Singaporebrides | Essentials
June 2011
DIY of The Month – Paper Tulips
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.
Origami has always been a very elegant art form. If you’re on a tight budget and need to keep the cost down for your wedding, you can do away with much of the décor and still have a beautiful wedding with some artfully folded origami. The paper even comes in all kinds of colours that you can possibly think of, so having a colour theme for your wedding is no problem at all. Origami folding is also very therapeutic – good for all those frazzled nerves leading up to your big day.
Origami for weddings can be more than paper cranes. There are all types of flowers you can choose from: irises, roses, lotuses, lilies, and they each come with a different difficulty level so you can work with what you can. One of the easiest and most fun to do is the origami tulip. Even if you have fat fingers.
Here’s what you need:
- Plain coloured origami paper, 15 x 15 mm
- Bamboo skewers
- Scissors
- Instant gel glue
Time taken for each: 5 minutes
Average cost for each: $1
1. Start by folding the paper into half with the coloured side facing up, then open it up and make another fold perpendicular to the first one. Crease the folds well with a ruler or a plastic card.
2. Now flip the paper over so that the white side is facing up and make a diagonal fold, tip to tip. Open it up and make another diagonal fold with the two corners.
3. Open up the paper so that the white side is facing up. Hold the paper on both sides and, using your middle fingers, push in the folds as shown by the arrows.
4. If you had creased the folds well, you’ll magically form an upside-down triangle.
5. Turn it the right side up, and crease the folds well, but try not to use so much strength that you tear the paper.
6. Next, taking the right bottom corner of the triangle and fold it to meet the centre crease.
7. Do the same for the left bottom corner, then flip the triangle around and do the same on the other side.
8. This next step is going to be important. Take the top flap on the left, and flip it over to the right. You must do this step or you will not get the desired outcome.
9. Fold down the remaining left flap down to meet the crease in the centre. Do the same of the right flap.
10. After that, flip the paper over and repeat steps 9 and 10. You will end up with an upside down kite.
11. Picking up the kite and holding it as shown, push your thumbs upwards so that pockets will form in the two top flaps.
12. Tuck the right pocket into the left. Turn the paper over and do the same for the other two flaps.
13. Now for the fun part. Holding down firmly on the two overlapping sides of the “tulip bulb” with your fingers, take a deep breath and blow sharply and quickly into the tiny opening indicated by the arrow. If you had held the sides properly, the bulb will inflate. If you hadn’t, the sides will come apart and you’ll have to start over.
14. For the tulip to take shape, you have to peel back the “petals” you had unwittingly formed earlier. Holding the bulb firmly without squeezing it flat, start peeling the top flaps back slowly.
15. Ta-dah! A beautiful origami tulip!
16. Make a bunch of tulips by inserting the sharp ends of some bamboo skewers into the tiny opening at the bottom of the bulb. You can adjust the length of the skewer by cutting off the bits you don’t need with a pair of heavy-duty craft scissors. Using instant gel glue, seal the opening and the skewer together once you have your desired height.
Make one for each guest at your wedding, make a bunch for your hand bouquet, make tiny ones for the men’s boutonnieres, make a whole lot for a unique table arrangement… in fact, make your man learn how to make these origami tulips so that he can bring home a stalk for you every day. How does that sound?
For a really elegant centrepiece, put the origami tulips in vases of varying heights and textures, then arrange them in a tight row, running down the length of a long table. From left to right, OVANTAD vase, $2.90, ASKER container, $6.00, REKTANGEL vases, $4.90 and $5.90, all from IKEA.
Perfect for Budget weddings, Minimalist wedding décor, First anniversary parties, Napkin ties, Elegant centrepieces for long tables
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