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So what is quilling you ask? It is the art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and using the shapes to form designs.

At first sight I thought quilling looked extremely difficult and decided that it was too hard for me and I would just stick to the things that I already knew how to do. Then in June 2005 - in my Scraptivity kit - I had the chance to learn all about quilling and have discovered that it’s EASY! If you are like the “old” me and have been putting quilling off because you think it’s hard....think again!

What do you need to get started?

There are a few tools for this technique but they won’t cost you an arm and a leg and you can even try the technique without the tools, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you have fingers that cooperate better than mine! You can purchase the tools online at Scraptivity Shop or try it out (like I did) in the June 2005 Scraptivity monthly kit.

Papers

The first thing on the list is the most important: quilling papers. These long narrow papers are only 1/8 “ wide and can be as long or as short as you want them to be. Some strips do come 3/8” or 5/8” but they are not as common to use. quill

You can purchase pre-cut papers or make your own. I highly recommend the pre-cut ones for it’s pretty tough to get them narrow enough to use. Should you decide to make your own papers you need to use thinner paper. Cardstock tends to be a bit on the thick side and tends to gets stuck in the quilling tool.

Slotted Tool

Quick Tips

The tighter you roll the papers the smaller the shape you will create.
When you don’t use the entire strand of quilling paper, tear it rather than using scissors. The seam will blend better.
To attach the shapes to paper use a toothpick to apply a layer of glue to the bottom side.
Quilling is more than just flowers. Try animals, bugs, toys and even letters and numbers.
To make large shapes, glue two 18” quilling strips together. Try attaching two different colors.

Some people use a pointed end tool, like a paper piercer to quill paper. A simple way to do it is to use a slotted tool. One end has a slit so that you can easily slide the quilling paper in and it hold it in place while you roll the paper around the end of the tool. Once the paper is completely rolled you just slide it off the end of the tool, let it expand to the size you want it and glue the end.

Liquid Glue

I recommend liquid glue that dries quickly and clear. It is easier to apply if you poor a glob of glue onto a scrap of paper and use a toothpick to apply it to your papers.

Quilling Board

Once again this is optional but I’d be lost without mine. Once I’ve wound my papers I find it easiest to use the circles on the board to hold my papers while I glue the ends. Another great feature of the board is that your circles will all be the same size for projects.

Basic Shapes

All quilled projects are created from basic shapes. Once you have the basic shapes down to an art you’ll be creating masterpieces in no time at all. From these shapes you can create anything by combining them together. You can also leave a tail on any of these shapes by not rolling the entire piece of paper. This can be used to attach the pieces together or as an element for your creation. Here’s a few shapes to get you started.

Square – Pinch four corners into your circle to create a square. Again the size depends on the length of the paper and how tight it is rolled.

Flower Petal or Tear Drop – Pinch one end of the circle. You can make it shorter and wider by pushing the circle together without actually pinching it.

Heart – Pinch one end as you would with the flower petal. Hold the pinched end in one hand while pushing the other end towards the center.