By Jennifer
Mead-Colorado Springs
Introduction:
The art of paper quilling is nearly
500 years old and probably evolved from the art
of metal filigree. Quilled papers can be used to
decorate boxes, picture mats, or can stand as works
of art on their own. Today we will make ornaments
using basic techniques of rolling and scrolling.
Materials:
- Paper
strips of different colors (12" long by 1/4 and 3/4" thick)
- Needle
tools, wooden dowels, or any other thin tool to wrap paper
around
- White
glue and/or glue sticks
- Ornament
hangers
- Clear
acrylic spray (optional)
Directions:
1. Wrap
a strip of paper tightly around your needle tool and glue
the end down to form a tight roll.
2. Wrap the paper strip loosely around
your needle tool to form a loose roll. Loose rolls can be pinched on one or
both ends to form elaborate rolls like teardrops, crescents, and arrows.
3. Wrap half of a strip of paper
around your needle and let it unfurl. Then wrap the other end around the needle
going the opposite direction to form an "S" scroll. You can also make "C" scrolls,
heart scrolls, and uneven scrolls.
Using
these techniques, make a variety of quilled shapes. Glue
them together so that they form one complex hanging shape.
Attach an ornament hanger or simply tie a piece of string
through a roll at the top.
Artspeech:
Filigree ¾ fine wire, usually gold, silver,
or silver-gilt, worked into delicate intricate designs,
either as open work or as surface decoration for a gold
or silver ground to which it is soldered. The technique
reached its peak in 17th century Italy where some of the
finest filigree is still produced today.
References:
Johnston, Malinda. The Book of Paper Quilling.
Sterling Publishing, New York, 1994.
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