Three-Petal Folded Iris

Start with a 15 cm square of thin paper in the color you want for the iris.

Fold in half with the opening at the top. Fold the rectangle in half twice to mark quarters, then reopen it. Fold a corner to the indicated crease intersection and turn over.

Bring the other side inward as shown, then fold the packet along the marked guide. Trim across the dashed line and unfold into a six-sided sheet. Gather it along the radial creases.

Open each narrow layer and fold it inward along the existing creases, flattening it into the pointed shape shown.

Work around all six sections until the folded packet is even and symmetrical.

Turn the front pointed layer downward along its base crease.

Fold the lower triangle upward. Repeat on alternating faces so three sections receive this fold.

Turn to a smooth face. Hold its tip, pull the point down carefully, and turn the neighboring flap aside.

Fold the indicated edge toward the center. Repeat the corresponding fold on the other two broad petal sections.

Open the petal section enough to see the new creases without pulling the center apart.

Open the previous fold to leave a guide. Fold the upper edge toward the center in the same way.

Fold the lower part back along its existing crease, following the arrow.

Fold the small inner point along the dotted diagonal guide.

Press the narrow flap flat at the center of the flower.

Apply the same sequence around the remaining sections to finish the slender iris base.

Spread the three broad petals. Curl their edges outward and gently curl the narrow inner points to shape the flower.