If you love the idea of creating your own wedding centerpieces, origami paper cranes can create a delicate table centerpiece while also sending guests home with a unique wedding favor. If you’ve never tried origami, making paper cranes isn’t the simplest folding project you could start with trying to do. However, you’ll find numerous websites that give you written instructions, illustrations, and even video tutorials, so whatever your learning style you can learn to make these paper birds.
Once you get the hang of folding paper cranes, it will take you roughly five minutes to fold each crane. Figure that you’ll want at least one crane for each guest plus some extras for additional decorations. This will give you an idea how much time you will need.
For practice, you can find origami paper at an arts and craft store. Don’t get discouraged if none of the paper at the store is something you’d want to use for your centerpieces. You’ll find many, many more options online. Patterned origami paper (which is thinner than photocopy paper and already cut to size) will help hide folding “sins” when you don’t match up edges perfectly.
To hang the cranes you’ll need a sewing needle and thread, three or four glass beads for each crane and two seed beads for each crane. Depending on how you would like to create your centerpiece, you’ll also need the materials described with the directions below.
Origami Crane Ornament
This step can take another ten minutes a crane, after you’ve folded them. Make your paper cranes.
Cut a piece of thread and fold it in half.
Tie a seed bead onto the end of the thread. Next, slide onto the thread three or four glass beads in colors that coordinate with the paper crane and your wedding colors.
Push the needle from the underside of the crane up through the middle of its back. Slide on another seed bead and knot it in place so the components of your ornament don’t slide up and down the thread.
Tie the ends of the thread together, creating a loop.
Centerpiece #1: Collect some lightweight branches and spray paint them silver, gold, a wedding-coordinating color, or leave them natural. Place the branches in a tall vase weighted with glass vase filler gems. Hang the origami crane ornaments from the branches, one for each guest at the table to take home.
Centerpiece #2: For this option, you don’t have to turn the cranes into ornaments. Fill a low, wide vase or bowl with floral foam or Styrofoam. Cover with shredded gift bag filler (or your own creative option). Paint bamboo skewers in colors that coordinate with the origami paper. Place the pointed end into the foam and set the crane on the flat end of each skewer. One guest can win the centerpiece or each individual at the table can take home a crane.
Cranes are a Japanese symbol of longevity, prosperity, and good health. Folded paper cranes make delicate centerpieces and wedding favors. Although this project can be time consuming, get friends involved or fold the cranes when you are watching television.
