DIY Re-fabricated Zori

For my wedding shoes, I knew I wanted something super comfortable and something that reflected my culture.  I honestly didn't think it mattered what shoes I wore, because you can't really see them under such a long dress. 

I decided to re-fabricate some zori I had from when I worked in Japan.  The zori originally had dark blue, red, and black fabric.

I basically untied the fabric from an old pair of zori, paying CLOSE attention to how it was tied - so I could re-tie it later!  I replaced the string with one that matched my fabric.  Then I replaced the old fabric, with the same fabric used to make the ring bearer pillow (the leftover fabric from some pillows I had made from our family room).  I originally tried to use the obi fabric, but it was just too stiff, I could not manipulate the fabric the way I wanted to.


I also added a snippet of a thick piece of tubing I found around the house, to the part where the ribbon comes out of the top of the zori.   This was so the string would not cut in between my toes. 

Cost . . . $0!  (I only used materials I already had). 

 Photographed by Quinn Photography

Photographed by Quinn Photography (but, cropped by the bride). 

DIY Ring Bearer Pillow

For this pillow, I used 2 square pieces of fabric - it was actually made using the inner lining of the obi (used to make the wedding sash).  I also used some leftover fabric we had from some pillows I had made for our family room . . . making the price of this pillow . . . $0!

First, I cut out a piece of flower fabric (twice the height of what I wanted to show on the pillow.  for the width, I made it about the same size as the white squares).  I sewed the top and bottom horizontal ends together with the design on the inside.  Then, flipped it inside out - so no cut edges would show. 

I took one white square with the shiny side facing up.  Next I took the flower fabric piece and placed it on top (with the seam on the back, facing the white square.  Then I pinned one ribbon to each side of the flower fabric (the shorter sides of the rectangle), pointing inward.  Basically, I laid the fabrics and ribbons out, and pinned them, as I would like to see them on top of the ring bearer pillow. 

Then I laid the 2nd white square on top of all of that - with the shiny side facing in/down.  I sewed all of the pieces together, leaving a little opening, so that I could turn the pillow inside out and stuff it.

 

Photographed by Quinn Photography (but cropped by the bride).

DIY Kanzashi Flower Hair Accessory

When looking for a flower piece for my hair, I knew I wanted something origami inspired and under budget.  This limited my options.  In the end, I decided to make my own hair accessory.  I began to look on etsy for inspiration (I was originally going to buy one from etsy, but they were all out of my price range). 

In the end, I found a tutorial on youtube.  I think this is the one I learned from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5OyjujqPE4 
There is a part 2, also.  If you look up how to make a "Kanzashi flower," you can find many different types of tutorials.

I changed this one a little, pinching the outer point of each petal and sewing it shut/together - this created a pointed petal shape, versus rounded.  This was difficult, as I had to try and hide the beginning and end knots of the thread, under each petal. 


In the middle, I used an extra button from my wedding dress.  It matched the fabric perfectly!  Oh, and I forgot to mention - the fabric used for the flower, was the leftover fabric from the obi material used to make the sash for my wedding dress. Under the flower, I used an alligator clip from Michael's craft store - bringing the grand total for making this accessory to about $2!

Photographed by Quinn Photography (but cropped by the bride)

DIY Origami Crane Namecard Holders

I knew I wanted to make our own namecards for our guests, and I knew I wanted to incorporate origami somehow.  My mom showed me a namecard and namecard holder from a previous wedding she went to - and I knew those were the ones I wanted to create!  So I searched online, and found this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGNrQB8Tzfk
I used Japanese newspaper and old Japanese paperwork (from when I taught in Japan), to make them.  For the actual namecards, I used regular cardstock. I also used double sided tape, to make sure the cardstock would stay put on the namecard holder.

DIY Origami Crane Leis

During the ceremony, we presented our parents with origami crane leis.  I don't remember exactly how many cranes were used - possibly 88 per lei?  I alternated white, blue, and green paper.  Also, I did not fold the beaks to the cranes, in order to make the lei's look less 'busy.'  A needle and dental floss were used to string them together (dental floss is more sturdy than sewing thread).

Photographed by Quinn Photography (but cropped by the bride)

More DIY Origami Boutonnieres and some DIY Origami Corsages

For my grandmas, I created boutonnieres to be pinned to their blouses.  I used the same technique as in http://lwadamelon.blogspot.com/2013/03/diy-origami-boutonnieres.html   But, I used 3 smaller flowers, instead of one bigger flower.  In addition, I added another crane to act as a leaf, and I used a longer piece of chopstick. 

Please excuse the lighting in the pictures below (I was still learning how to use our camera at this time).

For my mom and mother in law, I created corsages.  I used 3 smaller origami flowers, as well.  First I made a circle, using thick cardstock.  I glued the smaller origami flowers to the top of this.  Under it, I glued 3 origami cranes (without the neck and head folded up) - to serve as leaves.  I also glued some elastic I had.  Under the elastic, I glued another circle to cover the 'leaves' and to hold the elastic in place. 

DIY Origami Boutonnieres

. . . and back to some wedding crafts! . . .

Not only were the centerpieces and bouquets made of paper, so were the boutonnieres and corsages.  I had to play around with the boutonnieres the most.  At first when I made some samples, they would tip slightly to the side when pinned to the suit lapel.

In the end, I snapped off a piece of a wooden disposable chopstick.  Then I covered it with flower tape.  Next I made a green paper crane (but did not fold the head and tail of the crane up).  I glued the bottom third of the crane to the back of the chopstick/flower tape.  The crane helped to stabilize the chopstick against the suit lapel.  Then I re-covered the chopstick with painters tape, making sure to cover about 1/3rd of the bottom of the paper crane - to help it stay in place. After, I glued a piece of ribbon around the chopstick/flower tape - to add more color.  

For the flower, I made it following the instructions I found online: http://www.capitolromance.com/2011/09/21/diy-how-to-origami-paper-flower-bouquet/
I used different types of paper for each type of person in the wedding: Japanese washi paper for the groom, blue printer paper for the groomsmen and ring bearer, and white paper with Japanese kanji on it for the dads and my brother. 

After, I cut about 1/4th inch from the bottom of the flower (to make the bottom flat and easier to glue) - and hot glued it to the top of the chopstick - I used a lot of hot glue!  I wanted to make sure it wouldn't fall off!


The boutonnieres were pinned using a regular sewing pin.

 Boutonnieres for the Groomsmen and Groom

 Groom's Boutonniere (Photographed by Quinn Photography, but cropped by the bride)

  Ring Bearer's Boutonniere (Photographed by Quinn Photography, but cropped by the bride)