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
Rough-fold; finish open
The outer scalloped circle is nearly balanced. The ox and foliage are not mirror-symmetric.
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 mark a roomy outline
Fold the A4 sheet lengthwise, left edge over right, with the closed crease on your left. Compare BOTH halves of the original pattern and trace a roomy envelope outside both. Gray lines show this allowance. Leave spare paper; do not trace interior details onto both layers.
3. Rough-cut the outside only
Begin at the loose outside edge of the folded rectangle. Cut through the waste to the red envelope, then follow it through both layers. Keep the extra paper beyond the exact outline. Do not cut any flowers, figures, scallops or internal holes yet.
4. Open, then cut the details
Unfold and flatten the rough shape. Align and trace the complete original drawing in its correct direction. Now cut the ox and foliage details, then the larger gaps inside the scalloped ring, one layer at a time on a cutting mat. Follow the red interior boundaries and preserve the horns, legs, foliage and ring connections.
5. Trim to the exact outline
Keep the sheet open. The rough silhouette still has spare paper around the original. Follow the red exact contour now, trimming each side separately. The two halves may differ; do not fold them together for this finishing cut.
6. Lift and refine
Gently release the cut design from the surrounding offcuts. Lay it flat and trim only attached scraps or uneven edges. Preserve the horns, legs, foliage and ring connections. A finished opening does not need to be cut again.
Folding is optional for a loose outer shape only. To preserve the original drawing, keep spare paper beyond BOTH outlines and finish every exact edge after unfolding. Do not mirror the interior.
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
Rough-fold; finish open. 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 90–180 minutes. Planning estimate; no timed physical trial yet. Editorial estimate from visible detail; not trial-cut. Start with a trial cut before preparing a class or group activity.
Learn about paper bridges and cutting techniquesAbout this template
An ox enclosed in a circular floral border. The animal, foliage, and outer ring form a dense design with many small enclosed details. The PDF is a cutting study; the SVG contains editable vector outlines.
Looking for symbolism and cultural context? Visit Symbols & Stories
