Round bao trio with paper steamer Paper Squishy

What you'll need

• Buns: 80–100 gsm paper. Basket, lid and sleeve: 160–180 gsm card. Scissors, ruler, glue, clear tape and loose tissue. Adult help for small pieces.

Assembly overview

1. Choose and cut. Print one bun sheet and both basket sheets; use all five sheets for the trio. Check 50 mm at 100%. Color before cutting. Lightly copy each part code onto the back before cutting the outlines. One bun uses G01–G12, T and B. Keep G01–G12 in order and each variant separate.
2. Shape the shell panels. Gently bend each G panel at the six dashed levels. The narrow T end points upward. The first fold makes the top dip inward; the other levels form the rounded shoulder and lower body. Follow the side profile. Do not crease the decorative pleat strokes.
3. Tape G01 to G02. Match G01’s right edge to G02’s left edge, printed sides outside. Match every fold level. The edges touch with NO paper overlap. Bridge the entire seam with short pieces of clear tape outside. Press across each bend. Blue in the diagrams means transparent tape.
4. Make two half shells. Continue G02→G03→G04→G05→G06. Separately join G07→G08→G09→G10→G11→G12. Keep the same order and bend as you join. G01 carries the gold mouth; G02 and G12 carry its eyes. Do not swap or mirror panels.
5. Close the side seams. Join G06 to G07, then G12 to G01. Use edge-to-edge tape seams, with all fold levels aligned. These twelve panels make ONE shell. The small top and large bottom remain open. Check every vertical seam before closing the caps.
6. Fit the small top T. Match T’s twelve sides to the twelve short upper edges. Print faces outward. Support from inside through the open bottom with a finger or a blunt stick. Use short clear tape pieces across the top seam. Keep T in the recessed center, not on the raised shoulder.
7. Fill from the bottom. Turn the shell upside down. Feed small loose tissue pieces through the full bottom opening. Spread lightly around the shoulder, keeping the top dip and panel shape. Do not pack tightly. Leave the bottom rim clear so B can lie flat.
8. Close bottom B. Match B’s twelve edges to the twelve lower edges of the shell. Print faces outward. Tape one edge, then its opposite, then all remaining edges. Wrap short tape pieces from B onto the side. Check all corners and both cap seams.
9. Make one basket wall. Curve V1 and V2. Glue V1’s full 8 mm J tab behind V2’s plain start. Stop at the J line. Then glue V2’s J behind V1 to close ONE ring. Keep both rims level. The two net lengths total 298.45 mm; J overlaps are extra.
10. Attach basket bottom K. Place K against the lower edge of the ring, bamboo print facing inside. Tape around the OUTSIDE lower seam: half the tape on the wall, half under K. Use short overlapping pieces. Press from inside the open basket. Keep the basket hollow.
11. Build the removable lid. Glue L1 and L2 into ONE ring using both 8 mm J overlaps, as for V1/V2. Fit L across its upper edge, woven print outward. Tape the entire outer top seam with short strips. The underside stays open; do not glue the lid to the basket.
12. Check the lid fit. Let glue dry. Place one sealed bun loose in the 58 mm deep basket. The 55 mm bun stays below the rim. Lower the lid skirt outside the basket until its top rests on the rim. Never squash the bun to close it. Reopen and adjust any tight paper edges.
13. Join the separate sleeve. Join S1’s 8 mm J behind S2’s plain start, then S2’s J behind S1. Keep the patterned sides outside and both long edges level. This makes ONE open ring, not another container. Do not attach a bottom or glue it to the basket.
14. Finish, open and swap. Slide the dry sleeve down over the closed lid and around the basket. It stays removable. To open, lift off the sleeve first, then the lid. Swap the three buns one at a time; all three do not fit in one basket. Reprint the two basket sheets for three separate boxes.