Iris Folding Apple

Supplies

A piece of cardstock that is larger than the pattern

Different papers, each about 6 inches X 6 inches

Scissors or craft knife and cutting board

Scotch tape

Removable tape(masking tape or blue painter's tape)

Instructions

Start by cutting the 3 different papers into 1 1/2 inch strips. You don't have to be exact when cutting the strips, but it's better for beginners to err on the side of having the strips too wide rather than too narrow.

Also carefully cut out the pattern. If you have carbon paper available, you can use that instead of having to cut out the apple shape. Or you may want to first laminate the pattern, then carefully cut it out so you will have a pattern that can be used over and over.

You will be working on the back of your piece of cardstock, so write a 'B' on the back so you can make sure you are always working on correct side. Trace the apple pattern in the center of your piece of cardstock.

Now, cut out the apple opening and discard the center(you may want to save a piece of the center for the iris).

Next, tape the apple pattern to a working surface, a plain white piece of paper is fine. Using removable tape, adhere the piece of cardstock with a apple shaped opening over the pattern. Make sure you are still looking at the back of your piece of cardstock.

Start folding your strips of paper in half, lengthwise. Decide which will be pattern/color A, which will be B, and which will be C. Place them in separate piles.

It's now time to start following the pattern. You will be going in order starting with #1. Looking at the pattern guide, you will see that #1 should be Pattern A.

Keeping the folded edges of your strips toward the center of the heart, tape the 1st piece in place, along the line indicated on the pattern.

When taping down your pieces, make sure the tape only touches the card stock or your strips of paper. Do not tape anything to the apple pattern or your working surface(I used a plain white piece of paper). This is very important because later you will be removing the blue painter's tape(or masking tape) and lifting your finished designed from the pattern. You don't want to have it taped down to the white paper or pattern and you also don't want the tape to show on your finished design. New strips can either be taped to the card stock or to the previous strip.

Continue by adding piece #2. According to the pattern guide, this will be pattern/color B. Again, trim the strip of paper so it fits on your cardstock. Also, make sure the folded edge is facing the center of the apple. I almost trimmed this piece too much, it should completely cover the opening in your cardstock.

Continue by adding your strips of paper according to the pattern guide, #8 will be pattern/color A, #9 will be pattern/color B, #10 will be pattern/color C and so on. Continue until you reach the center of the heart.

You've now made it to the " iris" . Traditionally, you would tape a piece of holographic paper here. But, instead, you could just used a scrap of the cardstock that was previously cut from the center.

Next, the fun part! Remove the blue painter's tape, or masking tape, turn the piece of cardstock over and view your design!