Tea Bag Folding
An Example

See below how easy it is to make simple folds and interlock pieces into a kaleidoscope effect.

Now let us show you exactly how these instructions work in practice. The size of the squares has been increased in the pictures so that you can see exactly how to follow each step.

First you need to cut out the images. For most rosettes, you will need 8 squares. You can use scissors, a guillotine, or a rotary cutter, whichever you find gives you the most accurate cut.

Fold each square diagonally in half. Ensure that the same point is at the top left hand side in each square, so that your finished rosette will be symmetrical.

Open out the squares, and fold the sides inwards to meet the diagonal line, to make a kite shape. Once again, ensure that the same point is at the top of each kite shape, to ensure a pleasing finished rosette.

If you hold your kite shape up to the light, you can see through the paper to the shadow that the previous fold makes. Fold up the base of the kite to meet that line.

Once you have 8 completed petals, you can interlock them. Different effects may be achived by interlocking either to the left-hand or the right-hand side of each petal.

The last petal is a tricky one! Once this has been put into place, re-arrange the placement of the petals to minimise the central hole.

Turn your rosette over and stick the petals together with some double-sided sticky tape.

Using the  fold demonstrated above, these six different designs were achieved - just by using a different corner of the paper and/or interlocking to the left or the right hand side of the petal!

And that's just ONE fold. There are literally hundreds of different folds available.