If you are looking to get 'crafty' and perhaps personalise a birthday present, tailor a Mother's Day card or 'jazz up' your home furnishings, the popular new 'quilling' technique is an on-trend and elaborate way to add an extra special touch to your designs.
Want to create something like this? Read on!
Quilling is the art of modeling paper into intricate and interesting shapes, which is achieved by rolling strips of paper, and pinching or curving the resulting curls into various forms. This simple method of paper craft is the perfect starting point for those wanting to get creative!
The experts at Hochanda, the Home of Craft, Hobbies and Arts, share their insight into the need to know facts about the popular trend, to help you on your way to becoming a bonafide Quilling Queen.
Get set up with the right tools
In order to get started, there are a range of tools that are a necessity:
o Paper quilling strips come in a range of different colours and are lightweight so they are easy to roll, glue and attach to your designs.
o A slotted quilling tool allows you to place one end of the paper through the tool when you turn it to make your coils.
o A quilling board helps you to make shapes that are the same size. You can roll a coil and then let it open up to be the size of any of the circles on the board giving you neat and consistent styles.
o Liquid glue enables you hold everything together and you should look for a glue with a pen size opening to offer easier application.
o Toothpicks are handy for applying the glue and also for helping you to roll your paper strips.
Learn the basic shapes
There are over thirty basic quilling shapes, most of which are based on a coil shape. Popular shapes include a heart scroll, an s-scroll and a teardrop shape. The basic quilling shapes are created by winding, pinching and curling and are used to form other shapes from simple closed coils. Once you have mastered the basic shapes, combine a variety of them to make pictures and decorations or to attach them to homemade cards. The possibilities for design are endless!
Control of the glue is key to creating a neat look
You only need a small amount of glue to attach your designs together, and it's always better to start small and apply more if necessary, rather than over-applying and ending up with a messy piece of work, with bits of glue on show. Make sure your hands are clean when you start, and keep a wet towel handy to wipe your fingers as you quill.
Practice makes perfect
Don't be disheartened if you can't quite create the shapes you want to straight away. Quilling is a very delicate art form which requires patience, persistence and dedication. After all, practice makes perfect!
On 21st January at 11am and 3pm, Hochanda, Home of Craft, Hobbies and Arts, is launching Quilling with Past Times - an hour long show helping you to create thoughtfully designed gifts using the art of quilling.
You can purchase your Quilling beginners kits from Hochanda.com, ranging from £11.99 for a Quilling Tool Accessory Pack to £16.99 for a Complete Beginners Quilling Workbox Kit. Tune in to Sky 663, Freeview 39, Freesat 817 or stream live in HD at www.hochanda.com