Singaporebrides | Essentials

March 2011

DIY of The Month – Cherish Blossoms

By Michelle Tay

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Think you’re a hands-on kind of bride and want to make something really special for your wedding? It doesn’t have to be something elaborate; think small, simple yet significant. It could be a personalised Save-The-Date card, or a memorable wedding favour. You don’t even have to be very good at Arts and Crafts to make these wonderful mementos. SingaporeBrides shows you how to Do-It-Yourself.

We may not have cherry blossoms in Singapore, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bask in the beauty of this festive flower. Synonymous with the start of spring, the cherry blossom’s nature of blooming en masse with breathtaking beauty, then fading away as quickly as it came, is a Japanese icon of the ephemeral nature of life, as well as an omen of good fortune, and a symbol of love and affection.

We channel this flower’s beauty and rich symbolism into a lovely wedding favour that doubles up as a yummy sweet treat, and a napkin weight for outdoor weddings. These eye-catching favour “pouches” requires slightly more work compared to the previous ones we have done. But anyone who can weld a pair of scissors can still help out. The satisfaction comes when you realise how a simple sheet of dusky pink craft tissue paper can transform into a pretty little flower in your hands. Other than simply being beautiful, it can turn into a handy place card as well with a simple step. Your guests will peel back the Cherish Blossom petals to reveal the wonderful goodness within it, with a subtle, unwritten message to cherish the people they love and hold dear.

We dedicate this month’s DIY to the people of Japan, especially to the ever-resilient survivors of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

Here’s what you need:

• Dragées of any kind, such as traditional Jordan almonds (Here, I’ve chosen bon-bons)
• Pale pink craft tissue
• Cherry pink crepe paper
• A4 Card stock
• 13mm polyester ribbon, pale green
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Double-sided tape
• Blossom Template
• Printer

Time taken for each: 7 minutes
Average cost for each: $2.50

1.Using your A4 card stock and printer, print out the Dahlia Template from Martha Stewart and cut it out. Take a sheet of the crepe paper and fold it in half twice. After that, lay the cut out template onto the corner of the folded edges of the paper. Trace lightly around the template with your pencil.

2.Doing the same with the pale pink craft tissue paper, cut the blossoms into shape along the lines. Make sure the edges of the paper are always aligned while you’re cutting, or you will end up with oddly shaped petals.

3.Once you have a pair of dark and pink blossoms cut out, lay the lighter one on top of the darker one. You don’t have to align them neatly petal-to-petal; the more staggered it is, the bigger the bloom. Just make sure the centres are aligned. Pour out the colourful bon-bons onto the middle. It doesn’t matter how many you want to have for each favour, but a fistful is more than enough. Don’t be stingy either, or you’ll end up with a disproportionate Cherish Blossom.

4.The next step is to draw the edges of the petals together, keeping the bon-bons right in the middle. Holding the bundle together, twist the bon-bons into a ball.

5.Measure out 20 cm of the pale green ribbon and use it to secure the twisted part of the favour with a simple knot. Make sure the satin finish of the ribbon is facing outwards. After that, fold the corners of the ribbon together and cut out a reverse fish-tail at the ends into the shape of a leaf.

6.At this point, arrange the ribbon neatly, making sure the ends are about the same length. Also, try to stand the Cherish Blossom up on the table. If it doesn’t sit properly, simply adjust the bon-bons by rubbing the bottom lightly until you are able to find a flat “bottom”.

7.The final step of this DIY is to help the blossom bloom. Pull the petals open and downwards, but be gentle because craft tissue tears easily. You’ll find that every single Cherish Blossom is unique in its shape and plumage because of Step 3.

If you’re hosting a smaller wedding or solemnisation, you may want to use the Cherish Blossom as a place card as well. Simply have the names of your guests printed on tags and affix them on the bundle with double-sided tape. Your guests will have no problem finding their seats then. You can also personalise this wedding favour by printing out your monogram or names on the tags. And, because each favour has a certain weight to it, it also keeps those napkins from flying away from the breeze at outdoor weddings. What a versatile little wedding favour!

Perfect for Solemnisation tea parties, Outdoor garden weddings, Floral or pink-themed indoor weddings

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