Post Two: Paper Quilling

October 11, 2025

Last week, I began this series with paper weaving, which is based on structure and repetition. This week, I wanted to explore something, a bit different, less rigid, and more flexible. This led me to quilling, a paper art I was first introduced to in kindergarten, when we made small tress for our parents during the winter months. I recently came that project while helping my parents clean out their basement, and it has held up surprisingly well after all of these years.

Quilling, also called paper filigree is a craft that transforms thin strips of paper into intricate designs through rolling shaping and gluing. What fascinates me about this method is that it is both methodical but freeform all at once. Each coil is very precise, but together, they form compositions that feel truly magical, a balance between control and creativity.

In the makerspace context, quilling fits perfectly with accessible creativity by taking everyday materials and using them in unexpected ways. I didn't use any specialized tools myself, using what I had at hand and definitely feels homemade, but part of the charm. There are kits available that can help refine the process, but they aren't required to achieve something expressive or meaningful.

Looking ahead, this kind of project can easily evolve through experimentation with coloring, layering coils for 3D effects, or even combining quilling with digital design tools for hybrid creations. It is a craft that invites patience and play, which is central to the makerspace experience.

Supplies:

Paper

Scissors or Paper Cutter

Glue/Gluestick or Tape

Toothpick

Step One:

Create or find a design, there are many free templates online or checked out. 

I decided to do a card, with a flower and sun design on the front.

Step Two:

Prepare the paper strips, cutting the paper into thin, even strips. I chose pink for the petals, yellow for the flower center and sun rays and green for the stem and the grass. I used a paper cutter, but you can cut by hand with scissors or purchasing precut strips.

 

Step Three:

Using a toothpick, roll your strips tightly to form coils, securing each one with a dab of glue at the end. There are many types of coils in quilling such as tight, loose, teardrop, marquise, scrolls or circles. Below is an example of different styles (www.worldbookmedia.com). 

Step Four:

By pinching each coil to form a teardrop shape, I arranged them to form the petals of a flower, with the yellow center gluing them to form a flower.

Step Five:

The paper strips were used to create a curved stem and small zigzag and the short, folded pieces create the illusion of grass.

Step Six:

To form the sun, short strips of yellow were folded and rolled to form an accent piece in the upper right corner of the card.

My design took shape fairly quickly but can easily be expanded with more detail and personalization. Listed below are some resources for this fun project.