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 Quilled Paper Ornaments

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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