Easy Watercolor Snowflake Craft for Kids

It’s snowing, it’s snowing! There’s something so magical about the first snowfall of the year. The delicate snowflakes drifting down, each one unique and beautiful.

Every year when the snow starts falling and everyone’s ready for a cozy indoor activity, I turn to this watercolor snowflake craft. 

This art project is simple, low-prep, and only takes a few basic supplies that I’m sure you already have. I think it’s the perfect way to celebrate winter’s arrival.

I’ve made plenty of snowflakes over the years with my kids and students and this fun winter activity has become one of our favorite traditions.  It doesn’t feel “too young” or “too hard,” which means the whole family can get in on it.

If you’re looking for an easy indoor craft to celebrate winter, something fun to do before a big snowfall, or a hands-on activity for learning the science of snowflakes, winter weather, or symmetry, here are the steps to make a watercolor snowflake. 

I’m also sharing free printable snowflake templates if you want the look without the folding and cutting. 

Watercolor Snowflakes are a Fun Winter Craft

Paper snowflakes are a fun winter craft for kids, but when you add soft watercolor, the snowflakes are even more beautiful. I love how easy and forgiving this winter art project is from start to finish. 

Watercolor snowflakes are:

• Great for families. Simple enough for preschoolers, but still creative for older kids
• Perfect for celebrating the first day of winter, snow unit study, winter holidays, and a big snowstorm
• Easy to prep with very few supplies needed 
• Low-mess and easy to clean up
• Beautiful as seasonal decor around your house or classroom

Supplies You’ll Need

One of the things I love about these paper snowflakes is that you don’t need any fancy supplies. You can make them with items that you already have at home or in your classroom supply closet.

Here’s what you’ll want to gather:

• White paper – use construction paper, cardstock, or printer paper
• Scissors
• Watercolor paints – any brand, even washable ones work
• Paintbrush
• Cup of water
• Paper towels or tray to protect your surface

I love painting with watercolor paper, however for this craft I don’t suggest using it. Watercolor paper is thick and doesn’t fold easily. It’s also very difficult to cut after it has been folded multiple times.

If you want to use watercolor paper, I suggest drawing an outline of a snowflake with marker (you can use one of the pintable snowflake templates) and then use watercolor paints to color it in.

If you’re short on time, or crafting with little ones, use these free printable snowflake templates for coloring or decorating. There’s no folding or cutting required. These really simplify the process.

How to Make a Watercolor Snowflake (Step-by-Step Directions)

With this watercolor snowflake craft, I recommend painting your paper before folding and cutting the snowflake.

You can certainly wait until the end to paint your snowflake if you want to get started right away.

I just think it’s easier to paint the full piece of paper rather than the smaller cut out, particularly for younger kids. But, both options work.

Step 1: Paint your paper

Start by painting a piece of white paper with watercolor paints. 

Most of the time, we use wintry colors like blue, purple, gray, and cyan. But, you can decorate your snowflake any way you’d like – swirls, rainbow, bold brushstrokes…anything works. 

You can also choose to skip the painting altogether and simply use colored paper or color the snowflake with crayons or markers.

Step 2: Let it dry completely

You want the paper to be dry before folding and cutting it. It won’t take too long for the paper to dry, but if you need to speed it up, you can use a hairdryer.

We typically read a book or watch a YouTube video about snowflakes while the paper dries. You can also use this time to talk about symmetry and patterns.

Step 3: Fold the paper

There are a few ways you can fold your paper to make a paper snowflake. 

If you have younger kids, I recommend using the basic fold. It’s easy to fold and cut the paper. 

Here’s the only downside. If you are using this snowflake craft as a hands-on activity for learning about snowflakes, the basic fold doesn’t create a 6-sided snowflake. It will still be symmetrical, but will only have four sections. 

Trust me, you don’t want to spend 30 minutes reading a book about snowflakes and how they all have six sides and then turn around and make a four-sided snowflake. 

Although it’s not scientifically accurate, I still think the simple fold is the best option for younger kids, especially if you’re making these as a winter craft and not part of a unit study that reinforces the science of snowflakes.

Basic Fold for Younger Kids:

1. Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
2. Cut off the extra strip – you now have a square piece of paper folded into a triangle.
3. Fold the triangle in half again into a smaller triangle.
4. Fold it in half one more time.

To make a snowflake with 6 points, use the more detailed fold. This fold gives you more intricate sections and a more real-life snowflake look when unfolded. 

The downside to the detailed fold is that it might take a little practice. Also, since you’re cutting through 12 pieces of paper instead of 8, it’s harder to cut. 

This is especially true if you’re working with younger children and using safety scissors.

If you want to make a 6-sided snowflake with younger children, I recommend you folding the paper and having them point to where they want you to cut. You can also just pre-cut the snowflakes yourself and let them focus entirely on the painting.

More Detailed Fold (for older kids and adults):

1. Fold the paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
2. Cut off the extra strip – you now have a square piece of paper folded into a triangle.
3. Fold the triangle in half again into a smaller triangle.
4. Hold the triangle so the long edge is at the top. You’re going to fold the triangle into thirds.
5. Fold the left corner over at a slight angle toward the right. Do not make a crease yet.
6. Fold the right corner over the left flap — you’ll end up with a cone-like shape.
7. When everything lines up, press down to make the creases.
8. Trim off the top of the cone to create a flat edge before cutting.
9. Hold the cone at the bottom with the fold on the left and the opening on the right.
10. Make a cut from the right of the cone to the top left corner.

This fold is a little more challenging, but the end results are truly beautiful. 

Step 4: Cut out your snowflake

Use scissors to cut shapes out of the outer edges of the triangle. Experiment with a variety of shapes and sizes.

The more cuts you make and paper you remove, the more intricate your snowflake will be. 

Step 5: Unfold and display your snowflake

Carefully open the paper to reveal a beautiful, one-of-a-kind watercolor snowflake.

If you are using regular printer paper, the final snowflake may have a harder time laying flat after it has been folded. To fix this, you can glue it to a piece of construction paper, tape it to a window or wall, or place it under a stack of books to flatten it.

Want to Skip the Cutting? Use These Free Printable Snowflakes

If painting, folding, and cutting isn’t your thing, or if you’re crafting with toddlers who aren’t quite ready for scissors, you can still make beautiful snowflakes. 

This set of free printable snowflakes is ready to print and use however you’d like. Cut them out or don’t. Paint them or color with crayons. 

These are perfect for:

• Coloring with crayons, markers, or watercolor paint
• Adding glitter or stickers
• Using as stencils or templates
• Quick prep winter activities 

These templates make it easy to have fun with snow without the mess or frustration of folding and cutting. Just print, decorate, and display.

Creative Ways to Display Your Snowflake Art

These watercolor snowflakes make beautiful winter decorations that you can use throughout your home or classroom.

Here are a few simple ideas:

• Hang in a window for a beautiful stained-glass look when the light shines through them.
• Make a snowy garland by stringing several snowflakes together with a piece of yarn. Hang them across a mantel, doorway, or wall.
• Create a “snowstorm” on a wall to display everyone’s unique designs.
• Laminate your favorites to reuse as winter décor next year.

Why This Activity Works

Aside from being adorable and fun, this project hits so many learning targets without feeling like “school”.

Kids practice fine motor skills by painting, folding, and cutting and get to check out symmetry and patterns in a hands-on way.

This winter activity can also easily lean into a science of snowflakes lesson.

Fore more winter activities, check out the snowflake directed drawing and tracing worksheets in this winter fun packet in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Making It Your Own

The best part about this activity is how adaptable it is.

Doing a unit study on winter? This fits perfectly. Stuck inside on a snow day? Ideal activity. Need something quiet for an afternoon? This is your answer.

And, because it uses such simple materials, you can do it anytime.

As a mom and teacher, I’ve learned that the best activities are the ones that are simple enough to repeat, special enough to remember, and open-ended so every child can be creative. This watercolor snowflake project checks all those boxes.

So, when those first flakes start falling this year, grab some paper and paints, and bring a little bit of winter inside. Your kids will thank you – and you might just start a tradition that lasts for years to come.

Happy snowflake creating! 🙂

Looking for more winter activities for kids? Be sure to check out the free printables and crafts available here on Farming Mom. I love helping you find fun and meaningful learning opportunities.