listed as “16-giri” size in the original Japanese guide), template, scissors, glue, stapler, ruler, etc.
- For Snowflake A: a craft knife (used to cut inside the hexagon)
- Template: available as a PDF download from the guide page.
(Source: 3D Snowflakes Made from Drawing Paper | Zukoujin (in Japanese))
If you use a craft knife, it’s a good idea to have a cutting mat ready so you don’t damage the table (this is TamagoDaruma’s suggestion, not part of the original instructions).
What’s Involved and Where You May Need Help
Cut the drawing-paper pieces using the template, prepare the fold lines as shown in the guide, make the central hexagon and the branch pieces, and then assemble them.
The step that takes the most work is cutting out and assembling the many pieces. Snowflake A also includes a step where the inside of the hexagon is cut with a craft knife. This project is best saved for a day when you have time to spare.
How Adults and Children Can Work Together
Adults handle the steps that use the craft knife and the stapler. Children can join in cutting along the template with scissors, folding along the fold lines, and gluing the pieces together. In a preschool or childcare setting, staff could cut out the pieces in advance so the children join in from the assembly stage.
Video and Guide Page
Creator: Zukoujin
(Source: Watch Zukoujin’s snowflake video | YouTube)
(Source: 3D Snowflakes Made from Drawing Paper | Zukoujin (in Japanese))
Choosing a Project for Home or Preschool
It’s easiest to decide by considering both the look you want and the steps your child can take part in. Also check whether any steps involve blades.
- To start right away with few materials: the cut-paper snowflake, which begins with one sheet of origami paper and takes 10–20 minutes by the creator’s estimate
- To enjoy taking your time with folding: the origami snowflake made by folding and assembling eight identical pieces (if starting from square origami paper, the sheets need to be cut in half first)
- To take on a 3D project: the drawing-paper snowflake with a template (adults handle the craft knife and stapler steps)
A suggestion from the TamagoDaruma editorial team
With snowflake crafts, the most exciting moment comes at a different point for each project. For the cut-paper snowflake, it’s when you unfold the paper. For the 8-piece origami snowflake, it’s when the final piece completes the snowflake. For the 3D snowflake, it’s when the branches go in and the shape appears. Rather than leaving every step to the child, we suggest dividing the work so that your child is there for that moment.
When an adult takes on the difficult steps, the snowflake is still the child’s own work. Choosing patterns and colors, unfolding, and gluing are all meaningful ways to take part.
You Can Also Make Snowflakes with Pipe Cleaners and Beads
We also have a separate article on making small snowflake ornaments with pipe cleaners and beads instead of paper. If you’d like to make decorations to hang on a tree, take a look.
Once you’ve found a project you like, watch the creator’s video or read their guide all the way through first, check which steps take the most work, and then gather your materials. Making one snowflake also makes it easier to decide how to divide the work between you and your child.
