SnipFold

Tiered Cupped Lotus

Eight low pointed petals surround eight staggered upright petals on a real octagonal riser, framing a seven-hole golden seedpod.

Materials

  • 160-180 gsm colored paper
  • Scissors
  • Craft knife and cutting mat for seed holes
  • Ruler and blunt scoring tool
  • Protractor
  • PVA glue and tweezers

Finished size: 175 x 175 x 50 mm approximately; 70 mm foundation diameter

Steps

CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area

  1. Prepare the foundation

    Print at 100 percent; check the 50 mm ruler. Cut the 70 mm foundation disk. Lightly pencil its center and eight radial guides at 45 degree spacing, starting to the right.

  2. Fold and secure the riser

    Cut R and score all marked folds. With top face up, fold eight walls DOWN 90 degrees, then all narrow 4 mm feet inward 90 degrees. Brush glue on the UNDERSIDES of all eight feet. Center R on B, with one top vertex pointing right. Its top is 8 mm above B. Press through the open bottom before positioning; hold the crown down gently and let dry. Wall edges meet without overlap or extra tabs.

  3. Shape outer petals

    Cut O1-O8. Keep each 16 x 8 mm root tab flat. Raise the triangular keel 25 degrees above its tab. Valley-fold both diagonal shoulders upward 28 degrees relative to the keel (152 degree inside dihedral). The shared pointed tip stays on the keel; do not curl or stretch.

  4. Attach outer ring

    Apply glue to the underside of each marked 14 x 6 mm root patch. Place O1-O8 counterclockwise at 45 degree intervals on B, tips pointing radially outward; O1 points right. Each root crease is 33 mm from center, with the 8 mm tab pointing inward, spanning radial coordinates 25-33 mm. Tabs sit outside the riser walls. Attach opposite pairs and dry fully.

  5. Shape and attach inner ring

    Cut I1-I8. Fold each keel UP 60 degrees from the horizontal root tab and each shoulder UP 28 degrees from the keel. Glue only the underside 14 x 6 mm marked patch. Place tabs on the riser TOP at z=8 mm, with root creases 22 mm from center and tabs spanning radii 14-22 mm. Stagger I1 by 22.5 degrees from O1; space remaining petals 45 degrees apart. Tips point outward and up. Dry opposite pairs before proceeding.

  6. Fold the seedpod

    Cut S and carefully remove all seven 3 mm seed holes while flat. Score folds. Fold its eight 16 mm walls down 90 degrees and eight narrow 4 mm feet inward 90 degrees, forming an open-bottom octagonal seedpod. The top stays flat; wall edges are butt joints, not overlapping seams.

  7. Mount and cure

    Brush glue on the UNDERSIDES of all eight seedpod feet. Center S on the riser top, one vertex pointing right, clear of the inner tabs whose inner ends start at radius 14 mm. S has a 12 mm vertex radius and its top finishes 24 mm above B. Press gently with tweezers before the glue sets and leave upright until dry. Check all roots, feet and the 8 mm riser remain attached; physical test is still required.

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.