How to Make Quilling

Quilling, otherwise known as paper filigree, allows papercrafters to form complex-looking 3-D shapes such as flower heads, love hearts, small animals, teardrops and scrolls, from flat strips of paper. The coiled shapes are then glued onto a sturdy background and built up into a picture, which can be used in a variety of ways, for instance on greeting cards, wall hangings and scrapbook pages. There is no fixed rule regarding how large the shapes should be, but generally they are small -- less than 1 inch across -- and delicate, as the name filigree suggests.

Things You'll Need

• Strips of colored paper 1/4 inch wide and 6 inches long
• Quilling tool
• Craft glue
• Toothpick

Instructions

1. Slip the end of a strip of paper into the slot at the top of the quilling tool.

2. Steady the paper with one hand and slowly twist the quilling tool with the other hand so the paper rolls into a tube. Hold the paper gently but firmly so the tube doesn't unravel as you twist the tool.

3. Stop twisting the tool when the paper strip is completely wound. Slip the tool out of the middle of the coiled paper.

4. Place the coiled paper strip in your palm so that it unravels and relaxes slightly. Apply a spot of glue to the end of the coil using the toothpick, then stick the end to the coil, holding it in place for 5 seconds for the glue to dry. This is the basic quilled circle.

5. Make the circle into a teardrop shape by pinching one side of the circle flat between your finger and thumb. Make the teardrop shape into an eye-shape by pinching the circle again on the opposite side. Pinch hard enough for the paper to crease, so the new shape holds when you let go.

Tips & Warnings

• Other shapes, such as squares and triangles are also made from the same basic circle shape. Pinch four corners into a circle to make a square. Pinch two top corners, then the bottom of the circle between the top corners, for a triangle.

• Quilling paper strips, ready for use, are available to buy in craft stores. They come in a block of several different colors, and are easy to tear off the block ready for use. Alternatively you can make your own by cutting strips of paper to the width you desire. Use decorative craft paper rather than construction paper as this is too thick to coil smoothly.

• The wider the strip of paper you use to make the coils, the taller your shapes will be. If you intend sticking shapes onto card stock to make greeting cards, bear in mind how tall the shapes will stand up from the surface of the card.