Handmade Holidays: Recycled Paper Snowflakes

I've been thinking lately that I'd like to start a little series on this blog called "Handmade Holidays". Jake and I both try to make gifts by hand as much as possible, and even if you're hard pressed for time, I think there are little things you can do to add a handmade touch to the festivities. Not to mention, you can cut out big box stores and give someone something truly unique. Today I made these little snowflake ornaments for the store Christmas tree out of an old Paper Source catalog. Being a stationery catalog they use particularly nice paper and I liked that all the colors and images were Christmas themed. Plus, I couldn't stand to just throw it in the recycling bin... it seemed better fit for a project. They're pretty basic so I thought I'd offer some instructions so you can make your own.

You will need:
- An old catalog (ones with holiday images might offer similar colors to the ones I made), magazine, newspaper, book pages from a damaged book, etc. (hit up your family, friends, neighbor if you don't have any)
- Scissors or an x-acto knife (I used an x-acto knife)
- Glue (I used Memory Mount because it is archival and doesn't bleed through... also, it's not very messy... you can usually find it at one of the big chain craft stores or an art store.)
- A straight edge ruler
- Thread

Step 1: Cut out strips of paper of equal length and width. You will need four strips for each snowflake. (Mine were a quarter inch wide by 6 inches long... I just used the width of the magazine for the length of each strip so I wouldn't have to do as much measuring.)



Step 2: Fold strips back so that it overlaps on the back by about a quarter inch. Crease flat. Do this three more times using the first one as a template so each one is the same length and overlaps in the back. Put a little dab of glue to hold each together so that they form a flattened loop.



Step 3: Put glue in the middle of the top and bottom of one folded strips and insert it into another folded strip (holding it open wide so as not make a mess with the glue) so that they cross each other in the middle and press down so that the glue holds. Now insert another strip inside the two of these with another dab on the top and bottom of the strip so that it intersects one of the remaining directions. Do this with the last one too so that you have a a little star-like snowflake. It should puff out a little for a 3-D effect.

Step 4: String it with thread or tape it to a present for a decoration.


Step 5: Enjoy!

Tip: It's definitely easier than my directions make it sound. Try it out if you like!