Quilling, or paper filigree, is the art of creating patterns and pictures from very thin strips of paper. These strips of paper are curled, pinched and placed on sticky paper, or held in place with glue. When different coloured, or different types, of paper are used, the effect is a beautiful 3D image that can be put on cards, in frames or scrapbook pages.

To begin quilling, take your paper quilling tool, and slip the end of the paper into the slot (the paper can be softened beforehand by moistening it slightly, or rubbing it between your fingers; this will prevent it from creasing as you start to curl). Simply wind the paper around the tool, and when you have the approximate size and shape you want, slip the paper off. Depending on the shape you want to end up with, sometimes the end of the coil is glued and left to dry before you slip it off the tool. This is advisable, for example, with tight coils. Always slip the coil off from the middle of the coil, not the outside . this can cause it to unwind. Various shapes can be made through manipulation of the coil once it is off the tool. As you wind, hold firmly to the end of the paper to keep the tension even.

Some of the basic shapes you can make include: a loose coil, a tight coil, an off-centre coil (glue the centre of the coil to one side of the loose coil), a teardrop (pinching one side of a loose coil), an eye or marquise (pinching both sides), a leaf (like an eye but with one pinch bent upwards), a petal (like a teardrop but with the pinched side pinched upwards), a square (pinching four .corners'), a triangle (pinching three .corners'), c-scrolls and s-scrolls (curling two ends of the same strip of paper inwards and outwards respectively) and shapes with the coils still tightly wound. For example, slightly pulling the centre of a coil out creates a .cup', a .bell', and a .cone', whereas pulling the entire centre out will create a .spiral'. A heart scroll is made by pinching a c-scroll. Experiment with different techniques and see what shapes you can make with a coil, and then add coils and shapes together to create pictures, patterns, and scenes. Put two teardrops together to make a heart, if you don't want to use a c-scroll or pinched coil. What other shapes can you make in various ways? As you get more experience, you also get more adventurous . patterns can be found that detail intricate snowflake designs and complex scenes with flowers and bees, suns, clouds, and more. By selecting gorgeous autumn colours and using a little imagination, beautiful leaves can be made that appear to have fallen straight from the trees losing their leaves in the nearby park.

When you have your collection of shapes and patterns, it's time to work out how you want to put them together. In the mean time, a muffin tin can hold all your coils so they don't go astray. Grab your sticky paper or glue, and get ready to put it all together. If using glue, put a small drop in an old clean bottle cap, as you won't be using much and it will dry out if you leave the lid off for too long. Arrange your coils (without glue) on the paper until you are satisfied, and if you don't think you'll remember what it looks like, take a photo (this is where digital cameras or mobile phone cameras come in handy). Now use a hat pin, or toothpick, to apply tiny amounts of glue to the edges of the coils, and place them on the paper. Or, place the coils on the sticky paper itself. Pins can be used to hold the coils in place on the paper until the glue dries.

Quilling can be used to create cards (practice making holly and baubles for a Christmas card), embellish scrapbook pages, put in frames for an unusual gift or even in vases, if you're keen enough to make flowers. Quilling is inexpensive, and a relaxing pastime that can save you money!

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