7 Tips for the Paper Quilling Beginner
Paper quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art of shaping paper into intricate and interesting shapes. This is achieved by rolling strips of paper and pinching or curving them into various forms. A completed quilled project may look complicated, but the basics of this paper craft are actually not hard to master. If you have ever wanted to give paper quilling a try, here are seven tips for getting started!
1. Use quilling paper
Paper quilling starts with rolling paper strips, and so naturally, the No. 1 item on the supplies list is quilling paper. You can buy packs of pre-cut quilling paper in most major art and crafts stores, but you can also cut your own strips of papers. The length and size of the paper will determine how the paper quilled project eventually looks. A paper quilling pattern will tell you the size you need.
2. Choose the right tools:
a)needle tool
b)slotted tool
To paper quill, you need the right tools. A slotted tool is usually recommended to the paper quilling beginner because it is easier to roll paper with it. However, the slotted tool tends to crease the paper strips. Those who are more experienced in paper quilling may prefer the needle tool. Even though it is slightly more tricky to use, many crafters prefer the needle tool as it tends to result in a neater, crease-less paper roll.
and start doing basic shapes..
a)open coil:
The open coil is the base shape for all the other shapes in this tutorial.You may wish to make a bunch and then further practice the remaining quilling shapes.
b)Tear Drop.
e)Slug.
f)Tulip.
Paper quilling, also known as paper filigree, is the art of shaping paper into intricate and interesting shapes. This is achieved by rolling strips of paper and pinching or curving them into various forms. A completed quilled project may look complicated, but the basics of this paper craft are actually not hard to master. If you have ever wanted to give paper quilling a try, here are seven tips for getting started!
Paper quilling starts with rolling paper strips, and so naturally, the No. 1 item on the supplies list is quilling paper. You can buy packs of pre-cut quilling paper in most major art and crafts stores, but you can also cut your own strips of papers. The length and size of the paper will determine how the paper quilled project eventually looks. A paper quilling pattern will tell you the size you need.
2. Choose the right tools:
a)needle tool
b)slotted tool
To paper quill, you need the right tools. A slotted tool is usually recommended to the paper quilling beginner because it is easier to roll paper with it. However, the slotted tool tends to crease the paper strips. Those who are more experienced in paper quilling may prefer the needle tool. Even though it is slightly more tricky to use, many crafters prefer the needle tool as it tends to result in a neater, crease-less paper roll.
3. Learn basic shapes:
step 1: Tight Rolled Coil!
Insert the tip of your paper strip into the slot of your quilling tool (or wrap around the quilling needle) and wind tightly.Secure with glue before sliding the coil off.
and start doing basic shapes..
a)open coil:
Begin as you did with the closed coil.Slide the
unglued coil from the tool and allow to gently open into circle .Glue end to secure.
unglued coil from the tool and allow to gently open into circle .Glue end to secure.
The open coil is the base shape for all the other shapes in this tutorial.You may wish to make a bunch and then further practice the remaining quilling shapes.b)Tear Drop.
Begin with an open coil.Pinch one side to create the tear drop shape.
c)curved tear dropes:
By different methods of bending, you can manipulate the tear drop shape into curved shapes.By bending slightly with your fingers, you can achieve a slight curve as pictured to the right i.e. 1st one.Wrap and press the tear drop around a pen to create a more closed curved tear drop shape i.e. 2nd one.Roll the tip of your tear drop in towards the center to create a paisley i.e. 3rd one.
d)Marquis
Squeeze both ends of an open coil to create a marquis shape.
Play with where you put your finger pressure to create different centers
e)Slug.
Begin by making a marquis.Curve each tip in opposite directions.
f)Tulip.
Begin with the marquis. Push in one side with two fingers as shown, to make a point.
The most basic shape of paper quilling is the rolled paper coil. By pinching and adjusting the tension of the paper coil, different quilled shapes are made. Some
of the most basic paper quilling shapes are shown in the picture above.
4. Try a simple card:
like..
Once you have practiced and are happy with your paper quilled shapes, it's time to make something with them! You don’t need a lot of shapes to make something fun with paper quilling. Even the simplest of the shapes can be used for a paper quilling project. For example, in the card pictured above, five simple loose coils were used for the monkey’s juggling balls to make a fun greeting card.
5. Experiment with other creative applications:
Paper quilling is frequently used for making greeting cards or in wall art, like decorative canvases or framed art. Some folks even make wearable art-like earrings out of their paper quilled shapes!Personally, I like to combine paper quilling with my other paper crafts, like die cutting and rubber stamping. For example, in the picture above, I combined paper quilling with a vellum cutout of a jar that I had cut with my electronic die cutting machine.
6. Find the best resources:
Paper quilling instructions and idea books can be found in many book stores. Some paper quilling books that were written for kids have great instructions that can be used for beginners of any ages. Even though they were intended for a young audience, children’s paper quilling books are not only easy to understand, they are usually filled with quick and easy projects that are great for any beginner.
In addition, this blog has a growing collection of paper quilling information. This class is a great starting point, and you can subscribe to this blog to see the latest quilling tutorials and tips.
7. Practice, practice, practice!!!
Paper quilling takes a lot of patience and a lot of practice, but the results can be very rewarding. The more you practice, the better you will be at it.
ALL THE BEST.............:-)