SnipFold

Stepped Rounded Zinnia

Thirty rounded, upward-cupped petals in three staggered shrinking tiers surround a four-level disk core supported by six folded paper bridges.

Materials

  • 120-140 gsm pink paper for petals
  • 180 gsm cardstock for disks and bridges
  • Scissors
  • PVA glue
  • Ruler
  • Blunt scoring tool

Finished size: Approximately 86 x 86 x 25 mm

Steps

CutValley foldMountain foldGlue area

  1. Cut and prepare the foundation

    Print at 100%; the calibration ruler must measure 50 mm. Cut every piece once. Use 120-140 gsm petal paper and 180 gsm disks and bridges. Place the 40 mm D1 disk flat, colored side up. All dimensions below are millimetres.

  2. Form and attach petal tier 1

    Keep each 4 x 4 glue foot flat. Above the foot make six gentle valley bends, each adding 10.0 degrees; the final segment rises 60 degrees above the disk. The body is 32 long and 16 wide. Glue the UNDERSIDE of each foot to D1, with its inner edge 15 from the disk center and its long axis pointing outwards. Space 12 petals at 30-degree intervals, starting 0 degrees counterclockwise from the right. Petal feet end at radius 19; tiny outer foot corners may overhang the disk. Leave the central radius 4 clear. Let glue grip for 5 minutes.

  3. Raise the next disk by 6 mm

    Fold B1a and B1b at 3, 9, 15 and 21 mm along the 24 mm strip: valley, mountain, mountain, valley, all 90 degrees viewed from the printed face. Make an inverted U with two 3 mm outward feet, two 6 mm walls and a 6 mm roof. Glue the foot undersides to the center of D1; position the bridges side by side to occupy a centered 12 x 6 mm footprint, with parallel roofs. On D3 the support feet also glue onto any petal feet beneath them. Keep the roofs horizontal at height 6 above the foundation. Dry for 10 minutes.

  4. Attach the 28 mm disk

    Apply glue to the two 6 x 3 mm bridge roofs, then center D2 on them, colored side up. The disk underside contacts both roofs at 6 mm above D1; align its center vertically over D1. Hold level and let dry 10 minutes before adding the next tier.

  5. Form and attach petal tier 2

    Keep each 4 x 4 glue foot flat. Above the foot make six gentle valley bends, each adding 11.7 degrees; the final segment rises 70 degrees above the disk. The body is 26 long and 13 wide. Glue the UNDERSIDE of each foot to D2, with its inner edge 9 from the disk center and its long axis pointing outwards. Space 10 petals at 36-degree intervals, starting 15 degrees counterclockwise from the right. Petal feet end at radius 13; tiny outer foot corners may overhang the disk. Leave the central radius 4 clear. Let glue grip for 5 minutes.

  6. Raise the next disk by 6 mm

    Fold B2a and B2b at 3, 9, 15 and 21 mm along the 24 mm strip: valley, mountain, mountain, valley, all 90 degrees viewed from the printed face. Make an inverted U with two 3 mm outward feet, two 6 mm walls and a 6 mm roof. Glue the foot undersides to the center of D2; position the bridges side by side to occupy a centered 12 x 6 mm footprint, with parallel roofs. On D3 the support feet also glue onto any petal feet beneath them. Keep the roofs horizontal at height 12 above the foundation. Dry for 10 minutes.

  7. Attach the 16 mm disk

    Apply glue to the two 6 x 3 mm bridge roofs, then center D3 on them, colored side up. The disk underside contacts both roofs at 12 mm above D1; align its center vertically over D1. Hold level and let dry 10 minutes before adding the next tier.

  8. Form and attach petal tier 3

    Keep each 4 x 4 glue foot flat. Above the foot make six gentle valley bends, each adding 13.3 degrees; the final segment rises 80 degrees above the disk. The body is 19 long and 10 wide. Glue the UNDERSIDE of each foot to D3, with its inner edge 4 from the disk center and its long axis pointing outwards. Space 8 petals at 45-degree intervals, starting 9 degrees counterclockwise from the right. Petal feet end at radius 8; tiny outer foot corners may overhang the disk. Leave the central radius 4 clear. Let glue grip for 5 minutes.

  9. Raise the next disk by 6 mm

    Fold B3a and B3b at 3, 9, 15 and 21 mm along the 24 mm strip: valley, mountain, mountain, valley, all 90 degrees viewed from the printed face. Make an inverted U with two 3 mm outward feet, two 6 mm walls and a 6 mm roof. Glue the foot undersides to the center of D3; position the bridges side by side to occupy a centered 12 x 6 mm footprint, with parallel roofs. On D3 the support feet also glue onto any petal feet beneath them. Keep the roofs horizontal at height 18 above the foundation. Dry for 10 minutes.

  10. Attach the 10 mm disk

    Apply glue to the two 6 x 3 mm bridge roofs, then center D4 on them, colored side up. The disk underside contacts both roofs at 18 mm above D1; align its center vertically over D1. Hold level and let dry 10 minutes before adding the next tier. Leave this final 10 mm ochre disk exposed as the raised pollen center. Let the whole flower dry for 30 minutes.

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.