Book Review: Creative Paper Quilling

Creative Paper Quilling:

Wall Art, Jewelry, Cards & More!

By Ann Martin

Annie’s Paper Crafts

48 pages, paperback, £9.99

ISBN 978-1-59635-591

January is a great time to learn a new craft – new year, fresh pursuits. And few crafts are as inexpensive to get started in as quilling – the art of paper filigree, which is created with rolled strips of paper. Perfect timing for Ann Martin’s new title for the excellent Annie’s Paper Crafts series. (Check out Ann’s wonderful blog, All Things Paper.)

To start out in quilling you need little more than a slotted quilling tool, some quilling strips, and glue. Plus - a bit of basic knowledge, which is where Creative Paper Quilling comes in...

This book is worth its weight in gold for the fantastic how-to section up front. Everything you need to know to get started. And plenty of finer points that may be new to experienced quillers, too. The Quilled Shape Gallery, by Ann Martin and Shelly Krzyzewski, gets full marks for illustrating quilled shape possibilities. It is great how 3D shapes such as Sculptured Tight Coils, Cones, and Domes are given pride of place alongside the expected collection of Scrolls and Coils. There are lots of delightful shapes, that go beyond the basic, for instance - the Duck Foot and Shaped Marquise Coils. Paper Beads get a mention, as do various flower-making techniques (including Folded Roses and Fringed Flowers). (Yay.)

The book contains 28 original projects, by Ann and a team of quilling experts. There is lots of variety - more than just cards - and there are seasonal projects that take you all-year-round (check out Ann’s Hearts Linked Valentine). Most of the projects are achievable by a complete novice (two by Linda Krieg: Pretty Page Markers – dolled up paperclips, and Floral Frenzy Message Board, which zooms in on the chalk board trend).  Or, try Ann Martin’s spring-fresh floral Happy Birthday card, which incorporates lots of fun techniques while retaining an air of simplicity. And you can aspire to making the Bloom project by Leesandra Diaz, an example of the use of a  typographic element  in quilled designs. A central word is outlined with on-edge quilling strips - and surrounded with quilled decorations. Very classy indeed.

I have to say, this book has gotten me in the mood to get rolling with some new quilling projects of my own. I’m keen to acquire some of the  quilling tools I don’t yet have – such as the Curling Coach, which helps you to roll longer pieced strips. And a Mini Mold – for forming domed shapes (as in dimensional flower centres).

So, although you don't get a big book for your money, you get more than what you need to know to get started in quilling - clearly explained  and attractively presented.  

Note: I was supplied with a review copy of this title.

Piggy Bank Envelopes

Skint? Time to start saving! Here's a fun project that you can make up in no time: Piggy Bank Envelopes. I like to make them up in 160gsm cardstock - they are nice and sturdy that way. The coin slot is reinforced, so the envelopes will last until they are full! Plus, there's a seal on the back - no cheating if your resolve to save begins to go!

Here are your free downloads:

PiggyBankEnvelope1.pdf
PiggyBankEnvelope2.pdf
PiggyBankEnvelope3.pdf
PiggyBankEnvelope4.pdf
PiggyBankEnvelope5.pdf

And here is the key to the designs:

To make each envelope, print out your envelope. Add a name or a savings goal above the piggy. The typeface I used is Curlz MT - it picks up the piggy tail curlicue. Next, simply cut out the envelope, seal, and coin slot reinforcement. Cut the slot out with a craft knife held against a metal ruler. Work over a self-healing cutting mat.

Glue the slot reinforcement behind the slot. Score the folds, then crease and seal them. You can glue them with tacky glue or use d/s tape. Stick the seal onto the flap to finish.

These Piggy Bank envies make fun party favours - you can make them up quickly in quantity. 

Happy saving! I hope you have a fun savings goal. (I think I'll be going for a digital mag subscription!). 

 

New Year & Thanks Pop-Up Cards

Happy 2014 - wishing you all a happy and creative New Year! Today I have some simple pop-up cards you can make in a jiffy: choice of Happy New Year (work fast!) or Thank You (comes in handy right about now). 

The cards are inspired by ancient Greek and Roman motifs - perhaps I was thinking about the Roman god, Janus, who looked both forwards and backwards - an appropriate New Year theme.

For each card, there's an outer cover and a pop-up liner. Make the cover out of cardstock and the liner out of paper.

Here are your free downloads:
NewYearCardCover.pdf
NewYearCardPopUp.pdf

ThankYouCardCover.pdf
ThankYouCardPopUp.pdf

NewYearCardCover.svg
NewYearCardPopUp.svg

ThankYouCardCover.svg
ThankYouCardPopUp.svg

It is desirable for your pop-up cut and fold lines not to print. What I do is to print out a reference copy on scrap paper to use as a folding guide. Then I tweak the line colour settings to make the lines invisible (if using a digital cutter, you have to set the cut lines anyhow...).

To make each card, cut out the cover and score the fold; fold in half using a bone folder. For each pop-up insert, there are four vertical cuts to make for the stair-step pop-up. Once you have made the cuts, score the fold lines using your guide copy as a reference. Score the centre fold (to either side of the pop-up). Also score the line at the base of the pop up, a fold line at the top of each stair-step, and another line about 12mm (3/8in) below the top of each stair-step. 

I like to use a fine-point embossing tool held against a 15cm (6in) metal ruler to score my folds. The pop-up centre folds are valley folds, as are the the folds at the top of each stair-step and the fold at the base of the stair-step. The folds just below the top stair-step folds are mountain folds. Crease all the folds very carefully - use a bone folder.

To attach the pop-up insert to the card base, stick a piece of d/s tape to either side of the centre fold on the underside of the insert. Insert the pop-up, butting it against the inside of the card centre fold. You can also add a piece of d/s tape under the top of the pop-up insert.

Happy New Year... and thanks for visiting!