Quilled Poinsettia on HGTV

Ages ago.... well, two and a half years to be more accurate, a camera crew from the HGTV network came to my house to film a quilling demo for the show, That's Clever. I really enjoyed the whole experience and was thrilled to have been asked to do it, but alas... pretty soon the program disappeared from HGTV's lineup. Until now. That's Clever recently returned just one morning a week and at long last my segment is scheduled to air tomorrow at 7:30 AM Eastern/Pacific.This is a holiday card I showed how to make... an ivory poinsettia of quilled teardrops and tight coils.The card is actually a little gift because the poinsettia can be detached and hung as a Christmas ornament.

And here's a larger version.
So I'll be watching tomorrow from between my fingers... eek! The crew enjoyed making me say/do a few silly things... hopefully those moments were left on the cutting room floor. As soon as the directions to my project are posted on the HGTV site, I'll post the link.

Oh Christmas Tree

When decorating for the holidays, I like to replace a few of our pictures that hang on the wall all year with something more seasonal. This is an idea I came up with for a quilled Christmas tree that isn't terribly labor intensive. click pics for a closer look

The tree was loosely inspired by a rubber stamp design that caught my eye. Each branch is a shaped coil of 1/8 inch quilling paper. I outlined the burgundy ornaments with silver-gilded paper for a bit of shine and also made the star with silver-gilded paper. The tree stand was especially fun to make... I laid out and wove silver metallic quilling strips overtop a sheet of graph paper, then drew a pattern for the vase shape and traced around it on top of the woven square which I'd turned on the diagonal. I cut out the vase and last of all, added a crimped strip to the top and bottom.

Folded German Bell Tutorial

Isn't this a pretty little ornament? Considering how quickly the days until Christmas are flying by, I bet you'll be happy to hear the directions to make one are surprisingly simple. Becky from North Carolina introduced me to the German bell via the Yahoo Quillers group several years ago... but relax, zero quilling is involved. She suggested using a 5 x 8 inch index card (system card in Australia) because the cardstock weight is just right. So that's what I used and have to agree... once the bell is finished, no one will ever guess it started as an index card that's cut down in size to a 5 inch square.After the bell was folded, loop inserted, and top point glued, I applied two coats of antique gold acrylic paint to the surface by dabbing it on with a stubby stencil brush. This gave the cardstock a slight texture... dare I even say an aged patina?

But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's what you really want to know - how to do the folding! Onto the tutorial...

For something different this year, I thought it would be fun to make bells with some pretty snowflake vellum I had on hand.... it's heavyweight, so is quite stiff. I'm happy to report it folded really well and I love how the translucence of the vellum allows light to shine through. Think how pretty these would be on a real Christmas tree... ahem, mine isn't up yet, not even close!
Materials:
index cards, lightweight cardstock, or heavyweight vellum
paper cutter
ruler
bone folder - for sharp creases
scissors
double-stick tape
quick-drying glue - suitable for paper
acrylic paint - gold or silver
stencil brush
beads - gold, silver, white
ornament cording - gold or silver

Instructions:
Step 1 Cut a 5 x 5 inch square. Fold square in half.
Step 2 Open square, turn paper ninety degrees and fold in half again.
Step 3 Open square and fold two corners point to point.
Step 4 Open square and fold remaining two corners point to point.
Step 5 Open square and make an airplane fold at each corner. Do this by bringing paper on each side of fold line to midline and creasing.
Each corner with its airplane fold will look like this:
Make sure to open each airplane fold after you have creased the two sides before going on to airplane fold the next corner.

Step 6 After all four corners have been folded, open the square and press the space between each airplane fold... the square will begin to look like this:
Step 7 Cup the paper in the palm of one hand and gently press in on the center with the fingers of your other hand... this will convince the bell to take shape.
If you have successfully completed all of the folds, the four points will spring up and you'll be holding a bell!
Step 8 Make a hanging loop of ornament cording (cut about 10 inches) and knot the end after stringing on a bead or beads. Make another knot at the top of the beads so they won't slide off the loop.
Step 9 Apply narrow strips of double-stick tape to the inside of the bell along each of the airplane folds. Adhere the tail of the hanging loop to one of the pieces of tape. Gently press the outside of the bell... the tape pieces will stick to one another, holding the bell closed.
Step 10 Add a dab of quick-drying glue just inside the tip to make sure the bell won't pop open.

Tip: I find it's best to use tape along the airplane folds as extra security when working with vellum, but if you are using an index card or cardstock, a bit of glue where the four corner points come together will most likely be all the adhesion that's needed.If you'd like to see the actual making of a bell, there's a great little video here. Watch Cindy Landecker fold one in an impromptu demonstration at a busy Stampin'Up! convention.

Variation: Cindy adds an eyelet at the bottom of her bell and runs a ribbon loop through the middle and out the top, leaving extra ribbon at the bottom onto which she ties on a bead or medallion.

Matted Quilling: A Novel Approach

Sandra White began quilling as a hobby thirty five years ago. Gradually she has turned her love of nature and paper art into an online and craft show business via membership in the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.Guardian Angel
(click pictures for a closer look)
After experimentation with combining quilling and cut lampshades, Sandra developed her unique method that marries attractive hand cut mat overlays with quillwork detailing. Trumpet Angel
Her contemporary designs incorporate paper sculpture and paper cutting in addition to quilling, and many feature wildflowers, birds, and wildlife animals. The streamlined shaping of paper coils provides the effect of veins in flowers and the fur and feathers of animals and birds. Heron Scene
Sandra says this process has taught her to 'see again' as she goes about creating each scene, working to get the most effective color shading.She begins by designing the cut out, then transfers the outline onto a background mat and fills the space with quilling. Sandra uses an exacto knife, changing the blade frequently, to make the required precise cuts on the top mat.Cardinal
Visit Quilling By Sandra White to see many more examples of natural subjects... some of my favorites include the painted trillium, jack in the pulpit, and pink lady's slipper, and don't miss the tiny chickadees.

Paper Cutting and More

Every once in a while I feel the need to assemble a post that's chock-full of links to things I'm pretty sure you'll find interesting... clicker at the ready?!

Design*Sponge featured lovely paper cut illustrations Kate Forrester created as a holiday ad campaign for John Lewis department stores. Ten typographic images of the merchant's seasonal slogan "Give the Perfect Gift" can be seen on billboards, buses, underground stations, and newspapers all around the UK.
How awesome that paper art is making such a statement in advertising lately.

And just in case you're shopping for a budding paper artist this holiday season, there's a terrific little book/kit called Twirled Paper by Jacqueline Lee. It's part of the Klutz series for kids and is the perfect introduction to quilling.Very nice quality quilling paper, a slotted tool, fine-tip glue bottle, google eyes, and lots of nifty designs are included. It suggests a reading level/ages 9-12, but with supervision I'm positive younger children would enjoy it too. In fact, this comment I received recently really rang true to me about kids and quilling:

oh my goodness! i learned quilling at summer camp eons ago but could never remember the name of it; thank you for the memory burst! it was so much fun and surprisingly good for 7-year-olds because it takes such intense focus.

So there you go... affirmation that little ones can handle the challenge too.
While checking out how-to links at Craftig, I came across this clever little cardinal ornament designed by cheekymagpie. Print, cut, and fold... I'm thinking it would be a lot of fun to add some filigree wings and tail feathers. Hope I'll get a chance this weekend to make one.This pretty origami wreath by Maliah, was featured at Folding Trees. I love the fresh color scheme... if you don't have time to make one before Christmas, it would be perfect as a springtime decoration too. Maliah used scrapbooking paper from Target and the petal pieces are modified cherry blossom folds.
Lastly, here's a really quick Christmas card tutorial I did for CRAFT this week... skinny ribbon trees with a retro flair. Be sure to check out CRAFT's site as it has a brand new look... all the columns and features of the former print magazine, but now with lots more content and it's wonderfully free!

Folded Paper Stars

I'm very glad my mother-in-law taught me how to make three dimensional Pennsylvania German folded stars. She learned the technique from a neighbor more than fifty years ago and has shared the directions with quite a few friends and family. Made with four long (24 inch) strips of lightweight paper (similar to regular computer paper) they're really quite easy once you get the hang of the folding steps (older children can do them too) and she and I always enjoy getting together to make a batch. At times we leave them plain white and other times dip in melted paraffin and sprinkle with fine, clear glitter. We've given them as gifts and decorated trees for our local hospice's Festival of Trees... so pretty with all white stars and tiny white lights. The stars make an easy table centerpiece - just fill a decorative bowl - or string them on metallic cording for a mantel garland. They can also be hot glued on a wreath or use one or more on a package in place of a bow.We purchase pre-cut strips at the Ephrata Cloister shop in Pennsylvania, but here's a site called High Hopes, that sells the strips online; it offers good directions and other project ideas too. Via WhipUp I just came across this helpful post at Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart blog for making the stars... it features video directions and a giveaway too. And here at Down Abbie's Road blog, is a lovely idea for making the stars from old sheet music. Apparently lots of us enjoy these folded stars... hope you will too. Happy folding!

Stay tuned for directions for the folded German bell ornament that can also be seen in the picture - believe it or not, it's made from a simple index card.

Carol Gearing

Blogging puts me in touch with creative people on a daily basis... I like the way their art or craft inspires me and often results in my looking at the world in new ways. Carol Gearing's eye-catching work is no exception. Recently after I left a comment on her blog, she wrote to thank me and expressed that she too, loves paper. Carol's art cannot be summed up easily, as her accomplishments are so diverse... photography, drawing, painting, writing. One large design project that especially caught my eye was the incorporation of paper art - cutting and sculpture - into an interior space. For this serene entrance hall in a home atop a beautiful Yorkshire dale, Carol cut flowers from ivory handmade cotton rag paper with scalpel and scissors, and then sculpted them by hand before clustering in a clear Perspex box. She wanted to bring the essence of nature into the calm, spacious interior, but not in an obvious way.
paper butterfliesIn the past year Carol approached paper cutting as a relative novice, but soon mastered pristine, organic forms of nature. Carol has been exploring other avenues with her paper art too. She says this Dark Night piece was just a flight of fancy, but it's the most popular image on her Flickr site, way above anything else.Recently Carol was on a path of colorful crepe paper shoes. She made them as more of a personal journey, but they attracted the attention of the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper's Art and Design editor, leading to interest from a New York ad agency. Where will Carol's creativity take her next? She tells me she's been designing patterns based on her sketches and photography that can be used in future projects... glass panels, for example.... think of damask with a twist. Follow Carol's odyssey via her website.

Gilded Ornament Gift Card

This is a simple little card I made for CardMaker Magazine last year. It's pretty quick to put together and makes use of punched fern fronds in shades of green. (Punch Bunch medium fern) Abracadabra... transform them into an evergreen branch.As you've probably noticed by now, I'm a fan of gilded quilling paper. The ornament requires just one strip of gold-edged red... love the bit of glitz the shiny metal adds.

Crimp the bottom of the card front and punch a hole for the gold cording with a 1/8 inch punch. I bet you'll be able to whip up a batch of these in no time.

Harvest Time - Quilled Vine

After perusing pages of embroidery patterns, I was inspired to quill this Jacobean vine... the flowing layout and scrolls seemed like a perfect fit for paper filigree. It's my only Thanksgiving decoration on display at the moment... eek, I'd best get busy and pull together a table centerpiece. Tomorrow is coming quickly!click for closer view

But first, let me say I love working with Jane Jenkins line of quilling papers - in this case, autumn shades. They're just the right weight, roll so smoothly, plus have a nice bit of sheen to the strip edges. If you're in the U.S., check with your online quilling supplier as a few carry Jane's papers.

And Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who will be celebrating. Once the dinner table has been cleared and the football games are over, I hope you'll find a moment to come back to all things paper. I'll be featuring a cornucopia (when does one get to use that lovely word except at this time of year?) of quilled Christmas projects all month long, plus lots more inspiration from the wide world of paper.

Raphael Art

Whenever I think I've seen it all when it comes to what can be done with simple strips of paper, I'm surprised by something beautiful and new...

Kaduaki Kagawa is a Japanese designer who has developed a unique process of manipulating paper. He calls his method Raphael Art, no doubt a nod to the Renaissance painter known for the grace and perfection of his angelic portraits.In 2000 Kaduaki began embellishing his own computer illustrations with narrow, curved strips placed on edge. What he does is not quilling - he doesn't coil paper as is typically done - but the tools and paper necessary for his craft are quite similar to the ones quillers use. 1/4 inch (5mm) strips, cutting blades, and tweezers are essential to his method of carefully placing fine details. Letters are balanced flawlessly on edge.After perfecting his system, Kaduaki designed wedding announcement kits and card stands. He then began offering a variety of classes in which he demonstrates the details of setting up one's workspace, the products that work best, and how to position the cutting blade in order to duplicate his precise designs. Young women, and sometimes couples, who are engaged to be married take his classes to learn to create their own personalized Raphael wedding board announcements.Christmas, angels, and other winged creatures are common themes in Kaduaki's designs, many with a whimsical touch.
Visit the Gallery at Raphael Art to see many more examples of Kaduaki's work, as well as a video in which he demonstrates his teaching method.