Paper Bag Snowflakes

How beautiful are these paper snowflakes? Would you believe that these are super easy to make, very inexpensive, and at the end of the Christmas season they can be tossed in the recycle bin instead of storing them in your garage all year? I just love how the brown adds a natural earthy tone to the typical red and green of the holidays.

What you will need:

Paper lunch bags (8 per snowflake) in any color

Glue (I used a hot glue gun because it’s faster but this works with white glue and glue stick as well).

Scissors

String

Step 1: Glue

Glue 8 bags together. I made a T with the glue gun on the side without the bottom flap. I started at the opening of the bag and made one line all the way to the bottom. Then, I added a horizontal line across the bottom of the bag.

When you add a second bag, make sure to keep them all facing the same way. If you added glue to the nonflap side, make sure you position the second bag with the nonflap side facing up.

Step 2: Cut

This is where you can get creative. I always cut the top to a point. You can add triangles or circles to the sides for added detail. Using my scissors, I had no trouble cutting through the 8 bags. See below pictures to see how each design turns out.

Step 3: Unfold and Glue

This is the best part…the reveal. Put your hands in the two end bags and bring them together. You can glue these two sides together or connect them with paperclips (this will allow you to collapse them and save them for next year.

Step 4: Hang

I made a hole with my scissors at the top of a point. Because there was hot glue on it, the hole held up well. Next thread some string through the hole and tie off. Hang in a window, wall, furniture or fireplace mantle.

See the patterns you can make…

Or try it with no side cuts…

If the full bag makes a snowflake that is too large, try cutting 1/3 off the top of the bag before cutting a design. This will create a smaller version.

These really look beautiful anywhere in your house. They can be hung on cabinets, on your mantle or in the window. I especially love seeing the late afternoon sunlight hitting the snowflakes in the window.

If you try this project, leave me a comment and let me know how it turns out!