How to make a notched paper snowflake
Notched Paper Snowflake: try all 12 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Fold a square twice, cut eight forked arms and nine windows, then open the full snowflake. This is Origami Tutor's own pattern.
- You need
- Thin paper, a pencil and scissors.
- Start
- Begin with a 12 × 12 cm square of thin paper.
Your model is ready
Ease the creases flat. Lift the fully opened paper by an uncut edge to see the complete pattern.
Step-by-step diagrams
Steps 1–7
- 1
Fold the square in half
Bring the bottom edge up to the top edge. Match the corners and press the crease.
- 2
Fold into four layers
Bring the right edge to the left edge. The bottom-right corner of this packet is the folded centre.
- 3
Cut the arm outline
Trace the quarter-pattern shown on the packet. Follow the bevels and deep V around the diagonal arm, starting at the top end of the right folded edge and ending at the left end of the lower folded edge. Keep the frame beside the folded centre and remove the surrounding scrap.
- 4
Notch the first outer tip
Snip across the packet's top-right corner along the short sloping guide. Leave at least 3 mm of paper beside the cut. This notch splits the top and bottom arm tips when the sheet opens.
- 5
Notch the other outer tip
Make the matching snip at the bottom-left outer corner. Leave the same broad tabs beside it; these become the left and right arm tips.
- 6
Cut right-edge window 1
Cut the small V from the right folded edge through all four layers. Keep the paper between the window and the other cuts intact.
- 7
Cut lower-edge window 1
Cut the matching V from the lower folded edge. The four-layer packet repeats each window around the snowflake.
Steps 8–12
- 8
Cut right-edge window 2
Cut the small V from the right folded edge through all four layers. Keep the paper between the window and the other cuts intact.
- 9
Cut lower-edge window 2
Cut the matching V from the lower folded edge. The four-layer packet repeats each window around the snowflake.
- 10
Cut the centre window
Cut around the marked square at the bottom-right folded corner. Remove that corner through all four layers, keeping the paper around the opening connected.
- 11
Open the quarter fold
Open the last fold first. The cut paper spreads into two matching halves.
- 12
Open the half fold
Open the first crease and spread the entire cut sheet flat.
- ✓
Finish
Ease the creases flat. Lift the fully opened paper by an uncut edge to see the complete pattern.
Fold next
Stepped four-point snowflake ↗
Fold a square twice, cut narrow stepped branches and nine windows, then open a light four-point snowflake. This is Origami Tutor's own pattern.
Easy six-point paper snowflake ↗
Four ordinary folds make the real six-point packet. Trim the uneven ends, then cut two bold notches through every layer. The blue blade lines form the printable folded guide.
Paper chain dolls ↗
Accordion-fold six panels, then cut an original doll through the packet. Keep both side edges joined at the hands and feet. The cut outline repeats into six connected figures.
Five-point star with one cut ↗
The historical angle-division method folds a half-sheet into two and a half sectors, folds the remaining half sector under, then halves the packet. One straight cut opens into a five-point star.