Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Top 10 Crafty Paper Crane Ideas

Last year I folded 1000 paper cranes and when I was done, I  didn't quite know what to do with them. I read somewhere they're lucky and if you fold 1000 of them your wish will come true within a year. While waiting for my wish to come true I scourged the web for ideas and came up with my Top 10 Crafty Things You Can Do Paper Cranes:


1) Use it as a garnish.
There's one website I found where they folded the dumpling wrapper as garnish. How cool is that?

courtesy of: http://www.thekitchn.com/the-wow-factor-origami-crane-g-100711


2) Lamps.
Try covering an old lamp with paper cranes and see what happens when you light it up like the ones below:

Image courtesy of: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vsa2i39Oi-TBt4FdCj0D8E9iniklZcGPTks0xVWsTLxjpA_q9xGIBtnMKt9r8wnUcb6W4oPvBPeJAqyGmm6mt7NdIVfbWELKrT9IhL7yC_eFZq4__aZZ9ab6O2iE-stDea_HzQ/s1600/paper-crane-light_thumb.jpg


Image courtesy of: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-paper-crane-pendant-lamp-117520



3) Earrings:

The image below is from FoldIT Creations and they make paper crane earrings with real gems.

Image courtesy of: http://folditcreations.wordpress.com/tag/dragonfly/

4) Home Decor.

Below is a really cute room with paper cranes. If you are going for something unique you can try this idea for a teenage girl's room.
Image courtesy of: http://p-ec2.pixstatic.com/51b1cc6c74c5b61fe8000908._w.540_s.fit_.jpg
The items below were used for a wedding, but they can also add a burst of color in any room. You can also try painting a branch of a tree white and then putting the paper cranes all over them.
Image courtesy of: http://www.sweetwedding.pl/papierowe-fantazje-zapowiedz-posta/
Paper cranes can give color and dimension to hallways like the picture below. You can also hang them outside but be prepared if it gets windy or when it rains.

Image courtesy off: http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs16/f/2007/207/b/0/1000_Paper_Cranes_by_ChibiIce.jpg


5) Theme for a Wedding or a Party.

Whether you choose white or colored paper cranes it can be a lovely theme to any wedding or party.

Image courtesy of: http://www.100layercake.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Vintage-barn-wedding-32.jpg


Image courtesy of: http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/roshipotoshi/30402070/101425/101425_original.jpg
5) Party favor or giveaways:

You just have to fold them really tiny to fit in a small jar and since they symbolize luck, prosperity, longevity and good health,not to mention inexpensive, they can make good party favors or giveaways.
Image courtesy of: http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/84/2c/8d/842c8ddde35e35eef70d11ec10fb13f7.jpg




 
Image source: http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/59/be/0f/59be0f6dce732b8e6922f21f1bc594a5.jpg



6) A Gift.

In Japan they make ideal wedding gifts as they mean luck for the newly weds especially if it's the father of the bride who folded them. In some countries they are given as gifts to ill patients to wish them good health and fast healing. But it doesn't mean you can only give them to sick loved ones, even if they're not sick you can also give it to them so they can make a wish for themselves.

Image courtesy of: http://blog.stephbond.com/2012/07/make-thousand-origami-paper-cranes.html

7) Paper Crane Dress:

I don't think it's wearable but I found it unique.

Image courtesy of: http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/paper-crane-dress-1.jpg
8) Pin it on a clothesline.

They just look cute on a clothesline, period. :)

Image courtesy of: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/6d/cf/12/6dcf12ea2ebec7865671acae5b6ac9de.jpg
9) Mobile

It's one of the most common things people do with with paper cranes most especially if you can't fold 1000 of them. You only need a few, some sticks and a ribbon and your little one can enjoy a crafty and handmade mobile for their nursery.
Image courtesy of: http://www.craftster.org/pictures/data/500/medium/DSCF0503.JPG

Image courtesy of: http://www.deliacreates.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/paper-crane-mobile-14-of-16.jpg





10) Curtains. 

Finally, after folding 1000 paper cranes I decided on hanging them by the window as curtains. Below are the paper cranes which hangs in our playroom. It's made out of all kinds of paper and used post its from the office.


If you would like to give a go, click the youtube video below where I learned how to fold paper cranes and let me know how it goes:




No comments: