Pleated Carnation
A pink serrated, three-tier ruffled corolla on a green hexagonal tubular calyx, built from individually pleated petals with inward glue feet.
Materials
- 90-120 gsm pink paper in three shades
- 160 gsm green paper for calyx and support
- Scissors
- Scoring tool and ruler
- PVA glue
Finished size: Approximately 72 x 72 x 57 mm
Steps
CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area
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Cut and score the calyx
Print at 100%; check the 50 mm ruler. Cut C1 and score its wall folds and six short top ledges. Fold each wall joint 60 degrees from flat to make a hexagonal tube, green outside. Glue the final 4 mm lap behind the first wall; hold until dry. Leave the bottom open.
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Install the support disk
Fold the six 3 mm top ledges inward by 90 degrees. Cut D1 and align its six corners with the calyx corners. Glue its underside to the ledges at the 30 mm rim height. Press gently and let dry before attaching petals.
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Outer ruffle
Cut P1_1, P1_2, P1_3, P1_4, P1_5, P1_6 including each serrated rim. Score the parallel lines and alternate valley/mountain pleats, keeping the central 6 mm panel flat. Aim for side facets about 38 degrees from the central plane (76 degrees between alternating facets). Fold the 6 x 6 mm neck foot inward. Glue only that foot to D1 or the previously dried feet, spacing these 6 petals evenly around the center, staggered from the previous ring. Place the necks about 6 mm from the disk center and incline petals about 30 degrees above horizontal. Keep serrated ends free and allow this ring to dry.
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Middle ruffle
Cut P2_1, P2_2, P2_3, P2_4, P2_5 including each serrated rim. Score the parallel lines and alternate valley/mountain pleats, keeping the central 6 mm panel flat. Aim for side facets about 38 degrees from the central plane (76 degrees between alternating facets). Fold the 6 x 6 mm neck foot inward. Glue only that foot to D1 or the previously dried feet, spacing these 5 petals evenly around the center, staggered from the previous ring. Place the necks about 4.5 mm from the disk center and incline petals about 48 degrees above horizontal. Keep serrated ends free and allow this ring to dry.
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Upright heart
Cut P3_1, P3_2, P3_3, P3_4 including each serrated rim. Score the parallel lines and alternate valley/mountain pleats, keeping the central 6 mm panel flat. Aim for side facets about 38 degrees from the central plane (76 degrees between alternating facets). Fold the 6 x 6 mm neck foot inward. Glue only that foot to D1 or the previously dried feet, spacing these 4 petals evenly around the center, staggered from the previous ring. Place the necks about 2 mm from the disk center and incline petals about 72 degrees above horizontal. Keep serrated ends free and allow this ring to dry.
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Ease the ruffled crown
Gently separate overlapping serrated ends to reveal all three pink tiers. Leave the central petals upright and outer petals flared. Optionally soften only the tooth tips with fingertips; do not stretch the paper or cut extra slits. The calyx is a short open-bottom flower-head holder, not a long stem or a vase.
Notes
The 3D model shows each piece in its finished, idealized shape; the exploded view only spreads the pieces apart. It is not a paper-physics simulation: curved shapes are forming guides, not exact physical folding or proof of developability, and intermediate fold shapes are not supplied.
- Original construction; 15 distinct cut petal instances, one calyx net and one support disk.
- All pleated facets and calyx walls have explicit flat correspondence; the closing lap, support ledges and petal feet are included in the cut nets.
- This is a faceted carnation interpretation. Natural fine crinkles are approximated by accordion folds and serrated edges, not an exact unfolding of a smooth ruffled flower.
- Preview idealizes zero paper thickness and stacked feet; adjust overlap and petal lean slightly by hand. Optional tooth-tip softening is not simulated. No stretching, wire or hidden stem is required.
- Physical printing, cutting and assembly remain pending.