A few years ago I shared a tutorial for making snowflakes out of dollies. You can find that tutorial HERE. Originally, I had made them to hang in my preschool, so I had laminated them. Here it is, some 20 years later, and they look as fresh as the day I made them 🙂

(Our 20 year old snowflakes)

I made our new snowflakes out of computer paper, ironed them, and hung them up with transparent thread. Not only are they fun to do (it’s always such a surprise to open a snowflake and see what it looks like), but they are a beautiful addition to our indoor winterscape.

This year, faced with a problem, snowflakes have seemed to save the day! We have a huge picture window in our dining room. It looks out on the back of our house. Here’s the view from that window:

Each morning (and sometimes later in the day if the weather is particularly nasty) we put out food for our backyard birds. (And squirrels, and chipmunks, and deer, and raccoons, and whatever animal is in need of nourishment!) We all like to sit around the table, with our favorite morning beverage, and watch the birds. All lovely. But here’s the problem.

Until recently, there was a cherry tree growing right outside the window. This offered protection for the birds, and most importantly, a barrier between the sky and the window. Without the tree there, that big window can look like open sky, and we have many birds bop into it. In most cases, the bird is simply rattled a bit, and they fly off. But sometimes, the results can be deadly. Last week, a female cardinal hit the window and died. We were devastated, especially since cardinals mate for life. I decided I needed to do something to alert the birds to the window.

My first thought was to put stickers on the windows. The only problem with that, is they really obscured the view. Finally, I decided to make some snowflakes, and hang them up. Not only do they provide a visual warning to the birds, but, with a heating vent right under the window, they move slightly, making it feel like it’s snowing in the house : )

Collisions with the house were almost a daily occurrence. Since putting up the snowflakes, there hasn’t been a single incident. YAY! I can leave up our snowflakes through February. In march, I’ll come up with something “springy” to dance in our windows. Okay, birdies, enjoy the meal, and stay safe.

If you’d like to make a curtain of snowflakes… or just one… check out our Traditional Snowflake Tutorial. Also, if you Google “paper snowflakes” you’ll find a ton of tutorials, many with cutting patterns. So, if you’re ready for a little winter inspiration, start with a snowflake 🙂