Making 3-D Paper Snowflakes
The rumor here in Portland is that it may snow tomorrow. What a perfect time to post the tutorial for the 3D papercut snowflakes, right? If it does not snow outside, at least it will be inside. This snowflake is not my invention, but this is my version after making many of these each year for my tree and holiday decorations. For a medium to smaller snowflake, this is the best version I have come up with so far and with the addition of my cutting machine, making a dozen a snap. You can see me making these in my Tips & Tricks for Gorgeous Gift Wrapping Mini Course.
Below I share my step-by-step tutorial of my version and at the end of the post you can download a printable template as well the SVG cut file. The papers I used for these are Ice Silver and Silver which are both metallic. I like the added sheen. The finished snowflakes is about 6 inches wide, but you can easily use the patten to make smaller or larger snowflakes. So grab some paper, scissors and hot glue and . . . let it snow! ~ Lia & team
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Tools
- Craft Scissors
- Cutting Machine (recommended)
- High-Temp Hot Glue Gun
Materials
- Frosted Text Weight Paper – Ice Silver, Silver
- String or twine
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Discussion
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60 Comments
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Tammy
October 27, 2018 at 9:31am
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Lia
October 29, 2018 at 11:36am
@Tammy
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Bobette
November 12, 2016 at 11:27am
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Lia
November 13, 2016 at 12:08pm
@Bobette
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alma
December 9, 2015 at 5:21pm
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Lia
December 11, 2015 at 11:11am
@alma
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Carol
January 11, 2015 at 11:56am
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Lia
January 12, 2015 at 8:39am
@Carol
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Marilynn
January 2, 2015 at 10:19pm
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Lia
January 6, 2015 at 12:40pm
@Marilynn
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Hazel
November 18, 2015 at 5:51am
@Lia
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Marilynn
January 2, 2015 at 10:13pm
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Lia
January 6, 2015 at 8:50am
@Marilynn
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Brenda
December 14, 2014 at 7:22pm
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Lia
December 14, 2014 at 8:47pm
@Brenda
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Melissa
December 7, 2014 at 4:37pm
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Lia
December 15, 2014 at 11:44am
@Melissa
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Auntiepatch
December 4, 2014 at 11:56pm
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Lia
December 5, 2014 at 9:07am
@Auntiepatch
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Pat
December 1, 2014 at 12:58pm
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anna
December 1, 2014 at 2:24pm
@Pat
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kaley
January 12, 2014 at 6:14am
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Lia
January 12, 2014 at 8:32am
@kaley
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Shelly
December 24, 2013 at 9:56pm
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Lia
December 25, 2013 at 8:57pm
@Shelly
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Cheryl
December 15, 2013 at 2:29pm
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Lia
December 16, 2013 at 8:39am
@Cheryl
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DianeP
December 14, 2013 at 5:43am
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Lia
December 14, 2013 at 8:11pm
@DianeP
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Pauline
December 10, 2013 at 10:52pm
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Lia
December 11, 2013 at 8:23am
@Pauline
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KayleneP
December 7, 2013 at 10:10pm
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Lia
December 11, 2013 at 8:27am
@KayleneP
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JaneEllen
December 6, 2013 at 9:59pm
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Lia
December 7, 2013 at 1:40pm
@JaneEllen
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Susan
December 6, 2013 at 1:24pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 2:17pm
@Susan
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Jenn
December 6, 2013 at 9:19am
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 2:22pm
@Jenn
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Beth
December 6, 2013 at 5:27am
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 6:42am
@Beth
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Lisa
December 6, 2013 at 12:04am
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:50am
@Lisa
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monica
December 5, 2013 at 11:29pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:50am
@monica
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Lisa
December 5, 2013 at 10:37pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:51am
@Lisa
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Karen
December 5, 2013 at 8:29pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:52am
@Karen
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Barbara
December 5, 2013 at 7:48pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:53am
@Barbara
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Linda
December 5, 2013 at 7:28pm
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Lia
December 6, 2013 at 12:53am
@Linda
Leave a CommentThese are lovely.
Hi Tammy! Thank you, we’re so glad you like them!:)
Lia – I downloaded the 3D spiral snowflake 3 times and it will not open in Cricit Design space. Once it said invalid format and another time it said ART5image – not a vector file.
Are these only for Silhouette?
Thanks – Bobette
Hi Bobette– did you accidentally download the PDF? There is an SVG file to download at the bottom of the post that will work with your Cricut.
can i buy that paper at walmart? can computer paper work fine?
I bought this paper online from Paper-Papers brand in text weight. It’s a bit thicker than computer paper so the snowflakes hold their shape. You can certainly buy paper at walmart but I would suggest getting something thicker than printer paper 🙂
Hi,
I am interested in making the lovely snowflakes for a party. What text and finish paper did you use?
Thanks,
Carol
Hi Carol, I used metallic text weight paper from Paper-Papers. Hope you have a great party!!
Sorry, one more thing. If I were to make snowflakes, perhaps flat ones for hanging, say as part of a mobile, would a heavier paper work better, perhaps the card stock version?
Cardstock will not curl as softly. I would still recommend text weight paper.
I have made these with double side print paper and card stock and you just have to take the time to curl them before gluing. I use a sticky glue dot and then a hot glue gun to put them together.
I have two silver metallic papers in my shopping cart at papers-paper.com: FAV Shimmer Paper and Shine Silver. Which one? Help!
They are both lovely! Either one would be perfect!
I have just made two of these wonderful snowflakes for our Christmas Tree. We have white balls , gold balls, and silver balls, some glittery, some clear see through balls with just a little red hawthorn berries and branches in side, we have white glittery dove, white reindeer, white skirts glass looking ballerinas and elongated icicles. These white snowflakes just make the finishing touch so beautifully especially with the lights shinning through them. Its the wow effect. I am going to finish making more to balance the tree out and I just wanted to give you a description of how lovely our tree looks. Thank you so much for this pattern we will cherish it for years to come and our daughter and her family are getting the same pattern.
Your tree sounds absolutely beautiful! I am honored that my snowflakes will have a place in your tree! Hope you have a wonderful holiday! Hugs!
Do you have a Cricut template for these? I’m trying to get my Cricut to cut them so they don’t have the fold in the middle of the sections but it doesn’t like the pdf saved as a picture file. I bought the Cricut based on all your work- absolutely love your site!
Hi Melissa, I don’t have a SVG file for these but will do one next year:)
My computer won’t let me open the video but it looks pretty simple. I’m going to try this tomorrow. Thanks –
Hum. I didn’t do a video for the snowflakes. I am wondering where it came from.
Love the things that you make but could there be a printer friendly version so we don’t have to print everyone’s comments? Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Pat. Are you trying to print the tutorial? I don’t control what prints, it has to do with website template. If you just want the tutorial part you can either right click on the image, save it and then print the image or you can select what pages you want to print. Hope that helps:)
Hay if been trying to get the middle stapled to were all of them should stay but it whant work
I did not use staples for these, but there are other tutorial out there that do. Maybe do a search for those to see how they stapled?
Ms. Lia, you are so talented !!! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful Christmas items with us! It sure made my packages look better than last year 🙂 keep on posting, I look forward to your blog each day!! Have a Merry Christmas!!!!
Thanks Shelly! So happy to add some love to your Christmas. 😉
Where did you buy the silver paper for snow flakes??
I buy all of my metallic paper (I use it a lot) from paper-papers.com. Just go to their 8.5×11 section then choose metallic. I buy text weight rather than card stock for all of my projects.
Thank you so much for sharing the pretty snowflakes!
It’s snowing here today, so it’s a perfect time to make some indoor snowflakes!
Yes it is!! They are fun to make.
Thank you for all of the beautiful paperwork you share! Wonderful. I find myself eager to check in to see what you are sharing.
On these snowflakes… how would they turn out using card stock? I already have metallic card stock (not printer paper).
With appreciation,
Pauline
I think it would work. You will want to carefully curl your center pieces around something round since you don’t want them to bend. Give it a try.
The look wonderful. We don’t have snow here at Christmas time in Australia but I will make some and put them on my windows anyway! Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant! Bring the snow inside. 🙂
I’m so digitally challenged I’d have hard time figuring out how to turn it on.
I’ll just watch ok?
Love look of the snowflakes. I’ll have to try it. Have some great silver paper. Thanks so much Lia. Happy weekend
Yes, you can hand cut them too. 🙂
Hi Lia, thank you so much for the silhouette file! I re-sized them and my boys and I just made a whole bunch of different-sized snowflakes to hang from the window. Perfect snow day activity! How did you hang yours, from the middle? Just asking because I can’t see any holes you may have punched for stringing them up. Thanks again!
Wonderful! I am glad you were able to change the size easily. I didn’t really hang them, just used tape for the photo, but if I were to hang them, I would punch a small hole on one of the tips and use clear thread or fishing line.
LOOKYLOOKYLOOKY SVG FILES!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I am so happy right now! Marks a milestone! 🙂 Thanks, Lia!
I know!!! I love my machine hope everyone gets one for Christmas. 🙂
Thanks so much for the Silhouette file
You are welcome. It makes things SO much easier.
These are gorgeous!
Thanks Lisa!
Beautiful as usual . Imade one and it is hanging on the window, facing the the snow that is falling down outside…. Have a nice day!
Monica
I love it!
These might take me a time or two to get the hang of, but they just look so darn cool, I’ve gotta give it a try! The metallic paper makes them extra special–they just glowed on your tree.
If it does snow tomorrow, it better be enough to close school! Otherwise it’s just annoying. 🙂 Gee, can you tell I’m an all-or-nothing weather girl? hahaha
I am right there with you on the weather. It has been so cold that snow would be such a nice treat.
Lia, I absolutely LOVE these snowflakes!! They would look great hanging on my sliding glass doors… even though it might be 80 degrees on the other side of those doors!! I know you said you use ice silver and silver, but can you please tell me the brand of the paper or where you purchased it? I really like the sheen on the paper you used.
I have really been enjoying all the Christmas paper and tags printables you have so generously given us this year!
Thank you so much.
Of course you can use any paper or metallic paper, but I purchase mine from paper-papers.com. Just look in the metallic section there.
Oh my gosh, your snowflakes are gorgeous.. I have to try making these. Thank you very much for the Tute.
You are so welcome. They are actually quite simple once you get the hang of it.
I love these…
Yay! Good to hear. 🙂
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