Paper Quilling is an art form believed to have evolved over many centuries. Once known as 'paper filigree', the term 'quilling' was derived from the feather quill used to roll out narrow pieces of paper. Quilling is deeply rooted in world history, popularly believed to have come into being in China, after the discovery of papermaking. Members of spiritual communities were the first inventors and users of the quilling process. Gradually, this enjoyable art form spread to other countries and eventually became an important part of the common persons’ life.
Quillings’ main concept involves the use of a hatpin, rolling fingers, or quilling tools to roll paper into desired shapes. Multiple shapes are rolled individually and then connected to one another to construct a final shape or design. Finishing touches are then made to add to the beauty of the piece and to secure it in place. These finishing touches might include using acid free matte board or shadow box framing.
Now that you’re aware of the origin and some aspects of quilling, let’s explore some details of quilling history.
Research has established that a form of quilling metals was performed as early as the mid-4th and 5th centuries. Gold and silver wires were applied to pillars, vases and other objects and jewelry was also fashioned using this technique. By the 13th century this form of metal quilling had become well-known and was practiced world wide.
The conversion from metal to paper use probably occurred as materials became scarce, or were unavailable to the lay person wanting to create pieces. Metal quilling was commonly referred to as metal filigree, and as the technique incorporated the use of paper, was commonly referred to as paper filigree. Early use of paper filigree was primarily confined to religious groups promoting their beliefs and embellishing sacred messages. The shift to the common folk practicing this art brought the term ‘quilling’ into regular use. Paper quilling implemented many techniques similar to jewelry styles, utilizing strips of paper, free rolls and edging. In the 17th and 18th centuries, quilling art expanded to tea caddies, coat of arms designs and photo frames.
There are few facts, but many stories, attributed to the origins of quilling. Some say it was developed in ancient times, not long after making paper was discovered. Others claim paper quilling was born in the 13th century when nuns were unable to purchase metal filigree due to its’ high cost. Still others believe that quilling began in the Americas. And yet, further evidence points to quilling being used in the Mediterranean region. With so many conflicting claims, no one can say for certain where quilling originated, but clearly it carries a truly international history.
Books of the Victorian Age and quilled pieces of that time indicate that proper young women practiced quilling to decorate furniture or purses and to create jewelry. Similar to the artwork of handicrafts, it has found difficultly surviving in present day times and its’ popularity has decreased. However, perhaps one day, it will regain its’ lost glory as an ancient art, practiced for centuries, since the technique can be used throughout the world for nearly limitless purposes.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Basic Quilling Shapes Found in Quilling Patterns
Fundamental Quilling - Want more? www.LearnQuilling.com
Essentially, quilling is the act of rolling a strip of paper around a quilling tool to create a tight coil. Always work with strips of the correct length and width for your pattern re...
The ancient art of quilling has seen the rise and fall of its’ popularity over hundreds of years and throughout the world, proving its’ durability as an art form. In this section, we’ll have a healthy discussion the fascinating techniques under the concept of quilling.
Essentially, quilling is the act of rolling a strip of paper around a quilling tool to create a tight coil. Always work with strips of the correct length and width for your pattern requirements and for the shape you wish to produce. If you use a slotted tool, but sure to insert your strip correctly and then hold the tool firmly while turning it to roll the paper strip into a coil. Use your other hand to guide the strip and keep the coil tight. Then slip the coil from the tool and glue the end to the coil to hold it, or leave it unattached for use as a loose, or tailed, scroll.
Coil
Roll your paper strip tightly using your needle tool and then let the coil release and expand slightly. Next glue the strip end to the roll. This is the most basic quilling shape that nearly all other shapes start off as, and is also known as a relaxed, filler or loose coil.
Teardrop
Roll and glue a loose coil, then, while holding it with the thumb and finger of one hand, use the thumb and finger of the other hand to pinch one side of the coil to a point, creating a teardrop shape—also known as a peacock eye.
Marquise
Roll and glue a loose coil, then holding the coil with both hands, pinch each side of the coil simultaneously to create double points. This distinctive shape is also known as a diamond.
Half Circle
Roll and glue a loose coil, then create a teardrop. Next, pinch a second point near the first point that made the teardrop shape. The distance between the two points determines the height of the shape.
Loose Scroll
Roll a loose coil, leaving a substantial portion, or whatever your pattern or desire calls for, unrolled. These shapes are also known as ‘tailed’ scrolls.
V-Scroll
Fold your strip in half lengthwise. Then roll a coil from each end of the strip. You may roll towards the inside of the fold to create a heart scroll, or towards the outside of the fold, to create a ‘V’ scroll.
T-Scrolls
Roll a ‘V’ scroll, then glue the unrolled ‘legs’ of the shape together to create a ‘T’ shape.
Fringed Loose Scroll
Roll a loose, or tailed, scroll, then carefully holding the shape with tweezers, cut the unrolled end, or ‘tail’ lengthwise with scissors. This creates a fringed ‘tail’.
Want more? www.LearnQuilling.com
Essentially, quilling is the act of rolling a strip of paper around a quilling tool to create a tight coil. Always work with strips of the correct length and width for your pattern re...
The ancient art of quilling has seen the rise and fall of its’ popularity over hundreds of years and throughout the world, proving its’ durability as an art form. In this section, we’ll have a healthy discussion the fascinating techniques under the concept of quilling.
Essentially, quilling is the act of rolling a strip of paper around a quilling tool to create a tight coil. Always work with strips of the correct length and width for your pattern requirements and for the shape you wish to produce. If you use a slotted tool, but sure to insert your strip correctly and then hold the tool firmly while turning it to roll the paper strip into a coil. Use your other hand to guide the strip and keep the coil tight. Then slip the coil from the tool and glue the end to the coil to hold it, or leave it unattached for use as a loose, or tailed, scroll.
Coil
Roll your paper strip tightly using your needle tool and then let the coil release and expand slightly. Next glue the strip end to the roll. This is the most basic quilling shape that nearly all other shapes start off as, and is also known as a relaxed, filler or loose coil.
Teardrop
Roll and glue a loose coil, then, while holding it with the thumb and finger of one hand, use the thumb and finger of the other hand to pinch one side of the coil to a point, creating a teardrop shape—also known as a peacock eye.
Marquise
Roll and glue a loose coil, then holding the coil with both hands, pinch each side of the coil simultaneously to create double points. This distinctive shape is also known as a diamond.
Half Circle
Roll and glue a loose coil, then create a teardrop. Next, pinch a second point near the first point that made the teardrop shape. The distance between the two points determines the height of the shape.
Loose Scroll
Roll a loose coil, leaving a substantial portion, or whatever your pattern or desire calls for, unrolled. These shapes are also known as ‘tailed’ scrolls.
V-Scroll
Fold your strip in half lengthwise. Then roll a coil from each end of the strip. You may roll towards the inside of the fold to create a heart scroll, or towards the outside of the fold, to create a ‘V’ scroll.
T-Scrolls
Roll a ‘V’ scroll, then glue the unrolled ‘legs’ of the shape together to create a ‘T’ shape.
Fringed Loose Scroll
Roll a loose, or tailed, scroll, then carefully holding the shape with tweezers, cut the unrolled end, or ‘tail’ lengthwise with scissors. This creates a fringed ‘tail’.
Want more? www.LearnQuilling.com
Want to Embellish Your Scrapbook With Really Cool Ideas?
Adding Embellishments to Your Scrapbook
When it comes to the scrapbook, you just can’t stick pictures on paper, you have to do more than that if you want to make it nice and unique...but hey, that’s the fun of it! You will want to include pictures and memorabilia, but you will also want to add some embellishments. When it comes to adding embellishments, you add things not for function, but just to be pleasing to the eye. You will find that the paper isle in the local scrapbook store or craft store will have a whole row just for embellishments. You will find a large and diverse selection of embellishments when you go shopping for them.
As for the most popular type of embellishment, you will find that stickers tend to take the cake. Browse any craft store and you’ll quickly realize that the first few aisles of the store is typically scrapbooking embellishments and there are ROWS of stickers. These aren’t like the gold stars you got in grade school—stickers today come in just about any shape and size! You will find that the letter sticker will be a very handy type of sticker to use in the scrap book. These come in sheets featuring the entire alphabet so you can use them to create titles on your page. This works especially well for scrap bookers who don’t like their own handwriting. You can even use 3d stickers in your scrap book. Because your pages are most likely themed, the most common way to buy stickers is by theme as well. There are some companies that will offer you a kit that will match in papers and stickers so that you don’t have to think too much about coordinating which is always a nice bonus. This will make it easier for you to put a scrap book together and you will find that the store may not offer you what you would like, but a kit can.
If you would like to have a look that is simpler, then you will want to use try die cuts. These paper cutouts look great on the page alone, or can be used for matting or journaling. One of the most complicated type of die cuts are paper dolls.
These are not unlike the paper dolls you may have played with as a child, but are meant to be glued to the page when you are done dressing them. You can purchase a paper doll in any race and with any hair color. There are a lot of scrapbooks like to create paper dolls as a subject or focal point. They will dress them with outfits that you can find in numerous stores.
As for other embellishments, you will want to get some ribbons and strings to attach to the paper. You can purchase any ribbons or strings separately, but you may also be able to purchase a kit that includes many colors of varieties. Just make sure that they are made for scrap booking because they need to be acid free.
You will want all of your supplies to be acid free as well so your pictures will stay colorful and alive for many, many years to come. Almost anything can be used as an embellishment, but it needs to be safe for your pictures too. You will want to browse through the local stores and look for embellishments to help inspire you in the design of many upcoming pages. You will be very shocked by all of the new additions that you will want for your scrap-booking inventory.
Oh and one more really cool scrapbooking embellishment is certainly quilling. If you haven’t heard of paper quilling craft, you are definitely in for a treat! Don’t worry, it is not as hard as it looks…as long as you have my step by step easy to follow instructions. Check out more about quilling at http://www.LearnQuilling.com and you’ll soon be addicted to this amazing paper filigree craft that will add tons of great style and pizzazz to your scrapbooks!
When it comes to the scrapbook, you just can’t stick pictures on paper, you have to do more than that if you want to make it nice and unique...but hey, that’s the fun of it! You will want to include pictures and memorabilia, but you will also want to add some embellishments. When it comes to adding embellishments, you add things not for function, but just to be pleasing to the eye. You will find that the paper isle in the local scrapbook store or craft store will have a whole row just for embellishments. You will find a large and diverse selection of embellishments when you go shopping for them.
As for the most popular type of embellishment, you will find that stickers tend to take the cake. Browse any craft store and you’ll quickly realize that the first few aisles of the store is typically scrapbooking embellishments and there are ROWS of stickers. These aren’t like the gold stars you got in grade school—stickers today come in just about any shape and size! You will find that the letter sticker will be a very handy type of sticker to use in the scrap book. These come in sheets featuring the entire alphabet so you can use them to create titles on your page. This works especially well for scrap bookers who don’t like their own handwriting. You can even use 3d stickers in your scrap book. Because your pages are most likely themed, the most common way to buy stickers is by theme as well. There are some companies that will offer you a kit that will match in papers and stickers so that you don’t have to think too much about coordinating which is always a nice bonus. This will make it easier for you to put a scrap book together and you will find that the store may not offer you what you would like, but a kit can.
If you would like to have a look that is simpler, then you will want to use try die cuts. These paper cutouts look great on the page alone, or can be used for matting or journaling. One of the most complicated type of die cuts are paper dolls.
These are not unlike the paper dolls you may have played with as a child, but are meant to be glued to the page when you are done dressing them. You can purchase a paper doll in any race and with any hair color. There are a lot of scrapbooks like to create paper dolls as a subject or focal point. They will dress them with outfits that you can find in numerous stores.
As for other embellishments, you will want to get some ribbons and strings to attach to the paper. You can purchase any ribbons or strings separately, but you may also be able to purchase a kit that includes many colors of varieties. Just make sure that they are made for scrap booking because they need to be acid free.
You will want all of your supplies to be acid free as well so your pictures will stay colorful and alive for many, many years to come. Almost anything can be used as an embellishment, but it needs to be safe for your pictures too. You will want to browse through the local stores and look for embellishments to help inspire you in the design of many upcoming pages. You will be very shocked by all of the new additions that you will want for your scrap-booking inventory.
Oh and one more really cool scrapbooking embellishment is certainly quilling. If you haven’t heard of paper quilling craft, you are definitely in for a treat! Don’t worry, it is not as hard as it looks…as long as you have my step by step easy to follow instructions. Check out more about quilling at http://www.LearnQuilling.com and you’ll soon be addicted to this amazing paper filigree craft that will add tons of great style and pizzazz to your scrapbooks!
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