Singaporebrides | Essentials
January 2014
DIY of The Month – Rustic Chic Boutonnieres
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.
You’ve been planning on handcrafting every little detail of your special day, but like sand through the hourglass, the recent days of your busy life have been slipping away. Don’t worry! If you can’t give your 500 guests a handmade wedding favour each, you can inject your personal touch in the details that make a big impact, such as in your beloved’s and his groomsmen’s wardrobes for the day. Perfect for weddings in rustic chic style, this easy-to-make boutonniere adds a dash of dapper to your man’s sharp suit.
Here’s what you need:
- Burlap or similar textured fabric
- Wooden skewers
- Dark grey ribbon
- Striped navy and white ribbon
- Twine
- Three kinds of buttons
- Feathers in different colours
- Pin backs
- Cardboard in cereal box-weight
- Needle and thread
- Scissors
- Craft glue
Time taken each: 10 minutes
Average cost each: About $3
1: Trace these leaf templates onto the cardboard, one small leaf and one large leaf per boutonniere. Cut them out.
2: Holding a cardboard leaf against the burlap, use the leaf as a pattern for cutting out a leaf shape on the burlap. Cut out one small leaf and one large leaf per boutonniere.
3: Glue down the small burlap leaf on the small cardboard leaf, natural colour side up. Let dry for a minute or so, then trim the edges of the burlap, or tease out frayed edges with your fingers if you prefer a more rustic look.
4: Measure out about 12cm on a wooden skewer, score with scissors, and break.
5: Apply glue along two-thirds of the skewer, and wrap the dark grey ribbon tightly around it. Cut the ribbon and let dry for about a minute.
6: Glue the skewer to the middle of the back of the small leaf.
7: Apply glue on the cardboard back of the small leaf and the skewer, then cover them with the large burlap leaf, pressing down to help secure the skewer in place.
8: Choose one dark feather and one patterned feather and glue them onto the front of the small leaf.
9: Play around with the arrangement of three different buttons, just below the feathers. Once you’re satisfied with your design, glue them down.
10: To make the bow, first loop the ribbon twice and hold in place. You should have two loops on each side.
11: Sew the loops to secure them, without cutting the ribbon or the thread.
12: Wrap the ribbon around the centre of the bow and snip off any extra at the back. Sew in place, being careful to hide the thread under the front of the bow. Tie off.
13: Glue the bow under the buttons. Glue the pin back onto the back of the boutonniere and you’re done!
These boutonnieres are a stylish step up from the traditional rosebud, and make smart accessories for your wedding party. With so many elements to play around with, you can personalise these boutonnieres to coordinate with your wedding theme by choosing ribbons or buttons in your colours, or substituting the feathers with dried flowers or painted twigs. They’re so simple to make, and unlike perishable flowers, can be readied weeks ahead!
Credits: Gracia Plant Object, Bistro Rectangle Plate, Moliz Coaster in Pink, and Eveca Lunch Mat in Yellow from Francfranc
Perfect for: