Know what stays. Know what goes.
The printable shows the full, upright design. Check the folding notes below before choosing how to prepare the sheet.
Preserve narrow connections between shapes. Loose shapes need a backing sheet or separate placement; the drawing has not been physically tested for connectivity.
From one A4 sheet to your paper cut
Fold, cut & unfold
Both halves of this finished design match. Use one center fold for the printable version, then open it for delicate finishing.
Start with a complete, uncut sheet. Each picture shows the paper before that step; red dashes mark only the next cuts. Keep the surrounding paper until the outside-cutting step.
1. Start with a full A4 sheet
Take one blank A4 sheet (210 x 297 mm), preferably thin colored paper. Print PDF page 1 separately at 100% and check its 50 mm line. Center the pattern on your blank sheet; do not cut off the surrounding paper yet.
2. Fold and transfer half
Bring the left long edge to the right long edge. The closed crease is on your left; two paper layers lie together. Align the right half of the full-size pattern with the crease and trace its outline and openings. Gray lines locate the drawing; blue marks the fold. Do not cut yet.
3. Cut the inside first
With the rectangle still intact, cut the rectangular openings within each character, working one opening at a time through both layers. Start openings that touch the crease from that edge. Closed openings require a small entry made by an adult with a craft knife on a cutting mat. Follow only the red dashes; never slice down the blue crease.
4. Cut the outside contour
Keep the layers aligned. Start from a loose outside edge of the folded rectangle, cut across waste paper to the red outline, then follow that outline. Remove the surrounding offcut. Leave every red character stroke and the horizontal links joining the two halves intact; keep the closed fold where it joins the design.
5. Unfold and refine
Open the folded paper slowly. Matching openings now appear on both sides. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve every red character stroke and the horizontal links joining the two halves. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.
Use thin paper: two layers should remain easy to control.
PDF page 1 is the clean full-size pattern; pages 2–3 show this complete sequence. A4 is the default; the Letter download uses a Letter sheet. Try a scrap first to check fragile bridges.
From download to paper cut
Choose your page size
Download the A4 or US Letter PDF to match the paper in your printer. Save the file before starting.
Print at actual size
Select 100% / Actual size, with “Fit to page” turned off. Measure the calibration line: it should be exactly 50 mm.
Choose the right preparation
Fold, cut & unfold. Follow the illustrated sequence above, starting with a complete sheet. This PDF shows the complete upright drawing.
Attach or transfer the template
Use low-tack tape or a light pencil trace. For a folded method, transfer only the shared half or rough outer shape described above. For flat cutting, transfer the complete drawing.
Follow the cutting sequence
Follow the numbered illustrations from an uncut sheet. Cut only the red lines for the current step; keep the outer paper until its removal is shown. Adults should handle craft knives on a cutting mat.
Open and refine
Place the sheet flat against the full guide. Finish fine openings and trim uneven edges one layer at a time. Keep connecting bridges intact and support fragile sections.
Lift, flatten, and display
Release the template gently. Flatten the finished piece under a clean sheet of paper, then mount it on a contrasting backing or display it in a window.
A small kit, carefully chosen
- Thin colored paper that you can cut comfortably; test a scrap before committing.
- A printer with A4 or US Letter paper, plus a ruler to check scale.
- Small sharp scissors for accessible edges.
- A craft knife and self-healing mat for enclosed details.
- Low-tack tape or a pencil to hold or transfer the guide.
Allow 45–90 minutes. Planning estimate; no timed physical trial yet. Studio level; physical cutting may be more demanding. Start with a trial cut before preparing a class or group activity.
Learn about paper bridges and cutting techniquesAbout this template
A full, upright double happiness design adapted from the interactive studio. Follow its folding notes to prepare the paper and finish the details. The PDF is a cutting study; the SVG contains editable vector outlines.
Looking for symbolism and cultural context? Visit Symbols & Stories
