How to Make Strips for Paper Quilling

Use brightly-colored paper to make your quilling pop.

Paper quilling is the art of using very thin strips of paper and shaping them into intricate coils that are then glued to flat sheets of paper. Paper quilling is also known as paper filigree and paper rolling, and it adds an intricate and detailed look to cards and other types of paper art. When you are getting started with paper quilling, make your own paper strips to cut down on your initial expenses.

Things You'll Need

• Colored paper
• Metal ruler
• Pencil
• Sharp scissors
• Craft cutting mat
• Utility knife or rotary cutter
• Paper cutter

Instructions

1. Draw faint lines across the length of a piece of colored paper using a metal ruler and a pencil. Cut along those lines with a pair of scissors to make your strips. Paper quilling strips should be roughly 1/8 inch wide, though some designs call for strips that are larger or smaller. This method is quick and allows you to use materials that are found in your own home to get started.

2. Draw faint 1/8-inch wide lines across the length of a piece of colored paper using a metal ruler and a pencil, and then lay the paper on a craft cutting mat. Follow the lines that you drew using a rotary cutter or a utility knife. Using a rotary cutter or a utility knife requires a steady hand, but the cut is often smoother than what is possible by just using scissors.

3. Position a piece of colored paper so that only 1/8 inch protrudes over the lip of a paper cutter, with the rest of the paper lying on the bed of the cutter. Cut the paper by bringing the blade down. A paper cutter allows you to make quilling strips very quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. If you do not own one yourself, you may check at libraries or educational centers to see if they will allow you to access one.

References

• Handmade Craft Ideas: Paper Quilling Ideas
• Origami Resource Center: Quilling Supplies and Tools