Danish Easter Papercut – Chicken Gækkebrev Template

✂ How to Fold Paper for Your Snowdrop Letter (Gækkebrev)

Before you start drawing and cutting your snowdrop letter, it’s important to fold the paper correctly. This creates the beautiful symmetrical result, where your design unfolds like a mirror image. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you.

🧭 Step 1: Find the center of the paper

Start with a square piece of paper. Fold it once down the middle – short edge to short edge – to form a rectangle.
Then, fold it again just a little, enough to make a tiny crease that marks the center of the folded edge. This small mark shouldn’t go all the way across – it’s just a guide.
Unfold the paper again so it’s only folded once. The small notch in the middle will help guide your next folds.

🌀 Step 2: First angled fold

Now you’ll create a diagonal fold.

Start by measuring about 2–3 cm (or around 1 inch) in from the top left corner of your paper. Make a small pencil mark at that point.

Take the bottom right corner of the paper and fold it up toward the mark. The fold should start exactly at the middle notch you made earlier, creating a diagonal crease across the paper.
Press the fold flat with your fingers or use the back of a nail or ruler to make a crisp edge.

🌀 Step 3: Second angled fold

Now repeat the process on the other side to create symmetry.

Measure 2–3 cm (1 inch) in from the top right corner and make another small pencil mark.
Then take the bottom left corner and fold it up so it meets that mark. Again, the fold should start at the middle notch.

Your paper should now look like a triangle. Peek inside the folds – the edges of the paper should lie closely against each other without gaps. If things don’t align perfectly, adjust the folds until they do.

🔺 Step 4: Fold the triangle in half

Now fold the entire triangle once more down the middle, from one point to the other.
Make sure the point is sharp and the sides line up evenly.
You now have a neatly folded base – ready for drawing your design.

🖍 Step 5: Use your template – trace and cut

Place your printed template on top of the folded triangle, aligning the design edge with the folded side of the paper – the side that doesn’t open.
Secure the template with tape or a paperclip if needed.

Now trace the full outline of the design onto the folded paper using a pencil.
Pay special attention to any red lines or markings on the template – these indicate places where you should not cut all the way through, as these parts hold the design together when unfolded.

Once you’ve traced the whole design, carefully cut along the lines using a small, sharp pair of scissors. Take your time, especially with delicate details.

When you're done cutting, gently unfold the paper – and your beautiful, mirrored snowdrop letter will appear!

🧡 Tip: Use slightly thicker paper that’s still easy to cut. A small scissor helps with finer details. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect the first time – practice makes perfect!