Kirigami Spider Web

 
These instructions teach you how to make a kirigami spider web. The idea is very similar to making paper snowflakes.

Basic Instructions

1. Fold a piece of paper in half.
2. Fold in half again but only make a small crease to show the midpoint. Fold the bottom right corner upwards to make a 60° angle at the midpoint (begin to fold into thirds).
3. Fold the bottom left corner upwards to meet with the folded right-edge of the paper.
4. Cut the excess paper to form a triangle.
5. Cut slots on the triangle as shown. Be careful to keep the central column uncut so the paper does not fall apart. If the paper is too thick, consider using origami paper which is a lighter weight paper.
6. Unfold the paper to find a paper spider web!

Variation 1

For those who are very competent with scissors, you can make two variations:

4. Follow instructions above until step 4.
5. Fold this isosceles triangle in half one more time to form a right angle triangle.
6. Cut slots into the triangle leaving the backbone (straight edge) of the triangle intact. In diagram below, cut from right to left, leaving left margin intact.
7. Unfold to see a spider web.

This variation allows you to make a spider web that is more evenly spaced because you cut the slots once instead of twice. The downside is that the paper gets quite thick – perhaps too thick for children to cut through.