In this tutorial, I’m showing you how to make large, quick, easy and affordable 3D paper snowflakes using lunch bags. I’m also turning one of them into a 3D paper snowflake lantern using fairy lights.
If you’ve been following me for a while then you know that I love snowflakes. I recently made the snowflake canvas art and a couple of years ago I made fanned posterboard snowflakes for our tree decor with a free downloadable cutting file.
I love how easy these large 3D paper snowflakes are to make and they are the perfect last-minute decor and craft to do with your family before Christmas
How to make large 3D paper snowflakes using lunch bags
Materials needed:
- 9 lunch bags for one 3D paper snowflake (white or natural brown) – I used brown because I wanted them to be a contrast to my ivory curtains
- scissors
- craft glue
- stapler
- clothing pins or little clamps
- string
- fairy lights (optional) – I used fairy lights and not regular Christmas lights because I love the look and they also don’t get hot like standard strands of light bulbs. Please don’t leave the lights on unattended since they could get hot if torn at spots. And I’m definitely not responsible for anything that might happen!!!
Step-by-step instructions:
Here is my video to show you the process and below are the steps in photos:
Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Start out by gluing the 9 lunch bags together. The glue line looks like a T as shown in the below image. One thin line at the bottom of the bag and one line going up the center of the bag.
Place another bag on top of the glue line and keep repeating until all the bags are stacked and glued.
Use clothing pins, clips or little clamps to keep the center glue line tight. You can also use something heavy as a weight to make sure everything glues together nicely.
Open up the paper bag fan to make sure the bags separate and open properly before you get to the cutting part.
You can also use a stapler to secure some of the top edges
Draw on the 3D snowflake pattern as shown.
Cut the snowflake pattern with strong scissors. If you are doing this with kids then they might need help for this step.
Here is one option of how you can cut the pattern. You can also round the top or add other nudges to the sides.
Lastly, you need to glue the final edge by applying a thin layer of glue.
Fan the 3D snowflake out and attach the edges with a stapler.
At the end, you poke a hole on one edge and add a string to the hole to be able to hang the 3D snowflake.
If you want to turn the 3D snowflakes into lanterns then you can watch my video to see how to do so.
And here are my other snowflake DIYs…
Click HERE for the DIY artwork
and HERE for the small snowflake ornaments
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Happy Holidays!
Tschüß,
Love the hanging snowflakes! Great craft idea. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks Ann, I had to make myself stop because I kept wanting to make more. Happy Holidays
those snowflakes look great! I might make a few for my staircase….if I can finish all the wrapping and baking!
Thank you, my husband is baking for us but I still also have to wrap gifts. I better get going tomorrow or Friday 😉 Merry Christmas!
Julia, you have the greatest MOST original ideas….love everything you do!! Have a wonderful holiday!
The snowflakes are beautiful!!!
Thank you so much Katie and Merry Christmas
Oh my word, these are amazing. What a creative and genius idea. Love the tutorial too.
these are SO beautiful! Such a great idea!
Hello Julia, thank you for this wonderful achievement. I would like to start tomorrow with the children for this Christmas that is coming.
Please, can you explain to me how to see your video tutorial ? On the link you give I see no video or download (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Thank you very much in advance ♥
Hi Polly, that creative commons link is my Music credit that I have to give because I used the song in my video.
Please click on the triangle on the one image to watch the tutorial. I just watched and it is all working fine.
Or you can head to YouTube and watch it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks1FRedU5LI