In Japan, the crane is a symbol of long life, prosperity, and health, all positive auspicious things to bring to your wedding day. Even if you haven’t tried paper folding in the past, there are many sites on the net that can provide you with instructions, examples, and videos on how to fold origami cranes. Find the type of training that works best for you.
Once you know how to make cranes, you can make your own bouquet in about five hours (or less if you have others help you with the folding). The flower does not make the perfect ball long and the result is a soft and unique flower that gently bends with your movements.
Art materials
If you haven’t done origami before, get some cheap origami paper from retise and practice until you feel comfortable. Origami papyrum is thinner than photo paper and scrapbook paper, so it will fold with sharper creases.
For the flower, you should probably look into origami paper, especially if you want the paper bundle to be one solid color. Most origami paper packages offer a variety of colors or patterns, so you need to be flexible. You can also find paper in different sizes, which will add an interesting aspect to the flower.
You will also need some chenille stems (aka pipe-cleaners), a roll of floral tape, and ribbon to wrap around. with the stems, and two straight ropes fixed to the anchors.
CompetitorsWeds Bouquet
Start on a 15-to-24 inch paper.
Bend the top of each chenille stem into a “T” shape.
Slide a “T” shape into the hole in the belly of each crane. The top of the “T” shape helps to connect the cranes to the end of the chenille stem.
Hold the cranes in a bundle, catching the stems of the chenille. The cranes are in the center of the flower so they are at the highest point. The rest of the cranes can be a little lower, still creating fullness of the flower. It is not necessary (and probably unlikely) to get all the cranes into specific parts.
Because the cranes are perched on the chenille stems, they will stimulate your movements. Have the flower in front of the mirror and the flower hill so you can decide if you need more or fewer cranes. Play around with the positioning.
You may want to put another hand on this step. Wrap floral tape tight around a few stems so they don’t move. Next, place a few more stems against the folded stems and wrap more floral tape. Continue attaching a few stems at a time with floral tape. You don’t want to wrap all the stems at once because the chenille stems in the center don’t anchor well to the rest of the flower. You don’t want the stems to change position between the time you flower and when you wear it.
