DIY | 1001th Paper Cranes

Since we will have a Oriental (Japanese) inspired wedding, I was researching on Asian Wedding (particularly, Japanese) traditions which we can incorporate for our wedding. One of these tradition is the folding of 1000 "paper crane". Yes, 1000 pieces! 

What's special about the "crane"? In Asian point of view, they believe that the crane symbolizes honor and loyalty, long-life and good-health.According to the tradition, when someone completed folding 1000 paper cranes, their heart's desires will come true. For weddings, the 1000 paper cranes will bring the luck towards the marriage life for it will manifest the cranes way of life. Cranes are said to mate for life; male and female build their nest together. In other words, loyalty + fidelity; and building lives together.

As per the "paper folding" experts or origami masters, it will take about two months to fold 1,000 origami cranes. It was not specified if this means - folding paper cranes eight hours/ day. Whew! maybe I should start folding some papers now. 

Papers & Colors

In traditional Japanese weddings, there would be a thousand small origami cranes "in full rainbow colors". 

Green - Health

Yellow - Creativity

Red - Love

White - Purity

Blue - Loyalty

Orange - Enthusiasm

Purple - Spirituality

Marriage Internship through Paper Folding?

The time, patience, and understanding was immersed in folding a thousand of paper cranes. "These same qualities are vital for a marriage to last and thrive. This is why the symbology of 1,000 hand-folded cranes decorating a wedding is so powerful" (1)

Some bits of History and Culture

"The ancient practice of a man and woman folding 1,000 cranes for their wedding is called sembazuru. The tradition itself is called Tsuru wa sennen. The time and energy put into the thousand hand-folded origami cranes symbolized the patience and trust necessary to sustain a happy marriage. A couple who could weather the long, time intensive folding process together, supporting each other, talking with each other for weeks while taking on a challenging task was proving their ability to maintain a long term, content relationship". [Source: Wedding Tradition of 1,000 Origami Cranes]

For more detailed References/ Readings:

1. Meaning of Origami - on Color

2. Meaning of Colors in Origami - History

3. Wedding Origami Cranes Flowers and Favors

4. Thousand Origami Cranes Story

5. Origami Wedding

DIY | Save the Date - CHECK

CALENDAR SAVE-THE-DATES
I begun creating the design of our Save the Date invites, two days before my departure. I did dozens of drafts, but I was never contented. It was difficult to create or to personalize it.

Here's how we made our STD Invites.
1. Background Image
Used Adobe Photoshop to make this design.

"Sakura" cherry blossoms

2. October 2010 Calendar
Used Microsoft Publisher to layout the Calendar, then I used the Cherry blossoms background to add some flair, and Japanse feel.
Printed in a textured ecru paper.

♥
B + R
(Marked on the 8th October)

3. Save the Date Mini-Card/ Reminder
Again, used the Publisher program. Printed it in a white vellum paper.

4. With covering paper (tracing paper)

5. Ribbons
The colors resembles our color motif, which is Shades of Pink + Brown

I so love the ribbons.
I simply ♥ ribbons.

6. Poster paper/ Construction paper (for the main invitation cover)

7. STD Invites ready for distribution.

the official "Save the Date"

Project Cost:
1. Bea & Roland's labor charges
2. Electricity charges
3. Printer's Ink
4. Paper:
20% - bought (less than P100)
80% - from my stocked specialty papers, tracing paper, etc.
Aliw kasi ang dami ko pang "basura" noong college. I cannot let go of them feeling ko mapapakinabangan ko pa. Ayan napakinabangan na nga... ^________^
5. Ribbons (less than P50)

Project Duration:
less than 24 hours before Bea's departure.
about 6 hours

Post-Project Review:
While doing this DIY, Shujin and I realized how we are different in a lot of ways - design, working attitude, aesthetic judgement, etc. He can easily decide which is which. I can never decide which; plus after he choose a design I will show him another design. Hindi rin ako masyadong makulit o sinusumpong ng pagka-OC.

Ang nakakatuwa lang, naintindihan namin ung "pagkakaiba namin". Hindi namin pinag-awayan na makulit ako. Hehehe. We learned to understand each other. This is the first DIY project we did. Shujin helped out (though he took a few naps - as always!). It was like doing a school project. Feeling ko classmates kami na nagkacramming dahil submission na bukas ng plates. Hehehe.



   ♥
B + R

DIY | Monograms (First Batch)

FIRST ATTEMPT...

Being sick for 3 days depresses me.

... I hate lying on bed the whole day

... I hate taking medications

... I hate being unproductive

Well, today buti na lang I am well enough to at least move my fingers... and start excreting my creative juices. At least, I can be productive naman.

FIRST DIY for our wedding - MONOGRAM

Maybe I'll make 3 more Monogram... ^_^

Parang wala pa kasi dito ang The One. Hehehe.

I'll ask H2B to choose or to give some input first before I finalize the design.

Final Notes:
R for Roland
B for Bea
M for Manuel
Date and Venue - still undecided. That's why I cannot incorporate it with the monograms I made.

Motif:
Shades of Pink
Chocolate Brown
A small tint of pale blue

Program used: Adobe Photoshop