7. Colorful Paper Quilled Snowflakes
Paper quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing thin strips of paper to create intricate decorative designs. While it looks complex and sophisticated, the basic techniques are easy to learn, making it an engaging project for older kids, teens, and adults. Creating paper quilled snowflakes is a peaceful, meditative activity that allows family members to experiment with geometric patterns, resulting in delicate, lace-like ornaments that look beautiful against the dark green branches of a Christmas tree.
To start, you will need quilling paper strips (or paper cut into thin, even strips), a quilling tool (a slotted tool makes rolling easy, but a toothpick works too), and craft glue. Roll a strip of paper tightly around the tool to create a coil. Remove the coil, let it expand slightly to your desired size, and glue the end of the strip to hold the shape. You can pinch the circular coil at one end to create a teardrop shape, or pinch both ends to create an eye or diamond shape.
To construct a snowflake, create several identical shapes. For example, make six teardrops and six diamonds. Arrange the shapes on a flat surface, gluing them together at their touching points to form a symmetrical, six-pointed star. Working on a sheet of wax paper prevents the ornament from sticking to your work surface. Once the glue is completely dry, thread a fine silver thread through one of the outer loops to hang your delicate paper snowflake, which will dance gracefully in the warm air currents of your home.