Paper Snowflakes // diy

by Ashley Weeks Cart

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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.

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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)!