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Reader Question: How Do You Cut Your Snowflakes?

November 29, 2011 by Michele

 

A pile of junkmail snowflakes.

You sometimes have questions. I know I do. When this happens and you think I might be of some service, do as Bridgitt did and shoot me an email. You never know, I just might be able to help. Bridgitt writes:

I was reading through the junkmail snowflake garland post and was amazed at the snowflakes you cut out. Any chance you could post pics of how you cut those? I need a little help getting in the holiday spirit, paper snowflakes just might do it.


Thanks,



Bridgitt


I blush… Thank you for your sweet message Bridgitt. And while I’m no doctor, I can attest to the therapeutic effects of making paper snowflakes. Let’s see if I can put my process into photos for you. Let me just say though, that every snowflake is unique – as proven by science – and it’s no different in this case. Once the folding is done, I just kinda go at it haphazard-like, without any real plan or goals (sounds a little like my life…) so every snowflake is a surprise. Yessirree. I am a surprise-lover.

To make snowflakes, here’s what I do:

1. I start with a square of colourful junkmail. Christmas-flavoured junkmail is easy to come by at this time of year.
2. I fold my square in half. It’s now a rectangle. Now put a crease in the bottom center of that rectangle. See that?
3. From the center crease, I fold the bottom right edge of the rectangle 2/3 to the left across the rectangle. I do it by eye, and just go with it. You see how the shape is now divided into 2 even thirds?
4. Now fold up the left hand side, so it meets the outer right edge.

5. Next I fold the whole thing onto itself again…
6. And chop off the top.

7. Now the serious cutting begins. I start by taking out large chunks. Chunks can be any shape imaginable: triangles, half-circles, long curvy lines, rectangles, you name it. Just make sure you don’t completely remove the side edges.
8. Then I go ahead and cut out some medium-size chunks. Any shape you like. Go krayzee.

9. Finish up the cutting phase by carving out tiny pieces.
10. Now for the best part: unfolding. It’s magical, isn’t it? Oh look at that… So nice!… And the final touch? I finish it off by pressing out the creases with a steamless iron. Rainbow snowflakes baby!

So… I hope I’ve shed a little light on my snowflake method, Bridgitt.  Making these guys is one of my favourite activities this time of year. Thanks for the email, and have fun making it snow!

Alrighty then. I’m off. You have a fine day and I will be back soon. ♥M

Edited to Add on 10 Dec 2011: What To Do With Junkmail Snowflakes – Wall Blizzard

Edited to Add on 13 Dec 2011: What To Do With Junkmail Snowflakes – Jar Lanterns

Edited to Add on 17 Dec 2011:  What To Do With Junkmail Snowflakes – Gift Toppers

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas crafts, Christmas crafts, Junkmail Snowflakes, paper crafts, paper crafts, reuse, Tutorials Tagged With: junkmail, reader question, snowflakes, tutorial

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PEACHES says

    November 29, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Yeeep! This is another game changer. How many years have I been making snow flakes and NEVER even considered doing them up all rainbow and such. Whoa. Rock my world!

  2. Amy says

    November 29, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    OK, I am going to start folding mind differently now. I did quarters not thirds. This is much better. I also have to say that your scissors must be very sharp. I never get that kind of detail…unless it is the difference between using junk mail which is thinner and copier paper. I will have to put these things to the test!

  3. Rosabella says

    November 29, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    wow … so beautiful !!!

  4. aboutgoodness.com says

    November 29, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Great! I would not have imagined that such simple paper turned into snowflakes can look so very cool! I have some white walls at home and was wondering what to put up as decoration for holiday season. You gave me a great idea. I´ve got to search the appropriate papers now. I am sure my husband will love to participate as well, he loves to work with paper.
    Thank you for this inspiration that we have a chance to do something funny together. I´m curious to see how the final results changes the look of our walls 🙂

  5. Michele Pacey says

    November 29, 2011 at 2:07 pm

    Amy –

    The thinness of paper is definitely a factor in getting detail but so is time. I spend some time on the final "tiny cutting" step just to give the snowflake another level of intricacy.

    I used to fold in quarters too but have changed within the past few years. It makes a real difference, I think. The snowflakes just look more snowflakey… 🙂

  6. Saraccino says

    November 29, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    Love them! They are so beautiful and cool made out of recycled adds! Some of them will be on my christmas gift wrappings for sure 🙂

  7. Pacas says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:16 pm

    You're the most inventive girl I ever met!! love it 🙂

  8. cottonreel says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    Love them . I like the different folding . I shall do some and I can hear my son remarking , I think mum has lost it !!!!

  9. Jacqueline says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    You can see on my blog i made them also. But then the flower version. I'm going to put them on the wall in one of the childrens bedroom. Ik most cut a lot. But it's nice work.

  10. monica says

    November 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    i am so glad to see you fold them into thirds, and then sixths. that is one of my pet peeves, to see snowflakes that are four sided. It just isnt how nature made them!! Thanks for the pictures, I am inspired to try and get more detail in my snowflakes this year!

  11. House Revivals says

    November 29, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    I love these! Shared a link to your post on my Facebook page 🙂

  12. Jill says

    November 29, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    What a great way to use up some of the Christmas junk mail!

    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

  13. Charissa says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:05 am

    Michele, Michele. Junk mail never looked so good. We're spending Christmas at home for the first time in our married lives(!!). I'll have to keep this in mind for decorating!

  14. Kindra-At Home With K says

    November 30, 2011 at 3:16 am

    Wow! What a fun junk mail creation! I'll never look at my mail the same again. 🙂 I'm sharing this idea with my son, he loves paper crafts!

  15. felicity says

    November 30, 2011 at 7:01 am

    These. Are. Awesome.

  16. nicolette at dutchcomfort says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    Gorgeous! Every time I see one of your amazing creations I want to make some, but somehow I never seem to succeed. But some snowflakes must be achievable…?

  17. Leah says

    November 30, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I love these, and I bet my kids would be fascinated seeing them unfold. Too bad I just recycled the catalogs that came earlier this week…but I'm sure there are more coming!

  18. pam says

    December 2, 2011 at 2:13 am

    You are definitely a recycle genius!

    I can't believe how lovely these are and what a great job you did on the tutorial!

    I would never thought to use all the colorful printed calendar pages I have saved to make snowflakes! But you can bet I will be making some now! I really can not wait to get started – but got to wait just a bit til I get my hand made gifts in the mail! THEN snowflakes. With Sophia and Antonio!

  19. AMY says

    December 3, 2011 at 9:41 am

    ooh – folding into thirds instead of folding into halves – I think that will make all the difference and I'm going to try making some.

    PS – just found your blog from totally tutorials and I am in LOVE! Why didn't anyone tell me about you before!!

  20. Pumpkin Pie Baby says

    December 6, 2011 at 1:57 pm

    I tried folding the paper the way you suggested and they were the most beautiful snowflakes I've ever made. Plus, I love using up all of these catalog pages that are otherwise just going in the recycling. Thanks for sharing!

  21. Hele says

    December 7, 2011 at 12:11 pm

    soooo colorful and cute!

  22. rachelle | tinkerlab says

    December 8, 2011 at 5:37 am

    Ooooh, I love this!! The colors are wonderful, and I appreciate all the clear steps of your tutorial. I just hosted a magazine creative challenge on my blog, and one of my friends pointed me to this post. http://tinkerlab.com/2011/12/creative-challenge-7-magazines/

  23. Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says

    December 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Gorgeous! You stuff is always genius! Love it.

  24. MB Shaw says

    December 8, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Way way cool.
    Gotta go now, there is some junk mail calling my name 🙂

  25. All Natural Katie says

    December 8, 2011 at 5:18 pm

    I remember doing this when I was a little girl living in Moldova!

  26. All Natural Katie says

    December 8, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    I am following you on GFC now so I can see what other fun eco-friendly crafts you post!

  27. Jennifer says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Beautiful! 🙂

  28. Doodle says

    December 9, 2011 at 11:09 am

    These are so pretty, what a nice idea for using up unwanted junk mail.

  29. ((((Annie)))) says

    December 9, 2011 at 11:58 am

    Wow, great idea!

  30. Madeline says

    December 9, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    Thanks for the great instructions. I really love this idea, a brilliant and pretty way to recycle.

  31. Paulette @ At Home in Arkansas magazine says

    December 9, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    This is SUCH a fabulous idea! So colorful… never would have guessed it came from junk mail. I always feel so guilty throwing all of it away, and will definitely be trying this. Thanks!
    Paulette

  32. Audra says

    December 10, 2011 at 1:47 am

    The junk mail we receive is so ugly, but these are really beautiful.

  33. Easy 2B Green says

    December 12, 2011 at 6:03 am

    Had so much fun creating way too many snowflakes! Thanks for the great idea!!

    ~Michelle

  34. Myrna Mackenzie says

    December 12, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    What a fantastic, useful, green (and pretty) idea! I saw this via a link on Nag on the Lake and have a post set up on my own blog (going live at 11AM CST) today with a link back to your site. Thank you for sharing!

  35. Anonymous says

    December 13, 2011 at 6:46 am

    this is so easy, its d first time i eva done something beautifull like dis..awesome
    mvs.

  36. cgoyer says

    December 14, 2011 at 6:19 pm

    Love these! I made some to decorate my door.

  37. Karisa says

    December 16, 2011 at 11:09 pm

    I love that you used junk mail for these! Great job. I just wanted to let you know that I've included this in our Christmas roundup on the FaveCrafts Blog: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/link-love-classy-christmas-crafts/

    Please let me know if you're ever interested in publishing your tutorials/patterns with FaveCrafts!

  38. Trish Bee says

    December 18, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    I created a journal page using your instructions for snowflakes, you can see it below:
    http://lostmusejournals.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/magazine-paper-snowflakes-journal-page/

  39. Anonymous says

    December 20, 2011 at 6:52 pm

    I love this! My snowflakes all started looking the same when I tried on my own:) Needed a new perspective! And the newspaper idea… love that you can't see the advertisements after they're all cut up! Very Smart:)Thank-you very much!

  40. Anonymous says

    December 22, 2011 at 12:26 am

    Love em! I'll start today collecting junk paper-can't wait to try it.

  41. Anonymous says

    December 22, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Thank you for such a clever idea! I can't wait to do this with my daugter over the weekend 🙂

  42. mwgrover says

    December 24, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I tried my first one this morning, and I'm sure it's the best snowflake I've ever made! Use super-sharp scissors for best results and don't be afraid to make LOTS of deep cuts to get a nice lacy flake (this is where I always came up short – now I know!).

  43. anggi tri says

    December 30, 2011 at 5:01 pm

    tonight, snowflakes was made by me and stick them to my wall 🙂
    thanks a lot

  44. Linda L. says

    January 12, 2012 at 7:04 am

    found this on FaveCrafts. Love it!

  45. Anjieya says

    February 24, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    I made something like this when i was kid. it was a pleasure and you made it really beautiful.

  46. Anonymous says

    May 13, 2012 at 10:28 am

    I make paper snowflakes every winter, and use the same instructions you have listed here. You did a GREAT job explaining the steps!! Wonderful!

  47. Anonymous says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:06 am

    Love this idea. I am volunteering at a nursing home—-rehab center. This would be a perfect and inexpensive craft to do there—hope you don't mind us "stealing" your idea—we will be sure to give you the credit though! Plus I have a grand daughter who LOVES to cut things. Now she can cut to her heart's delight and be productive also!

  48. Anonymous says

    August 18, 2012 at 12:53 am

    oh God
    I love your idea ^ ^

  49. Anonymous says

    October 14, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Wonderful idea! So simple, so nice!

  50. Bonita says

    November 27, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    Just letting you know I linked to this post in my Snowflake Unit Study. http://www.zujava.com/snowflake-study

  51. High-Quality Mothering says

    December 22, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    Use this idea to send snowflakes to kids in Sandy Hook Elem in CT by January. Send off your snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514.

  52. JOY SCHOTTENLOHER says

    September 17, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    I love paper projects. Gonna do some of this junk mail snowflakes. Do you add glitter to them too

  53. michpacey@gmail.com says

    September 19, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    Oh, that's a good idea that I have not tried Joy!

  54. Deirdre Henry says

    August 28, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    Terrific idea. Looks simple with great variety. Shall try these with my grandson.
    Thank you.
    Deirdre

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I am ecstatic if you choose to link to this site, use a brief description, one photo, or link back to any of my posts. Do not republish entire posts without my permission. Tutorials, patterns and printables are for your personal use only and are not to be used to make items for sale. Thank you.

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