Using Snowflake Designs for Making Unique Christmas Gifts

Snowflake Designs are miracles of beauty, each one a masterpiece. From our earliest memories, we can remember being told that “no two snowflakes are the same.” As it melts, its form is lost forever- no record left behind of its beauty.

Since Snowflakes are so much a part of Christmas I came up with a few ideas for using them in some giving projects. I hope you find inspiration in these ideas.

By the way, did you know that snowflake designs are always in the six sided shape of a hexagon? Well, if you are looking for a pattern to fold a piece of paper so that you can make paper snowflakes, here is the one I created. Just click to download the Snowflake Fold Template. This pattern will be the start of many great projects.

To make cutout snowflake patterns or a stencil, fold the paper for a six sided snowflake. Cut away a few pieces of the paper. Unfold carefully and flatten. Now you have a snowflake cutout design.

To make a stencil, place the cutout on a full sheet of paper (or stencil film if you want a permanent stencil for multiple uses). Trace around all the edges and then cut out with a craft knife.

Now you have one cutout and one stencil. So, you’re ready to make some gifts and decorate the wrapping. Oh! By the way, it’s a good idea to make copies of the snowflake designs, and preserve your originals for more projects. Also, since these designs are on paper, don’t forget that you can resize them to fit any project size by reducing or enlarging on a copy machine.

It’s fun and easy to make Christmas Cards. Using colored construction paper, cut a rectangle to 8 inches by 6 inches. Fold along the 8 inch side in half so that you have a 6 by 4 inch card. Use a cutout snowflake design and glue to the front of the card.

Be creative and cut out two or three different snowflakes and make it snow. For an extra bit of color, glue a ribbon along one side of the cover. I like to use a hole-punch tool to make small circles of colored paper and glue them in random patterns around the snowflakes.

Making gift labels is easy with paper snowflakes. Just cut out a small square, rectangle or oval in construction paper and glue on a snowflake cutout. Write your greeting and who the package is for and attach to the gift with a ribbon tied through a hole made with a hole-punch tool.

The best thing about making your own is that you can custom build any item for the person who is receiving it. If you have traditional friends, work with red, green, silver and gold. But if you have friends into retro, then create snowflakes in bright colors like cyan blue, neon green and hot pink. They will feel very special when they receive a gift tailor made for them (including the wrapping). Don’t forget about all of the fun you’ll have designing and giving!

Here’s a great way to turn an old jar into a nice gift. Clean the jar well and remove any labels. Use the snowflake stencils to paint on the jar. You can find paints especially for glass at a crafts supply store. If not, craft acrylics work well too. Just secure the stencil to the jar with tape and use a dabbing motion to lightly tap on some paint.

Remember, stenciling is a dry brush technique, so don’t overload your brush. Use more layers of paint to achieve deeper colors instead of more paint in a single application. Also, don’t brush back and forth because that will drive paint under the stencil. Use a brush made for stenciling or a foam brush.

You can use one snowflake, several images of the same snowflake, several paintings of different snowflakes and even different color snowflakes. It’s your design so be creative.

If you need help with some stenciling techniques you’ll find all you need to know here. For the basics, start at How To Stencil and for more techniques click over to Advanced Tips.

If you like the Snowflake Gift Bag you need to check out these Christmas Craft Ideas. It's easy and fun to make your own gift wrap with stencils and you may end up saving a little money too! How's that possible? Well, plain bags are very inexpensive and you can find the patterns right here at Free Christmas Stencils.

But we are getting off track so let's get back to the Snowflake Theme.

If you want the snowy effect, consider lightly spray painting the jar with white before or after the snowflakes with a soft light spray. Don’t cover the glass in white, just mist it. Hold the can of spray paint a little further back then you usually would. Maybe make it a little heavier near the top. There are so many ways you could enhance a jar.

But wait! You need to fill it with goodies and top it off. Make some cookies or fudge or other goodies for your jar. Whatever you specialty is. Does the person receiving it have a love for a special candy like peppermints, butterscotch or M&M’s? Then fill the jar with that. It’s so easy to make them happy.

Maybe your friends would like a jar filled with homemade bath salts. That’s easy. Just mix 2 cups of Epsom salts with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 9 drops of essential oils (flavor of your choice – like rose, gardenia, mint, chamomile…). Lock the top of the jar back in place and cover with a piece of festive fabric and secured with a ribbon.

Again, you can customize this for the person you are giving it to. If they like cookies, fill it with cookies. If she likes the scent of roses, make a rose scented bath salt. Your gifts will be the ones of envy!

Spruce up a plain brown bag by painting on some snowflake designs from stencils or gluing on a snowflake cutout. Then tuck your gifts inside wrapped with some loose tissue paper. Again, if you want the snowy effect, hold a can of white spray paint about 12” away from the bag and spray a very light mist over the bag. It will only take one or two passes to get that misty, snowy look.

Have you seen those nice cloth or velvet wine bags at the discount stores? If you find some plain ones they are great for enhancing with painted snowflakes. Just secure your stencils in place and tap on a little paint. The one in the picture above is red and green velvet with a gold cord and tassel. So I painted my snowflake designs in gold paint and then used a light coat of gold spray glitter.

During the year I collect boxes. Sounds strange I know but after covering them in a solid color of paint, they are a blank canvas for decorating. Stencil on a few snowflakes. Don’t just stick with white snowflakes. Imagine a box painted dark blue with pink and light blue snowflakes. It’s up to you. You can make your snowflakes traditional or absolutely funky.

Make a sachet by stenciling a snowflake design onto a small pouch. Wet a few cotton balls with a fresh scent or essential oils and slip into the pouch.

Stencil a snowflake on the corner of a nice linen handkerchief. You can give it as the gift itself or wrap a treasure inside. I like to hang them over the side of a basket and fill the basket up with goodies like the one pictured above which is overflowing with red and green apples.

In an effort to bring you a complete solution for all of your stenciling needs in one place, we now have a catalog for you to browse a large variety of designs that you can open at your computer and print or save. Just check out our Stencils Catalog for your next project.

If you’d rather get your Stencil Pattern Books in Print (like these), then visit our Printer’s Book Shop for a large variety of stencil collections. You’ll find all of the stencil designs used as samples throughout this site.

I hope you liked the stencils and snowflake designs featured on this page. They are compliments of Designs From Penny.

It’s easy to decorate with stencils. Plus, it’s the perfect way to create a unique gift. I hope you enjoy your Snowflake Designs and create some great works of art!

If you are still looking for more snowflake crafts, don't miss our ideas for painting snowflake designs on fabrics!

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