Create a Stunning Snowflake
Skill Level: Intermediate
Add a little Winter magic to your mantelpiece with this elegant wooden snowflake.
Christmas is a great time to get crafty and if you’re looking for something that’s simple yet striking, this beautiful snowflake is the perfect contemporary decoration. Follow our tutorial step by step to make your own.
Products You Will Need
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Measure
Begin by measuring up three of your pieces of timber each to 800mm in length.
Step 2. Cut To Size
Clamp the timber securely into position and cut the three pieces to size.
Step 3. Measure And Mark Up
Measure up and make a pencil mark in the centre of each piece of timber. This is to create the grooves that will allow you to slot the three pieces together.to slot the three pieces together.
Step 4. Outline The Cuts For Each Groove
You’re now going to create the cutting outline for each groove. The timber we used was 45mm wide. We measured to cut two 15mm(d) x 40mm(w) grooves into opposite sides of the first piece of timber. In the other two pieces of timber, we measured to cut a 30mm(d) x 40mm(w) groove.
Step 5. Cut Out The Grooves
Use your jigsaw with a timber cutting blade to carefully cut out the grooves in each of the three pieces of timber.
Step 6. Lay Out Your Snowflake Frame
You now have the timber to create your snowflake frame. Your centre piece looks like an ‘H’ and the other two pieces will fit either side of this.
Step 7. Mark Up The Ends Of Your Timber
Using a pencil and ruler, mark up cutting lines at the end of each piece of timber. This will give the pointed edges to your snowflake.
Step 8. Create Your Snowflake Points
Set your Jigsaw to bevel cutting mode, and carefully cut along the pencil lines. You now have the decorative, pointed ends to the snowflake frame.
Step 9. Snowflake Points Complete
You now have the decorative, pointed ends to the snowflake frame.
Step 10. Assemble The Frame
It’s time to assemble the frame. First place one piece of timber with a 30mm groove at the bottom with the groove facing upwards. Slot in the centre piece, followed by the other piece of timber with the 30mm deep groove.
Step 11. Secure The Frame
Using your drill driver, fix the pieces together with a screw.
Step 12. Create The ‘Star’ Centre Piece
It’s now time to create the ‘star’ centre piece for your snowflake. Using a compass, draw a circle with a radius of 20mm. Then, keeping your compass at the exact same width, draw six dots at equal spacing around the edge of the circle. Connect the dots with straight pencil lines to create the star shape.
Step 13. Draw A Second Star
Using a piece of timber, draw another star inside the outline to create a border effect with the same width as your frame. This gives you your inner and outer cutting lines for the star.
Step 14. Drill A Hole Inside The Inner Border
Before you start to cut out the star, drill a hole within the inside border to give you an easier start for cutting.
Step 15. Cut Around The Inside Border
Fix the timber into position with a trigger clamp. Then use your Jigsaw with a timber blade to carefully cut around the inside border of the star.
Step 16. Cut Around The Outside Border
Then, cut around the outside border of the star with your Jigsaw.
Step 17. Smooth The Edges Of Your Star
Use a detail sander to smooth the edges of your star.
Step 18. Make The Decorative Snowflake ‘Arms’
It’s now time to make the decorative snowflake ‘arms’ to add to the frame. You’ll need 12 pieces in total. Align the outside of the star with the corner of the plywood and draw around the inside of the star point. This will help you to draw cutter marks at the same length and width as the points of the star. Now align the star with the line you just drew. Repeat this 12 times.
Step 19. Mark Each Arm
Use your ruler to mark straight lines at the end of each arm as shown in the picture. Then cut out all 12 pieces using your Jigsaw.
Step 20. Fix The Star And Snowflake To The Frame
It’s time to fix the star and snowflake pieces to your frame.
Step 21. Attach The Pieces To The Frame
Use a pin hammer and pins to attach the pieces to the frame securely. Measure carefully with your ruler to make sure that the snowflake pieces are evenly spaced around the frame.
Step 22. Draw The Smaller Star
Now it’s time to make the smaller star to add a decorative finish to the centre piece. Using your compass, create a circle with a radius of 50mm and draw your star shape.
Step 23. Cut Out The Star
Clamp the timber securely into position and carefully cut around the edges with your Jigsaw.
Step 24. Attach The Star
Add the small star to the centre of your snowflake with some wood glue.
Step 25. Paint Your Snowflake
Paint the snowflake in a colour of your choice and you’ve finished!