Cut + Fold - Kirigami Snowflakes

Cut + Fold - Kirigami Snowflakes

Here's a little holiday crafting fun for you - the prettiest kirigami snowflakes!

While I prefer to cut kirigami designs from origami paper, I can understand that not everyone has it lying around the house. So, for these snowflakes, I worked with Geri to craft up a series of printable snowflake templates that you can fold & cut right from standard printer paper! (But seriously - origami paper is so much easier to fold + cut - next year I'm stocking up on piles of plain white!)

There are 3 sets of kirigami snowflakes to fold + cut. Each set includes one large and two small snowflake templates on one standard printout. Here's where to find them:

Click right here for printable template!

Set One -

Set Two - The Languid Lion (this is the easiest of the 3 sets - I'd recommend starting with set 2!)

Set Three - Oh My! Handmade Goodness

Here's the scoop on how to use these free printable kirigami templates:

1. Print out your kirigami template(s).

2. Cut the three squares out of the printable. On the right of the page, you will notice folding instructions.

3. Fold the square in half as per the image above. The printed segment will be in the bottom right corner, facing away from you (down). Ensure each fold you make is sharp to make cutting easier.

4. Fold the square in half again. The printed segment will now be on the left third of your triangle, facing towards you (up).

5. Fold the right third of the triangle over the middle third as per the left image above. The edge should line up with the edge of the printed segment.

6. Flip over.

7. Fold the right side over the middle. Finished folded piece should look like the image on the left.

8. Cut off excess paper points.

9. Begin cutting. Cut on the inside of the grey lines to ensure they don't appear on your final snowflake. Try cutting in one motion, turning the paper as you go rather than making sharp cuts. Make sure to hold firmly to the folded paper so that it doesn't shift.

10. For areas marked with a very small cut, don't be afraid to make them bigger. We've tried to make markings towards the bottom point very small to give you space to cut around the lines.

You'll notice that the more negative space you create when cutting kirigami, the more beautiful/intricate the final product is.

11. Continue cutting until entire pattern is cut. 12. Unfold to reveal your kirigami snowflake. Press flat under a pile of heavy books.Happy crafting! Hope you love making these as much as we loved creating them!

Original article and pictures take www.omiyageblogs.ca site