SuperDevTools
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Paper snowflake maker

Folded paper: cut here
Unfolded snowflake

Freehand: trace the outline without lifting your finger, the shape closes when you let go. Triangle, half circle and diamond: press where the shape starts and drag to set its size and direction.

12 ready-made designs

Folding diagram

    Keyboard: Ctrl+Z undoes, Ctrl+Y redoes, the space bar makes a random snowflake.

    The snowflake is made on your device and nothing is sent. Your last snowflake stays saved in this browser for your next visit.

    Design a paper snowflake on screen first

    Fold a sheet, snip a few notches, unfold: that is the classic winter craft, and this paper snowflake maker lets you try it on screen before you touch the scissors. On the left you see the folded paper, a thin wedge of a circle. Draw your cuts on it with a mouse or a finger. On the right, the unfolded snowflake updates while you draw. Test ideas without wasting paper, then print a template for the real thing.

    With "6 arms (30° wedge)", every cut shows up 12 times: 6 rotations of 60° plus their mirror image across the fold. With 8 arms the wedge is 22.5° and each cut appears 16 times; with 4 arms the wedge is 45° and each cut appears 8 times.

    How to use it

    1. Pick the number of "Arms" and a "Paper color".
    2. "Freehand": trace an outline without lifting your finger; it closes when you let go. "Triangle", "Half circle" and "Diamond": press where the shape starts and drag to set its size and direction.
    3. Only the part that lands on the paper counts, just like real scissors. A notch that touches a fold turns into a whole hole in the middle of an arm once unfolded.
    4. "Undo", "Redo" and "Start over" fix mistakes. "Random snowflake" and the "12 ready-made designs" give you a starting point.
    5. Save with "PNG image (transparent)" (1,600 × 1,600 pixels) or "SVG drawing", or click "Print A4 template".

    Step-by-step folding

    The "Folding diagram" under the tool follows the setting you chose. For 6 arms, start with an 8-inch (20 cm) square:

    1. Fold it in half along the diagonal. The middle of the long edge becomes the center of the snowflake.
    2. From that point, fold into thirds of 60° each, like a fan.
    3. Fold in half again: the wedge is now 30° and 12 layers thick.
    4. Lay the printed template on top with its tip on the center, copy the dotted lines, cut off whatever sticks out past the arc, then cut out the gray areas.
    5. Unfold gently and press the snowflake under a heavy book overnight.

    For 8 arms, fold in half four times counting the diagonal (16 layers); for 4 arms, three times (8 layers). Page one of the printout holds the actual-size template (4-inch radius), page two the unfolded snowflake, 7 inches across.

    Which paper works best

    Regular 20 lb copy paper is fine for 4 and 6 arms. For 8 arms, go thinner: tissue paper, tracing paper or 6-inch origami squares. Skip cardstock, which is far too stiff to cut through 12 layers. Paper that is silver on one side gives a snowflake that shines on one face and stays matte on the other.

    Decorating ideas

    • On the glass: a dab of soapy water holds a thin snowflake on a window pane, and it peels off without marks.
    • Garland: string a dozen snowflakes on thread, about 8 inches apart, across a mantel or a classroom window.
    • Holiday cards and gift tags: glue a 3-inch snowflake onto colored card stock.
    • Party table: set a white snowflake under each glass or in the middle of a dark plate.

    A craft for kids

    From about age 5, children can cut on their own with blunt-tip safety scissors, as long as the paper is thin and they stick to 4 or 6 arms. Pre-fold the paper for younger kids, let them design on screen, then trace the template in pencil. Seeing one snip turn into 12 holes is a hands-on lesson in symmetry.

    Why real snowflakes have six arms

    In ice, water molecules link up in six-sided rings. The crystal grows along this hexagonal pattern, with 60° between neighboring arms. Each arm drifts through the same air at the same temperature, so it grows almost exactly like the others. Large, feathery star shapes form mostly around 5 °F (-15 °C). Natural snowflakes with 8 or 4 arms do not exist: those are pure crafting freedom.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why did my snowflake fall apart?

    Two cuts meet somewhere and cut off a piece of paper. Always leave a strip of uncut paper between a notch from the left edge and a notch from the right edge; the unfolded preview shows loose pieces right away.

    Will the printed snowflake be the right size?

    Yes, if you print at 100% (actual size) rather than "fit to page". An 8-inch square then gives an 8-inch snowflake.

    Can I use the image on a card or a flyer?

    Yes. The PNG has a transparent background, so it sits on any color, and the SVG scales up without losing sharpness.

    Is my snowflake saved?

    Your last snowflake, the number of arms and the color stay in this browser for your next visit. Nothing is sent anywhere.