Paper Snowflakes // diy
by Ashley Weeks Cart
We’re about to head off on a snowy sleigh ride, but I wanted to first share with you this tutorial that Kimmy helped me put together. If you aren’t interested in hanging paper snowflakes in your own home, you can take part in this lovely effort for the students of Sandy Hook.
Snowflakes for Sandy Hook
Please help the students of Sandy Hook have a winter wonderland at their new school! Get Creative!! Make and send snowflakes to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514, by January 12, 2013.
Among her many talents, Kimmy is an expert paper snowflake maker. And you all agreed, as demonstrated by the many likes and comments of love when I shared this image of our kitchen door. Kimmy loves to make a paper snowflake – she even threw a party for her friends in Woods Hole that centered around this very activity. And when she arrived on Friday night, she got to work bedecking Cartwheel Farm is these paper beauties. We’ll be mailing our assortment of over 30 paper snowflakes to the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook effort. We hope you will, too!
Here’s a video blow-by-blow to give you some helpful tips to make your own jaw-dropping flakes.
The crucial ingredients are:
1. Always start with a hexagon! Kimmy shows you how in the video.
2. Make as many cuts into either side of your flake as possible. Kimmy uses itty bitty scissors to cut triangles into all sides of her flakes to really create intricate detail.
3. Don’t be afraid to play and experiment!
Of note: The music is from the snow scene in Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. OBVIOUSLY! And at the very end, you’ll see an example of a “Man Flake,” i.e. a snowflake with big chunky cuts and limited detail. She picked up on this trend thanks to the dudes at her house party.
Enjoy and post pix if you do give it a go! May you have a festive Christmas Eve (for those of you celebrating)!
This may be on your radar already, but when the Sandy Hook students head to their temporary school in January, the PTO hopes to create a winter wonderland by decorating the building with paper snowflakes. Details on how to contribute snowflakes can be found on the CT PTA site:
http://www.ctpta.org/About-CT-PTA/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html
THANK YOU for putting this on my radar. We’ll be mailing our flakes to the CT PTSA now – and I’ve added the info to the post. Merry merry!
Ohhhh my goodness. This just got me so excited. I make snowflakes every year, but more of the square-cut variety. This hexagon pattern is blowing my mind. Thanks!
Awesome! I’ve always wanted to make better snowflakes! Mine are stuck at about 5th grade level–basic. I did think it was hilarious (and great) that you noted what the music in the video was. As a violinist by trade, I’ve played Nutcracker so many times I can’t imagine not being able to identify the tune, but it tickles me to think some may be falling in love with it anew!