SnipFold

Tiered Pocket-Petal Dahlia

A dimensional dahlia of 31 pointed open-pocket petals: twelve low outer petals, ten rising middle petals, six upright inner petals and three small core pockets on a laminated circular support. Each petal has two folded triangular wings and its own integral mounting tab.

Materials

  • 120-160 gsm coloured petal paper
  • 220-250 gsm green cardstock for two base discs
  • Scissors or craft knife and cutting mat
  • Scoring tool, ruler, pencil and protractor
  • PVA paper glue and a book for pressing the base

Finished size: Nominal illustrated paper envelope: 139.9 wide x 139.9 deep x 23.5 high mm (XYZ), including both support planes and all petals/tabs; support diameter 84 mm. Includes the disclosed 0.5 mm base-plane separation

Steps

CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area

  1. Cut and score

    Print at 100 percent and check the 50 mm ruler. Cut two 84 mm support discs and 31 separate petals. Score the three marked hinges on each petal; do not cut them. Use 120-160 gsm paper for petals and 220-250 gsm card for both discs. Keep the part IDs grouped by tier.

  2. Laminate the support

    Spread a thin glue film over the reverse of B2 within its marked 80 mm circle. Align B2 exactly over B1; press flat under a book until dry. On the top face lightly pencil concentric root circles of radius 30, 20, 10 and 3 mm from the centre, plus a reference ray. All petal mounting tabs attach to this same face.

  3. Fold tier O pockets

    Form 12 tier O petals, each with a 42 mm centre line and 14 mm root edge. With the coloured side facing you, valley-fold both long diagonal hinges so each wing stands 65 degrees above the central triangle (115 degree inside angle). Leave the root opening and pointed outer end unglued. Mountain-fold the 6 mm root tab by 18 degrees behind the central triangle. When the tab lies flat, the petal centre line rises 18 degrees. Use a protractor; pinch only the scored hinges.

  4. Mount tier O

    Place O01 with its root-edge midpoint on the 30 mm radius circle, 0 degrees counterclockwise from the reference ray viewed from above. Point the tip radially outward. Add the remaining IDs counterclockwise every 30 degrees. Each 6 mm tab points inward and is glued underside-down to B2; keep all pocket wings free. The tip centre should be about 13.0 mm above the mounting face. Dry this tier before the next. Lift adjacent loose wings gently to reach the tabs; do not glue one tier to another.

  5. Fold tier M pockets

    Form 10 tier M petals, each with a 34 mm centre line and 12 mm root edge. With the coloured side facing you, valley-fold both long diagonal hinges so each wing stands 65 degrees above the central triangle (115 degree inside angle). Leave the root opening and pointed outer end unglued. Mountain-fold the 6 mm root tab by 38 degrees behind the central triangle. When the tab lies flat, the petal centre line rises 38 degrees. Use a protractor; pinch only the scored hinges.

  6. Mount tier M

    Place M01 with its root-edge midpoint on the 20 mm radius circle, 15 degrees counterclockwise from the reference ray viewed from above. Point the tip radially outward. Add the remaining IDs counterclockwise every 36 degrees. Each 6 mm tab points inward and is glued underside-down to B2; keep all pocket wings free. The tip centre should be about 20.9 mm above the mounting face. Dry this tier before the next. Lift adjacent loose wings gently to reach the tabs; do not glue one tier to another.

  7. Fold tier I pockets

    Form 6 tier I petals, each with a 26 mm centre line and 9 mm root edge. With the coloured side facing you, valley-fold both long diagonal hinges so each wing stands 65 degrees above the central triangle (115 degree inside angle). Leave the root opening and pointed outer end unglued. Mountain-fold the 6 mm root tab by 62 degrees behind the central triangle. When the tab lies flat, the petal centre line rises 62 degrees. Use a protractor; pinch only the scored hinges.

  8. Mount tier I

    Place I01 with its root-edge midpoint on the 10 mm radius circle, 33 degrees counterclockwise from the reference ray viewed from above. Point the tip radially outward. Add the remaining IDs counterclockwise every 60 degrees. Each 6 mm tab points inward and is glued underside-down to B2; keep all pocket wings free. The tip centre should be about 23.0 mm above the mounting face. Dry this tier before the next. Lift adjacent loose wings gently to reach the tabs; do not glue one tier to another.

  9. Fold tier C pockets

    Form 3 tier C petals, each with a 15 mm centre line and 6 mm root edge. With the coloured side facing you, valley-fold both long diagonal hinges so each wing stands 65 degrees above the central triangle (115 degree inside angle). Leave the root opening and pointed outer end unglued. Mountain-fold the 6 mm root tab by 75 degrees behind the central triangle. When the tab lies flat, the petal centre line rises 75 degrees. Use a protractor; pinch only the scored hinges.

  10. Mount tier C

    Place C01 with its root-edge midpoint on the 3 mm radius circle, 63 degrees counterclockwise from the reference ray viewed from above. Point the tip radially outward. Add the remaining IDs counterclockwise every 120 degrees. Each 6 mm tab points inward and is glued underside-down to B2; keep all pocket wings free. The tip centre should be about 14.5 mm above the mounting face. Dry this tier before the next. The three tiny core tabs overlap near the centre; glue each over the previous tab where they cross. Allow the completed flower to dry resting on its base.

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.