DIY: Origami Flowering Branches

This is a tutorial for how to make flowering branch centerpieces using origami flowers.

Materials:
Small (75mm) origami paper in colors of choice
Thin silver wire
Branches
Glass pillar vases

Step one: make all of the origami flowers. I used the traditional lily because the simplicity of the flower allows it to be more easily folded at such a small size than other more complex models. They can also be made very quickly so making large quantities of them is easier than other flowers. For a spring-themed wedding, cherry blossoms would also be a good choice. The great thing about using origami flowers is that all flowers in all colors, real or imagined, are in season all year long. Estimate how many vases you will need and multiply that by about 6 flowers per vase to figure out how many flowers to make.

Step two: prepare flowers for attaching to branches. Cut lengths of silver wire about 4″ long. Take each piece of wire and form a loop at the end like in the drawing below. This will prevent the wire from going all the way through the flower. Then take a pin and poke a small hole in the bottom of each flower. Push the straight end of the wire through the hole from the top of the flower, so the loop ends up inside the flower and the straight end is sticking out of the bottom.

Step three: collect branches. Gather branches from your back yard, the park, or anywhere you can get them. Then break/shape them so they fit nicely in the glass vases. Choose ones that have a nice varied shape with lots of thin twigs as opposed to thicker, more straight branches.

Step four: attach flowers to branches. Wrap the silver wire around the branch to attach each flower. Place them all around the branch and point them in different directions for nice variation. Then gently put the finished flowering branch into the glass vase, and you are done! Origami flowering branch centerpiece is complete!