Craft of the month · December 2026 · 45 minutes · 4-8 residents

Paper Snowflake Garland

Residents fold and snip paper snowflakes, then string them into a garland for the hallway or dining room. No two come out the same, so there is no wrong way to make one, and snowflakes belong to winter rather than to any one holiday, so everyone can join in.

Get the large-print instructions

You'll need

• White copy paper or thin printer paper, cut into squares
• Coffee filters (easy to fold and cut)
• Blunt-tip safety scissors, including spring-loaded easy-grip pairs
• Pencils for drawing cut lines
• Yarn, ribbon or baker's twine
• Clear tape or a hole punch
• Optional: glue sticks and fine glitter or silver paper scraps

Before residents arrive

1. Cut paper into 6- to 8-inch squares and pre-fold several into snowflake wedges for anyone who can't fold.
2. On a few folded wedges, draw simple cut lines in pencil (notches, triangles, half-circles) to follow.
3. Make one finished snowflake to show, and cut a length of yarn as long as the wall where it will hang.

Step by step

1. Fold the square in half to make a triangle, then fold it in half again.
2. Fold the triangle into thirds, like a paper fan, so it becomes a thin wedge.
3. Snip small shapes along both edges: notches, triangles or half-circles. Keep some of each fold uncut.
4. Trim the top of the wedge straight or into a point.
5. Unfold slowly and gently. Hold it up and admire the pattern.
6. Tape the snowflake to the yarn, or punch a hole and thread it on.
7. Hang the garland together and let each person point out their own snowflake.

Adapt it for every ability level

• Independent: Try coffee filters or thinner paper for lacy six-sided flakes. Let them design a pattern for the group or lead the folding demonstration.
• Supported: Hand over a pre-folded, pre-drawn wedge and easy-grip scissors. Cut one notch at a time together and praise each unfolding.
• Sensory: Let them hold and feel a finished snowflake and the soft yarn. Unfold one slowly in front of them and hang it where they can see it.

Safety: Use blunt-tip scissors only; count them out and back in. Keep glitter away from eyes and mouths, and skip it for anyone who may eat it.

While hands are busy, ask

• Tell me about the snowiest winter you remember.
• Did you ever make paper snowflakes in school or for your children?
• What did your home look like when it was decorated for winter?
• Who was the crafty one in your family, and what did they make?

Questions people ask

How do you fold paper for a six-sided snowflake?

Fold a square into a triangle, fold it in half again, then fold that into thirds like a fan. Real snowflakes have six sides, and this fold gives you six matching points.

Is this craft safe for people with arthritis or weak hands?

Yes, with easy-grip spring-loaded scissors and thinner paper such as coffee filters. Staff can pre-fold the paper so residents only make a few small snips.

Can people with dementia do this craft?

Many can. Pre-fold and pre-draw the cut lines, offer one step at a time, and focus on the fun of unfolding rather than on a perfect result.

Is a snowflake garland okay for residents who don't celebrate Christmas?

Yes. Snowflakes are a winter symbol, not a religious one, so the garland can stay up from December through February.

More hands-on ideas: crafts for seniors with dementia and the full activity library.