| If you are looking for a way to make Christmas | | | | different size snowflakes as the dining room table |
| decorating easy consider snowflake patterns. | | | | centerpiece. I use the white stiff felt like |
| Think about it! Snowflakes are one of the most | | | | mentioned above and then spray with a light |
| familiar images of the holidays and we made | | | | coating of gold glitter spray for a subtle shimmer. |
| them as kids because they were simple. Of | | | | Then I arrange the snowflakes in the center of |
| course, now I'm going to show you how to take | | | | the table with gold candlesticks in brass holders. |
| the old-time paper snowflake from kid craft to | | | | It's simple and yet so elegant. |
| elegant holiday table centerpiece. Once you start | | | | You can add a few touches of your own to this |
| crafting with snowflakes again you'll be surprised | | | | design. Consider placing the gold snowflakes in |
| at what you can do! | | | | either a green pine or gold garland. A few |
| Before you can create any snowflake crafts you | | | | strategically placed red or gold Christmas globes |
| need to cut out some paper snowflakes. | | | | will add some extra flair. |
| Snowflakes always have six sides (they are | | | | To make this task a little simpler, you may be |
| hexagonal) therefore, you will need to fold the | | | | able to find a stiff felt that already has a glitter |
| paper so that the finished designs have six | | | | effect. But if you are using spray glitter or any |
| symmetrical extensions. First, fold a piece of | | | | other means of decorating your snowflakes, do |
| paper by pulling the top left corner across to the | | | | that before you assemble the two pieces. |
| right side of the paper and make sure that the | | | | So, you can't find stiff felt. That's OK. You can |
| top of the paper and the right side are lined up. | | | | cut the snowflake patterns out of regular felt (or |
| Cut off the excess paper at the bottom not in | | | | any fabric for that matter). To make the fabric |
| the folded area. Next, bring the two tips of the | | | | stiff so that it will stand up treat it with a fabric |
| folded side together and mark the center point | | | | stiffening solution or regular school glue. Just lay |
| along the fold. From the unfolded point opposite | | | | the fabric flat and brush on the solution. It may |
| the center mark, measure 3 and 1/8" along either | | | | take some time for the stiffener or glue to dry, |
| side and make a mark. Draw two lines from the | | | | so be patient. Also, you can iron the fabric with a |
| center mark on the fold to each of the marks on | | | | heavy starch. Experiment with these solutions on |
| the unfolded side. Now fold along each line. I know | | | | some scrap fabric until you find the one that |
| it sounds complicated for just a paper snowflake | | | | works for you. |
| but once you see how it's done you'll find that it's | | | | I hope you have some fun with this idea and get |
| easy to just fold without all the measuring. | | | | really creative. For example, if you can make any |
| Cut away a few pieces from the folded paper. If | | | | fabric stiff (according to the hint above) then why |
| you are cutting along the outside a scissors will | | | | not use a tartan fabric or a toile? Using a fabric |
| work fine. But if you want to get fancy, you can | | | | that will be a good match to your normal |
| use a craft knife to cut out holes any where in | | | | décor can help blend your Christmas |
| the center. I like to draw out a pattern before I | | | | decorations with the permanent residents of your |
| start cutting. When finished with all your cuts, | | | | home. I made some in bright red and green, hung |
| unfold carefully and flatten. Now you have a | | | | them from the living room chandelier at different |
| snowflake cutout design. | | | | heights and then sprinkled a few silver strands of |
| Here's how you can make a 3-D snowflake. I like | | | | icicles from the tree decorations. They look great! |
| to use stiff felt that I can find at the local craft | | | | By the way, these 3-D snowflake decorations |
| supply store and of course I use white. Cut out a | | | | breakdown and store easily for years to come. |
| snowflake pattern in paper and then trace the | | | | Creating your own holiday decorations is an ideal |
| design onto the stiff felt in two places. Cut out | | | | way of expressing your tastes. For example, if |
| both snowflakes from the felt with a craft knife. | | | | you have traditional tastes, work with red, green, |
| Now on each of the snowflakes make one cut | | | | silver and gold. But if you're into retro, then create |
| straight into the center from one of the closest | | | | snowflakes in bright colors like cyan blue, neon |
| points to the center. Slide the snowflakes | | | | green and hot pink. When you are the designer, |
| together through the cuts to center. You may | | | | the only limit is your imagination. The same goes |
| need to make two very close cuts along the one | | | | for gift giving. When you design gifts, you do it |
| you made into the center if your snowflake does | | | | with a specific person and their tastes in mind. |
| not open into four directions easily. | | | | Crafting gives us an opportunity to be unique and |
| There are so many ways to decorate with 3-D | | | | create one-of-a-kind art for decorating or giving. |
| snowflakes. My favorite is to arrange three | | | | |