Crafting A Cardboard Wedding: Creative Ways To Use Cardboard

Cardboard is a versatile and sustainable material that can be used to create beautiful and unique wedding crafts. From DIY wedding decorations to creative keepsakes, using cardboard is a budget-friendly and eco-friendly option for your big day. With a bit of creativity and some common household materials, you can make a variety of projects, such as elegant centrepieces, quirky guest books, and even bridal accessories. Cardboard crafts are a fun and meaningful way to add a personal touch to your wedding, and they can also be a great activity to do with your wedding party. Whether you're looking for something simple or more complex, cardboard crafts are a perfect way to celebrate your love while saving money and reducing waste.

Cardboard wedding cake toppers

Cardboard cake toppers are a fun, unique, and eco-friendly way to decorate your wedding cake. Here are some tips and ideas on how to make them:

Materials and Tools:

• Cardboard: Look for sturdy cardboard, such as corrugated cardboard or cardboard from shipping boxes. You can also use cardstock, a thicker type of paper that comes in various colours.
• Glitter: Add some sparkle to your topper with glitter cardstock or glitter glue.
• Paint: Paint your cardboard a solid colour or create a design using acrylic or craft paint.
• Glue: Use a strong adhesive, such as a hot glue gun or craft glue, to assemble your topper.
• String or Ribbon: Attach string or ribbon to your topper for a hanging effect.
• Skewers or Sticks: Use wooden skewers or sticks to secure and elevate your topper on the cake.

Design Ideas:

• Monogram: Create a stylish monogram cake topper by cutting out the initials of the couple from cardboard and gluing them together. Paint or add glitter to make them stand out.
• Numbers: Celebrate the wedding anniversary by making a number topper. For example, "20" for a 20th anniversary.
• Banners: Craft a mini banner with cardboard and string, spelling out a message like "Just Married" or "Love".
• Silhouette: Cut out silhouettes of the couple from cardboard and attach them to skewers for a cute and personalised topper.
• Flowers: Make cardboard flowers in the wedding colour palette and arrange them on top of the cake.
• Theme-based: Design toppers based on the wedding theme. For example, for a rustic wedding, create a cardboard cut-out of a tree or a barn.

Remember to measure your cake beforehand to ensure the topper is proportional. You can also add other decorative elements like ribbons, pearls, or fresh flowers to enhance your cardboard topper.

Cardboard photo booth props

Photo booths are a fun addition to any wedding, allowing guests to take home tangible memories and providing entertainment for guests who may feel awkward posing for photos. While not necessary, photo booth props can make the photo-taking experience more engaging and enjoyable for everyone involved.

• Magic wands
• Valentine's Day-themed sunglasses
• Vibrant wigs
• Childhood photo cutouts
• Confetti
• Larger-than-life cat cutouts
• New Year's Eve beads, hats, and noisemakers
• Light-up sabers
• Beaded necklaces
• Cardboard cutouts of the letters "X" and "O"
• Cardboard frames with the wedding hashtag
• Cardboard props in the shape of kisses and mustaches
• Cardboard props with a "Star Wars" theme
• Cardboard masks

When creating your own photo booth props from cardboard, consider the following tips:

• Use sturdy cardboard that can withstand handling by multiple guests.
• Cut out various shapes, such as lips, mustaches, and speech bubbles, that guests can pose with.
• Decorate the cardboard with paint, glitter, or other craft supplies to match your wedding theme.
• Attach sticks or handles to the props for easy holding.
• Include a mix of funny, themed, and simple props to appeal to a range of guests.

Cardboard bunting

Step 1: Gather Materials

You will need thin cardboard (such as cereal boxes), sticky tape, a ruler, a pencil, glue, scissors, string, and coloured or patterned paper (ideally square).

Step 2: Cut Out Triangles

If your paper is not already square, cut it into a square shape. Then, fold the paper in half so that the back is facing outwards. Draw lines to form triangles—for a 30cm square, draw lines at 0cm, 10cm, 20cm, and 30cm on the top, and 5cm, 15cm, and 25cm on the bottom. Cut out the triangles carefully using scissors or a paper cutter.

Step 3: Glue Triangles to Cardboard

Glue the triangles onto the cardboard, ensuring that the backs of the triangles are glued to the patterned side of the cardboard for a neat finish. Keep the triangles close together to minimise cardboard waste.

Step 4: Cut Out Cardboard Triangles

Cut the triangles out of the cardboard. Try to cut as neatly as possible.

Step 5: String the Triangles

To make hanging easier, tape a piece of string from one side of the room to the other, like a washing line. Then, use sticky tape to attach the triangles to the string. Don't worry if the backs of the triangles look messy—as long as the front looks good, no one will notice!

Step 6: Hang and Enjoy!

Hang your beautiful cardboard bunting and enjoy the festive atmosphere it brings to your wedding!

Extra Tips:

• To speed up the process, set up stations for each step (tracing, cutting, gluing, and stringing).
• While the bunting is great for hanging inside, it is not very weatherproof, so avoid hanging it outside if rain or wind is expected.
• For added durability, consider laminating the triangles and using hot glue to attach them to the string.

Cardboard wedding favours

Wedding favours are a great way to thank your guests for joining you on your special day. Here are some ideas for creating cardboard wedding favours that are both eco-friendly and budget-friendly:

Cardboard Favour Boxes

Favour boxes are a popular choice for weddings, and you can easily find cardboard options. These boxes can be decorated with ribbons, lace, or other embellishments to match your wedding theme. Fill them with treats such as candies, chocolates, or cookies for your guests to enjoy. You can also use clear PVC boxes and add a cardboard tag with a personalised message or your wedding date.

Creative Cardboard Designs

Get creative with your cardboard wedding favours by using unique designs or shapes. For example, you could have cardboard favour boxes in the shape of teapots, dress gowns, or pillow boxes with windows. These unexpected designs will delight your guests and show your attention to detail. Don't be afraid to mix and match different colours and patterns to create a whimsical and playful vibe.

Personalised Messages

Customise your cardboard wedding favours with personalised messages or tags. You can write a simple "Thank You" note or include a meaningful quote or saying. Another idea is to add your wedding date and the guest's name, turning the favour into a place card as well. This adds a special touch and makes each guest feel appreciated.

DIY Cardboard Crafts

If you're feeling crafty, you can make your own cardboard wedding favours. Consider making miniature planters or vases out of cardboard, filling them with treats or small gifts. You could also create cardboard sleeves or envelopes, perhaps with a vintage fabric wrap, to hold favours such as small jars of loose-leaf tea. Adding a personal touch through DIY projects will make your wedding favours even more memorable.

Cardboard wedding invites

If you're looking to make wedding invites from cardboard, there are a few different approaches you can take, depending on how much you want to do yourself. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating cardboard wedding invites, with some ideas and tips to help you along the way.

Types of DIY Cardboard Wedding Invites

Editable Invitation Templates

The easiest way to create DIY cardboard wedding invites is to find an editable digital template online, which you can personalise and then order to be printed and delivered to you. Websites like Papier offer beautiful wedding invitation templates that you can edit and customise with photos. This option allows you to add a personal touch without having to worry about printing at home or paying a separate printing service.

Printable Templates

If you'd prefer to print your invites yourself, you can find printable wedding invitation templates on websites like Etsy. You can personalise these templates with your details, and then print them at home or use an external printing service. This option gives you more control over the paper you use and allows you to add extra DIY touches like stamps, additional stationery, or handwritten signatures.

Creating Invites from Scratch

If you're feeling more adventurous, you can create your wedding invites completely from scratch. Platforms like Canva offer free templates and design tools to help you get started. You can also find craft supplies on websites like Etsy, Hobbycraft, and The Works. Once you've designed your invites, you can print them at home, use a printing service, or even send them digitally via email or WhatsApp.

Ideas for DIY Cardboard Wedding Invites

• Gold foil details - Gold foil is cheap to buy and adds an elegant, luxurious feel to your invites. You can add gold foil to the border or any other part of the invite.
• Watercolour backgrounds - If you're artistic, you can paint each invite with watercolours. Each invite will be unique, and as long as you use similar colours and placement, they will look amazing as a set.
• Textured paper - Printing or writing your invites on textured paper gives them an elevated, handmade feel.
• Pinned invites - If your invite consists of multiple pages, you can pin them together with a gold, silver, or rose gold fastener. This adds a professional finish and makes it easier for guests to fan out the pages.
• Hand-tied string or ribbon - Adding a piece of string or ribbon gives your invites a rustic, handmade touch.
• Real flowers - You can include dried flowers or even fresh flowers in your invites to tease your wedding colour scheme.
• Floral wax seals - Use dried blooms or botanical leaves to adorn the wax seals on your envelopes. You can also find stickers with wax and dried flowers attached, which are super easy to use.
• Personalised wax seals - Order custom wax seals with your initials, or create your own using real wax and a rubber stamp.
• Vellum invitation jackets - Wrapping your invites in translucent vellum cases makes them look professional and expensive.
• DIY envelope inserts - You can download and print generic envelope insert templates, cut them out, and slide them into your envelopes for a personalised touch.

Tips for DIY Cardboard Wedding Invites

Before you start making your cardboard wedding invites, here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Know your vision - Decide on a theme, colour scheme, materials, and the final look you want to achieve. Take inspiration from professional designs, but be realistic about your skill set and the time you have available.
• Practise - Don't commit to a final design until you've practised making a few samples. This will help you tweak the design and ensure you're confident in the process.
• Don't assume it's cheaper - DIY doesn't always mean cheaper. Consider the cost of materials, tools, and your time before deciding to make your own invites.
• Set aside enough time - Give yourself a deadline and work backwards from there. Making one invite might be quick, but making them in bulk will take time. Allow for some buffer time in case of mistakes or running out of materials.
• Proofread - Enlist multiple people to proofread your wording to catch any mistakes.
• Think about postage - If you're planning to post your invites, avoid crafts that could get squashed or broken in the mail.

Now you have all the information you need to start creating your own cardboard wedding invites! With a bit of creativity and dedication, you can make beautiful, personalised invites that will impress your guests.

Frequently asked questions