Quilling or paper filigree is the art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and using the shapes to form designs. Quilling has been around since the Renaissance age, but I was only recently introduced to it. This is just the basics and more info will be added later with links to site with free patterns and galleries.
Tools
The tools needed for this craft are very basic. Paper strips, something to wind the strips around and glue are basically all you need to get started. Paper comes in many different weights. You select the weight according to what you want your finished design to look like. The strips of paper are usually cut anywhere from 1/8" to 1" wide with 1/8" being the standard. In the examples I used ordinary construction paper cut into 1/8" strips. I used a toothpick to wind the coils, but some prefer needles, pins, hat pins or some specially designed tools for quilling. Ordinary clear-drying white glue is good for most projects. If you are using a paper that has been sprayed with metallic paint, a heavier clear-drying glue may be used.
Other tools that may be helpful
Scissors for cutting the strips of paper, although you can purchase pre-cut strips of paper for quilling in some craft stores.
A small plastic cap or plastic bottle to hold a few drops of glue so the rest of the bottle won't dry out.
A ruler is used to achieve uniformity in the size of the pieces.
You can use a piece of corrugated cardboard covered with waxed paper as a work board. A pattern can be slipped between the cardboard and the wax paper and if glue gets onto the wax paper it can easily be peeled off. Another alternative is styrofoam covered with plastic wrap.
Tweezers and a muffin tin are good to have handy for organizing by different size or shape and the tweezers will help you pick up or place the smaller pieces into position.
A damp sponge or washcloth is helpful to keep your fingers free of glue and to moisten the strip when you start a coil.
Basic Shapes Feelers Peacock Eye Contoured Peg Peg oll a strip of paper tightly and glue the end while the coil is still tight. Pegs can be used in the design or glued to the underside of another shape to raise it creating dimension. Quotes Open Heart Rectangle Triangle Closed Heart Have a look at Monica's blog for more in depth tutorials, video's and great ideas.
"V" Shape
Fold the strip in half and roll the ends on the outside of the paper, away from the inner crease.
Roll only a small part of the paper strip, leaving the rest of the strip straight. Feelers can be made with the strip folded in half as in this example, or just with one coil from an unfolded strip.
This can be made from either a loose or tight coil. After the coil is made pinch one side. A petal can be formed by bending the tip of the peacock eye slightly to one side.
After rolling a tight coil, push the peg up from underneath the center to contour it's shape. Used to add dimension to a design.
Fold the strip in half, roll the ends in the same direction. One coil will be rolled toward the center crease, the other away from it.
Fold the strip of paper in half and roll the ends toward the center of the crease.
Tendril (Note this got smashed in the scanner it should be open and springy looking)
Roll in a spiral shape around the toothpick as tight as desired, also known as a spiral, rope or twist.
"S" Shape
Roll from both ends of the paper but on opposite sides of the strip.
Diamond
Made from either a loose or tight coil. After the coil is made pinch two opposite sides. Also called a marquis or an eye-shaped coil.
Leaf Shape
If you bend one or more ends of the diamond, you form a leaf shape.
Oval
Squeeze a loose coil into an oval shape, but try not to point the ends.
Square
Roll a loose coil and form a diamond. Pinch the smooth sides into points forming a square.
Squeeze first into an oval then pinch the corners to form a rectangle.
Star of Leaf Shape
Form a diamond first. Grasping the ends push in toward the center forming two newer points with a curve between them.
Pinch a loose coil into a 3-sided shape. Usually this looks better if you keep the center a round as possible.
Pinch a triangle, then push in one side to form an indent.
Half Moon
Pinch a loose coil on two sides while placing your finger in the middle of one side, this will cause an indentation on that side.
Tulip
Pinch a loose coil on two sides while pushing in toward the center at one side.
I have tried so many different techniques over the years and always give each one a fair change. I love the finished effect but find quilling something a bit to fiddley when you have a 5 year old running around. I do use it from time to time for specific projects and when I do I will post Photo's. Hope this helps you and maybe introduce you to another fun and easy way to create lovely layouts for both your cards and scrapbook pages.
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