If you are looking for ideas to create a magical winter wonderland, try these giant 3D paper snowflake decorations!
These lighted big 3D paper snowflakes look gorgeous for the holidays, or any time of year when you want a little something special!
Made from simple paper bags or just plain white office paper, they are so easy to make.
I will share the free templates of all three snowflake patterns for you to download.
See form below to download free designs & lots more goodies:
*Some resources in article are affiliate links. Full disclosure here.
Materials and tools to make 3D paper snowflake decorations:
- office paper, or white paper bags. The templates are for 8.5″x11″ paper since everyone has it!
- LED string lights: if you plan to use them for a quick decor, these battery powered ones are great. If you plan to leave them up for a long time, these plug-in LED fairy lights are what I used.
- clear fishing lines like these for hanging the pendants
- a little secret weapon: white paper clips – you will see why they are must haves!
Below is a video to show you how the paper snowflakes magically open!
Step 1: Make some “paper bags” using office paper. (Skip this step if you are using paper bags.)
I have included fold and glue lines in the templates at the end.
This step is pretty simple: make some paper bags by folding a piece of 8.5″x11″ and gluing the sides first.
The bottom does not need to be glued all the way, just a little dab at the center.
Fold each “bag” in half and glue a stack of them ( blue lines showing where to apply glue). I prefer to glue together 3 at a time for easy cutting. Each snowflake will need 8 to 9 “bags”.
If you like the idea of making simple things extraordinary, check out these 16 inspiring and beautiful gift wrapping hacks.
Step 2: Fold and cut your 3D paper snowflake decorations .
You can print or trace the patterns from my templates, or invent your own designs!
After cutting three stack of paper bags, glue them together to form a snowflake.
Leave an opening so the snowflake can be stored closed.
Here is a little secret on how to hold a snowflake together without gluing so they can be stored flat-
Step 3: add lights to your 3D paper snowflake decorations
I used white paper clips to hold the two ends of a snowflake together and it worked like a charm!
Add clear fishing lines for hanging, and of course – LED fairy lights !
IMPORTANT: please follow basic safety practices when using string lights. Only use good quality products specific for indoor or outdoor conditions, and choose low heat LED lights when using near paper. Always turn off lights before leaving your home or going to bed.
See form below to download free designs & lots more goodies:
Here is the free 5-page templates to download:
You may also like these simple and easy lighting ideas: 28 Stunning outdoor lighting DIY projects
Or 18 creative and magical ways to use LED string lights.
And a holiday favorite: Alternative Christmas trees that are not trees.
Happy creating! =)
Hi,
I’m trying to download the instructions and templates for the giant snowflakes but the link doesn’t appear to be working.
hi! link to ALL free downloads is in our weekly newsletter & welcome email! please check the instructions on top of download page! 🙂
I have subscribed and still cannot get the downloads. I am trying to get the giant snowflake
hi! did you get our welcome email or weekly newsletter? (check spam)
Just made these 3D snowflakes this weekend, they turned out so beautiful! Thank you so much for this wonderful winter and Christmas craft idea!
thank you sylvia! happy holiday season! 🙂
These look amazing! I remember growing up my mother used to make decorations like this for Christmas!
thank you so much lisa for sharing your sweet memories! 🙂
Hi, I am going to be making the paper bags from printer paper. I have tried the instructions but I’m getting a bit confused!
Are the bags made from one or two sheets?
I have downloaded the templates and printed them out. Are they to be folded in half to fit the bags? (Just so you know when printed out, they are very faint)
Could you tell me what the finished folded width should be and also does it make a difference as to which folded side gets cut?
They are beautiful and I would love to be able to make them correctly
Thank you from Bonnie Scotland!
hi tracy, each bag is made from one sheet, the lines are light because after you print you can fold and cut the same sheet, if any trcace of the lines are left they won’t show much. 🙂
Hi, Ananda, I subscribed for a long time for your newsletter, but I missed the weekly link
for the giant snowflakes. They are soooo pretty… I want to craft them for Cristmas to
hang them into my windows. Is ist possible for me to load the template now? Best greetings from Germany, Clementine
hi clementine, A button at the bottom of each newsletter takes you to all downloads, And here- enjoy the dowload page https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/creative-fun/ 🙂
Hi, Ananda, thanks a lot for sending me the link to download the templates. I have two windows to the road to hang lovely things – the people who live with us in the urbanization are waiting until I´m hanging something new. They will have a lot of fun with your lovely
Snowflakes. Thanks a lot once more. A lot of greetings from Germany. Clementine
enjoy them and have a beautiful holiday season Clementine! 🙂
They are beautiful. I remember making these when I was in grade school about 55+ years ago.
that sounds amazing! it took me quite a while to find out how to make these! 🙂
I really want to make this for my school concert stage decorations and yours are by far the best out there but I cannot download the templates!! I click the yellow box and enter my email and it just takes me back to the start of the page but no templates…. any help???
here- http://www.apieceofrainbow.com/creative-fun/
enjoy! 🙂
I love these Giant Snowflake Pendants! You’re a genius! I would very much appreciate the download link if it is still available. Thank you so very much! Judy I have no website at this time. Just don’t have the time to maintain one. 🙁
hi! the link is a yellow button at the end of page 2. 🙂
very beautiful!! I have to make one at home right away!!!!
Wow what an impact this has with the lights behind it. It is so inexpensive to make well pretty much free and who doesn’t love that 🙂 You get the kiddos in on it to and its fun for everyone 🙂
have fun and happy holidays lindsay! =)
I am grateful for all the beautiful projects you share with us. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hi there
Absolutely lovely goodies. Will be trying them out in December.
Unable to download templates of snowflakes and 3d lanterns – any special place
to register before receiving?
hi lorna! did you get our emails (check junk folder) with the download link after you filled out the form?
after clicking the yellow button, and fill out the info, you will get our emails (check junk folder) with the download link! =)
I am also unable to download the templates. It just keeps bringing me back to the same page. The web address that is supposed to be the templates is, http://www.apieceofrainbow.com/paper-bag-snowflake-pendants/2/, but that does not work. Help! 🙂 THANK YOU!
after clicking the yellow button, and fill out the info, you will get our emails (check junk folder) with the download link! =)
What is the name of the piano piece that is playing?
hi jennfer! this piece is from a japanese pianist and i could not figure out the name! but if you like it, you will find similar ones by Ernesto Cortazar on YouTube =)
Thanks for the templates, these are beautiful <3
Happy Thanksgiving!
happy holidays jeremi!! =)
oh wow these are so beautiful for christmas thank you for sharing
These look so cool! I think we have all made snowflakes out of paper, but I have never done anything this fun/3D before. These look so awesome when they are lit up!
I love your site and love these decorations, will try my hand at them tomorrow.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving and thank you for all you give to us
thank you petra and happy thanksgiving! 🙂
I have the same experience as Nicole. I did as you suggested, sent to a friend, but that didn’t work.
hi linda, did you click the yellow button and enter your email? got any email from us in your spam mail at all? or are you having trouble with the link in our email ?
I love these snowflakes. I remember making the simple ones when I was a kid with my mom. Pinned!
Beautiful and simple…your site is a must visit this time of the year…will be trying one or two of the outdoor lights ideas, too BTW, Ananda, I may not have mentioned this to you– I tried infusing olive oil with rosemary, like you showed…and it worked beautifully. Thank you:)
Wish you a happy time leading up to Christmas. xx
Omg! These snowflakes are beautiful. I’ve always wondered how to make them, now i’ll be able to give it a try. Sooooo fun!
You are such amazing artist! Going to make this snowflakes with my kids. So many things to explore here – I will be back!
WOw! I love these! I definitely need to show them to my kids. They love making snowflakes and other crafts.
These are absolutely adorable. Even better they are easy to make. This looks like a really cool project to do with my daughter this Christmas. I pinned this for later. Blessings!
I keep trying to click the link for the templates but it just reloads the same page. Where can I get the templates?
it is working – there are quite a few people downloading as of right now. maybe send the post link to friends and see if they can download?
I have downloaded and it worked beautifully! It’s a five page pdf. Thank you!!!
You may have to try different devices. What works on pc or mac doesn’t always work on tablet, pad or cellphones.
If you are having trouble downloading templates, on the link that says to download, right click it and tell it to open in new window. It worked for me and I have been trying for 3 days to get them. These are so cool. I hope this helps others to get them.
So beautiful! They would be perfect for Christmas decorations
Thanks for the templates – these are beautiful!
How adorable are these?? Perfect and unique for the holidays!
http://adoredbyalex.com
Beautifull…Beautifull++++++++++++++
Lovely creation.
Thinking of you Ananda