Coffee Filter Snowflakes

This post was originally published on DIY Network’s blog Made + Remade in November 2014.

You’ve probably been making paper snowflakes since you were a kid, and when you think about it, as easy as they were to make, it was hard to create designs that were as intricate as you would have liked.

Why is this? Probably because you were working with construction paper, or printer paper, both of which are always on hand at day cares and homes but are thick and harder to cut through when folded repeatedly. Also, your snowflakes were often rectangles (guilty!).

Want a tip for making better paper snowflakes? Use lighter paper. Tissue paper is a better product for the job, as folds repeatedly more easily, and is easy to cut through. Coffee filters are even better, as they have all of those qualities and are inherently round (buh-bye rectangular snowflakes). What could be easier than using common coffee filters for your paper snowflakes?

Step 1

A package of coffee filters can often be found for less than $2, if you don’t already have some in your kitchen.

Step 2

Fold the coffee filter across the center, and as many times as you wish. Use fine, sharp scissors to make your cuts – I actually like using nail cuticle scissors because they’re sharp and excel at the detail work.

Cut along the fold lines however you’d like – it’s easy to cut through the paper, because coffee filters are as fine as tissue paper. Each snowflake will be unique, and each unfolded snowflake will look absolutely remarkable compared to its tightly wadded self.

Step 3

Case in point. They are all beautiful.

Step 4

Your coffee filters might want to try and fold back up, after having been forced into that coffee-making shape for so long. The easy fix for that is to iron the snowflake between two pieces of wax paper. The wax also transfers onto the coffee filter, making it a little less delicate when it comes time to display.

Step 5

Hang the finished snowflakes using pieces of washi tape. Whether you’re hanging on windows or on a wall in your home, the tape won’t leave behind any sloppy residue.