Large Snow/star Project
Let’s make some snowflakes!
I love snow. I love the way it looks, the way it smells, and especially the way the world sounds when it snows. Everything becomes so peaceful. When I look out my window and see snow falling, I’m filled with joy and peace all wrapped into one.
Each year, I enjoy making snowflakes and “stars” to decorate my home and workplace. I’ll spend an hour or two cutting shapes from white paper or brown-and-white paper bags. It’s fun, relaxing, and a cherished tradition. When my kids were young, we’d cut out snowflakes together and hang them on the windows. Even if we didn’t see a single snowflake outside, we could enjoy our paper snow inside. It was simple, joyful, and brought a bit of magic to our home.
A couple of years ago, I learned how to make three-dimensional snowflakes—sometimes called stars. I still call them snowflakes, even when I make them with brown paper bags. They add a cozy charm to our home and bring me joy whenever I see them hanging up. Even without real snow, I can enjoy the beauty of my handmade creations.
This is a project for all ages. It’s perfect for a cozy evening watching Christmas movies or listening to holiday music. These decorations can stay up long after the holidays—into January, or even February, if you’d like.
And let me say it one more time:
I LOVE SNOW!
Let’s make some snowflakes-
Supplies Needed:
6 to 12 lunch-size or smaller brown paper bags.
8.5x11 white paper
scissors
hot glue and hot glue gun
tape
Directions for paper snowflakes:
fold the white paper into a square. This means taking one corner of the 8.5 paper and folding it to the opposite side. You should have approximately 1.5” of paper on the bottom. Cut that strip off.
Fold the white paper in half two more times. See the photos below to see how the folds look.
Cut into your white paper. You can cut triangles or swishes. You can also use a hole punch to punch holes in the middle. There is no right or wrong way to cut the edges. The most important thing is not to cut all of the folded edges! If you cut all of the folded edges your star will fall apart.
Unfold your paper. you now have a star!
Do you remember that piece of white paper? Now you can do the same steps with the small piece of white paper and make a small star. You can also cut your paper in half and cut out med. stars the same way we cut out the big star.
Pictures of the steps that are for the paper snowflake.
Directions for paper bag snowflakes/stars:
Count out 6 bags. Take one bag and fold it in half. Cut the center of the bag out. Unfold the bag and cut the edge of the bag either in a triangle or circle. Repeat this with all 6 of your bags.
Once all the bags are cut you are going to glue your bags together. Please note: If you are younger have an adult or older teen help you with the hot glue gun. Heat up your hot glue gun. Once it is heated you will glue the six bags together. Set them aside and let the stack of bags cool.
While the bags are cooling take a piece of twine and cut it approximately 6 to 10 inches long. The length of the twine will depend on how low or high you want your snowflake to hang.
When the bags are cooled slowly unfold your stack. You will want the bottom bag to meet the top bag. Add some hot glue to the top of the stack and place one end of the twine on top of the glue. Then press the bottom bag onto the top. See the pictures to see how that works.
Once the last bit of hot glue is cooled you are done and ready to hang your snowflake.
Pictures of the steps you follow to make a three dimensional snowflake.
I hope you can enjoy a cozy evening of making snowflakes. This is a wonderful way of creating memories with your family no matter the age. So pop on a Christmas movie, pop some popcorn, and start making snow!
Planning for Christmas
Finding Joy Beyond the Holiday Hustle
Do you ever feel like you're falling behind during the holidays? I know I do. Every December, it feels like an inner perfectionist monster emerges, pushing me to do it all. I want the decorations to be picture-perfect, every corner of the house filled with Christmas cheer. I dream of baking every kind of cookie imaginable, covering the kitchen in sprinkles and holiday aromas. And the presents? Oh, they simply must be wrapped in a way that turns heads and inspires awe!
Then there are all the holiday events—the parades, light displays, and festive gatherings. It’s as if every invitation whispers, You can’t miss this, it’s part of the magic! The list of to-dos piles up so high that I often end up overwhelmed, wondering how on earth I’ll manage to do it all.
But here’s the truth: These expectations aren’t realistic. The hustle and bustle that surrounds us during the holidays can steal our joy if we let it. The healthier choice—the better choice—is to slow down, take a breath, and let go of what doesn’t truly matter.
When I think about it, I know I’m not the only one feeling this way. Many of us are caught in the same cycle, trying to live up to impossible standards. But the truth is, none of us need that kind of pressure.
The most important moments of the holidays aren’t about flawless decorations, perfect cookies, or jaw-dropping gift wrap. They’re about spending time with loved ones and savoring the joy of the season. When we focus on what truly matters—our family, our faith, and the joy of being together—our lives take on a rhythm of peace. It’s a rhythm that looks less like the chaotic hustle of the world and more like a life we actually want to live.
This year, as I planned for Christmas, I decided to make joy a priority in our home. I wanted to embrace small, quiet moments—those cozy evenings when the world slows down, and I can simply sit back and savor the season. I realized I didn’t want the media’s version of a perfect Christmas to dictate how I celebrate.
Micheal, my rock, has always had this wonderful way of staying calm and grounded. For him, the hustle and pressure don’t even register—he just wants to enjoy the moment. This year, I wanted to follow his example.
And you know what? I’ve done it. I’ve embraced a slower, more joyful Christmas. I’ve found a sense of peace that comes from letting go of expectations and focusing on what matters. Sitting in my office now, I glance over at the Christmas tree. It’s not perfect—far from it. It’s small, humble, and decorated simply. But every time I see it, it reminds me of the joy this season is all about.
A Season of Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love
Christmas is so much more than a to-do list or a flurry of activity. It’s a season of hope, joy, peace, and love. When I stopped worrying about perfection—about impressing others or meeting impossible standards—I found I could embrace the true gifts of the season.
God offers us these gifts daily, if we’re willing to receive them. Hope that shines even in uncertainty. Joy that fills our hearts in the simplest of moments. Peace that calms the chaos around us. Love that reminds us we’re never alone.
I want to encourage you to embrace those gifts this season. Let go of the hustle. Trust that what you’ve planned, what you’ve prepared, is enough. You don’t need the perfect home, eye-catching gifts, or a feast worthy of a magazine spread. All you need is the true spirit of Christmas: Christ.
Resources to Help You Slow Down
To help ease your mind during the holidays, I’ve created a free PDF guide that I hope will bring you peace and encouragement.
If you’re looking for something more, I’ve also put together a full Christmas Planner available in my Etsy store. This planner is designed to help you stay organized while keeping your focus on what truly matters—making space for joy, peace, and love this season.
Finding Hope
Hope
Hope. A word so often spoken, yet sometimes misunderstood. True hope is having confidence in something unseen—trusting that it will come to pass, even if the when and how remains a mystery. Hope is a defining theme of the Christmas season: the hope of Christ, the hope of a New Year, the hope of a life yet to unfold.
In Luke 1, we find a profound story of hope and purpose. This chapter recounts the birth of John the Baptist and the miraculous conception of Jesus. Three central figures—Elizabeth, Mary, and Zechariah—are each called by God for a specific purpose, a purpose that ultimately brings salvation to the world through His Son.
The story begins with the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah in the temple. Gabriel announces to Zachariah that he and his wife, Elizabeth, though advanced in years, will have a son named John. John is destined to prepare the way for God’s Son. Later, Gabriel visits Mary, declaring that she has found favor with God and will bear a son named Jesus. The chapter concludes with Mary visiting Elizabeth, and together they rejoice in the favor and blessings of the Lord. It closes with the birth of John the Baptist, the one to make way for the hope to come, the Savior of the world.
In this chapter, we see two distinct responses to Gabriel’s message. Zechariah, upon hearing the promise of a child, doubts:
"How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years." (Luke 1:18)
Mary, on the other hand, responds with curiosity and trust:
"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34)
Two similar messages. Two very different responses. This contrast prompts an important question: How do I respond to God’s message in my life?
When faced with a glimpse of hope or the possibility of something new, do we embrace it with faith and a willingness to move forward? Or do we shrink back in doubt, questioning its plausibility?
A few years ago, I found myself wrestling with these questions. I was working part-time at my church in a challenging environment that lacked peace and stability. I felt called to move on, to step into a full-time position with more responsibilities, but fear held me back. I prayed repeatedly for direction, yet my situation only grew more unsettled, affecting not just my work but my home life as well.
At one point, my husband gently suggested that perhaps God was trying to tell me something. I resisted, insisting that I just needed to pray more and trust that things would improve. But they didn’t. The unrest persisted until I finally took a step of faith. I applied for a similar role at another church, and God opened a door. I walked through it, and my life began to change.
Looking back, I see that the hope I held wasn’t tied to a specific job or location. It was hope in a mighty God—the One who could bring peace to my soul and guide me to His purpose for my life. That’s what hope truly is: trusting in God’s ability to transform our circumstances or sustain us through them.
As I reflect on Mary’s song in Luke 1, I understand it more deeply now than ever before. Her words of praise remind us who God is—a Savior who faithfully provides for us as we walk the path He has set before us. I couldn’t have faced Mary’s path, but I can face the one God has given me, knowing He is with me every step of the way.
Mary’s song, often called the Magnificat, is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness and His plan for redemption. Writing out scripture has become a way for me to find stillness and meditate on His Word. Below, I’ve shared a downloadable copy of a penmanship page of Luke 1:46-55 for you to use. I invite you to click the button below to download your own copy and reflect on these powerful words of hope and praise.