SnipFold

Spider Chrysanthemum

Thirty-six slender, angular hooked rays radiate in three rising tiers over a small flat backing, an original spider-chrysanthemum interpretation.

Materials

  • 100-120 gsm ivory and pale yellow paper for rays and centre
  • 180-220 gsm green card for backing
  • Scissors
  • PVA glue
  • Ruler and blunt scoring tool
  • Protractor
  • Tweezers

Finished size: Approximately 144 x 144 x 34 mm (flower head only)

Steps

CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area

  1. Prepare the backing

    Print at 100% actual size; the ruler must measure 50 mm. Cut B, the 36 mm diameter backing, from 180-220 gsm green card. Mark its centre lightly and a reference ray to the right; all angles below are counterclockwise viewed from above. Keep B flat.

  2. Fold the sixteen long outer rays

    Cut O01-O16 from 100-120 gsm paper: each strip is 74 x 4 mm. Measure from the square tab end and score at 6, 36, 58 and 68 mm. Keep the first 6 mm flat. With the printed face up, turn the next panel up 15 degrees, then down 15 degrees, up 55 degrees, and up 55 degrees at successive hinges. These are changes from the previous panel, not interior angles. The final 6 mm tip points inward and up. Use a ruler edge; do not cut fold lines or stretch the paper.

  3. Mount the outer tier

    Put a thin film of PVA on the underside of each 6 x 4 mm tab only. Align the strip centreline radially: its tab end is 11 mm from B centre and its first hinge is 17 mm from centre. Set O01 on the reference ray; place successive IDs every 22.5 degrees. Press each tab flat onto B, leaving the long ray free. Let the entire ring dry for 10 minutes.

  4. Fold the twelve middle rays

    Cut M01-M12, each 58 x 4 mm. Score at 6, 28, 44 and 53 mm from the tab end. Keep the 6 mm tab flat; at successive hinges turn up 40 degrees, down 15 degrees, up 45 degrees, then up 50 degrees. The four free panels have elevations 40, 25, 70 and 120 degrees above the backing plane. Match each strip to the same side profile.

  5. Mount the middle tier

    Glue only the underside of each middle tab. Place each tab end 6 mm from the centre and its first hinge at radius 12 mm. Start M01 11.25 degrees counterclockwise from O01, then space IDs every 30 degrees. Tabs can lap the inner edge of the outer tabs by 1 mm; press these overlaps as well as the exposed backing. Keep raised panels free of glue. Dry for 10 minutes.

  6. Fold the eight upright inner rays

    Cut I01-I08, each 40 x 4 mm. Score at 6, 20, 30 and 36 mm from the tab end. With the tab flat, turn successive panels up 65 degrees, down 15 degrees, up 45 degrees, and up 45 degrees. Their elevations are 65, 50, 95 and 140 degrees: the short tips hook inward. All bends run straight across the 4 mm width; do not cup or twist the strips.

  7. Mount the inner crown

    Glue the underside of the inner 6 mm tabs. Set tab ends at radius 1 mm and first hinges at radius 7 mm. Place I01 at 22.5 degrees from the reference ray and successive IDs every 45 degrees. Near the centre the tabs overlap: lay them down in ID order with thin glue between contacting tabs. Press with tweezers and dry 10 minutes. Keep each free panel lifting outward from its hinge.

  8. Close the centre

    Cut the 15 mm diameter gold cover C from the same lightweight paper. Apply glue within its marked central area on the underside and centre it over the inner tabs. Ease its rim beneath the rising inner petals without flattening their 7 mm-radius hinges. Press only the flat centre and allow 20 minutes to dry. This is a flower-head ornament with a flat backing, not a stemmed flower; lift it by B, never by a ray.

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.