We managed cutting thru the multiple folds needed for 6 pointed flakes. Start with a square sheet, (assuming you know how to get a square?) Fold in half diagonally and again, so your sheet is now in a triangle shape, (like a kerchief or napkin). Now, how to divvy that into 3 equal sections? From the central corner, (from which the folds radiate), roll(?) the two perpendicular folds as if to make a cone. You are trying to arrive at the spots/lines that will create 3 equal angles at the radiation line. Once you think you have it you can bear down and press the crease. I prefer doing this divvying or finding process as an accordion fold, rather than roll up. Roll up at that thickness adds too much thickness to your assessment, and skews the balance.
Make this V-shape into a triangle. Cut off those wings by cutting straight across the intersection of the folds. This will make each panel equal. If you were to open the sheet you would have an equal faceted circular shape, a hexagon.
To turn it into a snow flake having six more pronounced points, fold your sheet back up, cut dipping down between the two outer points and back out. As long as you are doing this thru all the thicknesses, any design will be interesting because it will repeat. The just start cutting away paper as you want. You can't only cut slits though. They must have some width so that they show. Experiment! Lay your flakes against colored backgrounds so they will show, or not! Make garlands. Hanging strings of them. Big flakes, little flakes.
The student had never made them - from the snowless west coast. Instead had followed the Mexican tradition of papercuts for the Dia des los Muertos. Turns out these are called papel picante, (pricked paper). They are cut from multi layers of colored tissue paper and hung fluttering from long banners, like pennant festoons. (I will confirm these terms later.)
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