LEARN ABOUT QUILLING (IT’S NOT QUILTING)

Quilling (also known as paper-scrolling is a paper art whereby multicolor strips of paper are shaped, scrolled and pasted to produce various shapes. Assemble and grouped together, they form a work of art. Historically, quilling dates back to ancient Egypt.

Buy or paper strips can be made from paper that is flexible. Other considerations are weight and thickness.

3mm width is the standard and preferable width. Larger works may require 6mm width while 1.5mm is preferable for embellishments and smaller pieces.

Thick colored paper or watercolor paper is referable for the background. When using colored paper, coordinate the background color with the colors of the composition. The paper should be thick, smooth and stiff.  (pp. 23, Jenkins)

Tools:

Slotted tool – is used for scrolling the strips; insert paper strip into the slot and roll or use the handle for bigger coils.

Small bamboo knife – is used for smoothing and scrapping the paper strips.

Straight pins – help fix shapes of the design

Glue – is used for pasting strips, etc. on the background

Curved tip tweezers – are used to grip, place and fix small pieces or strips

Needle tool or toothpick or other applicator – is used to apply glue on paper strips

Scissors – are used for trimming and cutting

Paper edger/shears – are used for special effects

Utility knife – is used to cut

Tweezers – are used to hold paper while quilling or gluing

Ruler – is used to measure the paper

Dowels – are used to help make various coils (fingers work, too)

Markers, watercolors., paints, papers brushes – are used for do it yourself papers

Board/cardstock – for pinning of gluing the coils in place

Techniques

Smoothing  – Hold one end of the strip between your left thumb and index finger. Use your right hand to smooth the strip with the bamboo knife with your right thumb on top. This will create a curl. This can also be done by using only your right thumb and finger.

Scraping – Using the bamboo knife, scrap the strip very hard between your thumb and knife or scrape hard with your thumb and index finger.

Scraping and smoothing require using different strengths. Smoothing is the preparation before shaping, scraping and scraping is part of shaping.

Bending – Bend the strip with both hands to create a curve.

Scrolling – Use a slotted tool or small cylinder to scroll the strip to form a coil.

Pulling – Stack several strips and glue one end. Use one hand to loosely hold the middle of the stack and use the other hand to pull the strips into different lengths to create a shape.

Pasting – This technique is used for fixing the processed strips to form basic shapes and for mounting shapes onto the background. Proper placing and mounting the final composition is important for overall effect.

Pinching – after scrolling the strip, use your finger to pinch the coil. This creates numerous variations and shapes.

Pressing – Use thumb and index finger to press the strip or coil to form a shape.

Stacking – Stack several “elements” to crate layering and three-dimensional effects. Add additional layers as needed.

Adjusting – Adjust basic components, strips, shapes and compositions to create the best effect.

Scrolling – Use a slotted tool or small cylinder to scroll the strip to form a coil.

Pulling – Stack several strips and glue one end. Use one hand to loosely hold the middle of the stack and use the other hand to pull the strips into different lengths to create a shape.