Quilling or filigree was invented over five hundred years ago, when artists discovered that narrow strips of paper could be rolled, scrolled, fluted, and fringed, and then arranged on their edges to create beautiful designs.
Perhaps quilling's greatest attraction, however, is that it's just plain fun. A quilling mistake never costs more than a few minutes' time to repair, and a quilling success is almost incredibly versatile: it can hang on a wall, decorate a box, embellish a gift card, be suspended from a window or doorway , or even deck a holiday wreath.

Tools and Materials

- Quilling tools:

A slotted quilling tool is shaped like a pen with a slit in the end. Slide the paper into the slit of the quilling tool and roll it around to form a coil, and finish by gluing the end flat.

Quilling needle - This tool has no slot to guide the paper, but it allows the center of the coils to be smaller. Using the needle, roll the paper around the needle.

 

- Quilling paper. Quilling paper can be rolled by using a slotted quilling tool or by using a quilling needle. Quilling paper in strips 1/8” wide is available from craft stores.

 

- Clear drying, white or matt craft glue.Using a toothpick and very small amounts of tacky glue, refer to patterns to glue quilled rolls together.

- Dressmaker's pins. Dressmaker's pins serve to hold the center of shape in position on the quilling board while the glue is drying.

 

- Quilling board (- Tracing paper, Graph paper, Patterns (template).

To make the quilling board you will need some strong cardboard or a piece of corrugated cardboard with one smooth side. Wrap a piece of tracing paper over the white sheet. From the center of the graph paper draw circles of varying size. With a ruler draw lines through the centers of the circles, dividing them into five or six equal parts. When design is completed it is lifted off the quilling board and glued onto the backing.

 

- Pencil, Protractor, Compass, Ruler. These items will also come in handy when you are constructing geometric projects.

 

- Paper scissors, Fine-pointed tweezers. Paper scissors needs for trimming excess paper an cutting intricate shapes also used to cut fringes. Fine-pointed tweezers make a good substitute for fingers when you’re positioning tiny shapes during assembly of designer.