Learn, step-by-step, how to cut, fold and use Christmas Snowflakes using Recycled A3 paper. These are SUCH a magical way to Christmas-fy your house!
Do you (or your partner) work in a job where you go through a LOT of paper?
In this day and age, this should not happen, I know. But the fact is, there ARE jobs that are still using paper, and lots of it. My husband’s, for example. He’s in design, and produces a lot of drawings to take to sites, or to client meetings.
I’m talking hundreds of pieces of paper.
What happens to all that paper?
(I can see you covering your face in despair).
I don’t like to throw out all that paper, especially when the other side is perfectly white. So, I have been trying to think of ways to give it new life. Drawing paper for my son. Writing out plans and ideas.
And now, with Christmas nearly upon us and with paper piles climbing to the ceiling, I have decided to make it snow.
I spent the most part of last week folding, cutting, cello taping, and stringing up snowflakes.
To be honest, I didn’t think having scrap bits of paper hanging from my ceiling would be visually impressive. But, I was dogged about not wasting that durn paper.
So, I was quite pleasantly surprised at the result. Yes, my snowflakes are irregular and do bear various roading designs on one side. But, these things are barely noticeable, and they have made my house look SO festive!
People truly say “wow!” when they come into the room.
Which is, needless to say, an EXTREMELY gratifying result from cut-up, scrap pieces of paper!
Here’s how to recycle A3 (or A4) pieces of paper into snowflakes to turn your house into a veritable Christmas Wonderland!
Step 1: Measure your Squares
One A3 piece of paper will get you approximately 2 squares (equal to 2 snowflakes). Here’s how to fold it to get ’em:
Fold the A3 paper in half, giving you 2 A4-sized rectangles.
Bring the two TOP corners to the bottom of the middle crease, creating 2 back-to-back right-angled triangles. This will create two diagonal lines, like the roof of a house.
When you unfold, you will see the beginnings of 2 squares, plus an extra strip at the bottom.
Fold the bottom strip, beginning from where the first diagonal line meets the edge of the paper, straight across to where the second diagonal line meets the other edge.
This will make a straight crease all the way across the bottom of the A3 paper.
Now you can cut the squares. I actually didn’t bother with scissors, and just rip along the folded lines. The rough edges will be cut away later!
Don’t throw away that strip either! You could fold and cut them to make a line of Christmas Trees or Gingerbread Men.
Step 2: Fold the Squares for the Paper Snowflakes
The folding for the snowflake is crucial. It is what sets these flakes apart from the kind of stuff you made as a six-year-old.
This folding guide will make a six-point “flake” which looks like something out of Frozen. You will have SO much fun unfolding them, to reveal your surprisingly intricate flake!
It isn’t tricky, but strong fingers are needed to do the folding and cutting (as this method does make many layers). You may need to supervise your children!
Get your square, and fold it in half. There will already be a crease from when you initially folded the A3 paper.
Fold the triangle in half again. Be sure to align the edges as perfectly as you can.
Fold into thirds. Fold one third in, then the other on top, aligning the outer edges to create an isosceles triangle.
When you turn it over, you will see a straight edge (the bottom of you isosceles triangle), which is the edge of your snowflake. This indicates the side you can draw your design on.
You could cut off the top along the edge, but you will be doing this anyway, later, when you cut the design out.
Step 3: Draw and Cut your Design
Draw your design. Take care not to take it above the straight line, otherwise it will not be repeated in the final Flake.
Cut the design. It honestly doesn’t matter if you do not do this perfectly, because the irregularities just make the snowflake original!
Now the moment of truth! The unfolding of the flake never loses it’s magic.
What to Do with your Snowflakes
Stick them in your windows
Confession: I have seasoned ALL the windows in our house with these Christmas, recycled-paper snowflakes, with the white side facing out. I am so chuffed with how whimsical and gingerbread house-y they make it look!
If you have LOTS of paper to use up, this is will do it!
Best thing: you can just throw the whole lot in the bin after Christmas!
Add a bit of pizzazz to your Christmas presents
Another confession: I actually didn’t have any labels handy for this present (as you can tell by that demented star). I didn’t want to write straight onto the wrapping paper.
Then I saw a leftover snowflake, and a lightbulb *dinged* in my head!
I think I am going to have to cut out more snowflakes so I can wrap all my presents this way!
Cello tape them to your fairy lights
If you already have fairy lights strung across your ceiling, then you have a great starting point for creating a winter wonderland.
These snowflakes stick easily with cello tape to fairy lights. Stick as many as you have appetite for. You could cut them out in all different shapes and sizes – this will make the entire effect all the more magical!
If you have a massive pile of paper, you could do the whole house this way. Make a winter wonderland out of your home with only fairy lights and paper!
Low cost, but utterly beautiful.
And an easy clean-up at the end, too. No need to be careful or finnicky – just chuck them in the bin!
There is nothing more satisfying than when being frugal produces a big pay-off, like how these Christmas snowflakes from recycled paper, made my home so Christmassy and Festive. What are ways you are bringing Christmas into your home, without blowing your budget? Please share!
Check out more Frugal Christmas articles here.
