How to make a stepped paper snowflake
Stepped Paper Snowflake: try all 10 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 narrow stepped branches and nine windows, then open a light four-point 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
- 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 stepped branches
Trace the stair-shaped branches shown on the packet. Start at the top end of the right folded edge and cut around the branches to the left end of the lower folded edge. Keep the pattern inside the outline. Lift the surrounding scrap clear before moving it aside.
- 4
Cut right-edge window 1
Cut the small V from the right folded edge through all four layers. Leave at least 3 mm of paper beside the cut so the arm stays connected.
- 5
Cut lower-edge window 1
Cut the matching V from the lower folded edge. These small cuts become diamond windows when the paper opens.
- 6
Cut right-edge window 2
Cut the small V from the right folded edge through all four layers. Leave at least 3 mm of paper beside the cut so the arm stays connected.
- 7
Cut lower-edge window 2
Cut the matching V from the lower folded edge. These small cuts become diamond windows when the paper opens.
- 8
Open the centre window
Cut off the small folded centre corner along the square guide. Keep the surrounding stepped frame in one piece; this notch becomes the centre window.
- 9
Open the quarter fold
Open the last fold first. The cut paper spreads into two matching halves.
- 10
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
Notched eight-arm snowflake ↗
Fold a square twice, cut eight forked arms and nine windows, then open the full 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.