Nov 27 2011
Packaging Quilling Ornaments for Sale or Gifts
I have participated in many craft shows over the years and have found one that I really like sponsored by the South Cobb Arts Alliance. Unlike traditional 1-2 day shows where you set up your booth and then personally sell your merchandise each day, this 11-day show is set up like a Christmas house. You bring your items for the initial set up, work two 3-hour shifts, pick up your unsold items, and they mail you a check for the items that you did sell. It is wonderful!
The only down side is that you are not there to watch over your items. That is where creative packaging can be a big help. Along with my “captured ornament” series, this year I am offering three different quilled ornaments for sale. And while I know that paper ornaments are quite sturdy, I really didn’t want to put them out without some type of protection. I would hope that adults would treat them with proper care, but the tables are low enough that little ones might be tempted to reach for them.
To solve this problem, I created a simple gift box for each ornament and then placed it inside a plastic sleeve (like those used for cards). Packaged with the box open, potential buyers can see exactly what the ornament looks like.
I make the gift boxes from heavy scrapbook paper or card stock. I like using a nice printed paper for the top and a solid color for the bottom. I purchase the paper during the year when I find it on sale, that way the boxes cost next to nothing. My boxes are roughly 3-in x 3-in square, but you will want to make yours sized to fit your ornaments. Just be sure to make the lid a little bit larger so it will fit over the bottom (trust me — I speak from frustrated experience). I also make the lid height a little bit shorter than the bottom height so that the box is easier for the recipient to open. There are several good scoring tools on the market (I use the Martha Stewart one, but Score-Pal is very popular, too) that make creating these boxes a snap.
For an added touch, I cut a piece of white quilt batting to fit inside the box. I purchased an inexpensive roll of batting at my local JoAnn store (using a coupon, of course!). I’ve probably made five dozen boxes and still have plenty of batting left for next year. This gives the gift box the feel of an expensive jewelry gift box. I did find, however, that my white snowflake did not show up well on the white batting, so I cut a piece of pale silver tissue to sit on top of the batting underneath the snowflake.
Since my ornaments are for sale, I include my custom hang tag which contains basic quilling information. This tucks away neatly underneath the batting.
Even if you don’t participate in craft shows, you might want to give this idea a try. Think of how delighted your friends and family will be to receive your quilled ornaments inside their own little gift box.
Even though it is scorching outside, I’m busy working on inventory for a big Christmas show I participate in each year. With this in mind, I decided to quill some metallic cross ornaments to add to my offerings. I remembered some metallic papers I purchased from Quilled Creations and thought they would be perfect (Metallics Sparkling Quilling Paper, Silver & Antique Gold).
The biggest thing I learned is that while the papers themselves are metallic and look great from the side, the edges are quite dull. As you can see, this cross quilled from Antique Gold look like is it made from a plain brown paper (Figure 1), but the sides of the cross are nice and glitzy (Figure 2).
To solve this problem, I used a gold metallic pen (I used one made by Krylon) and colored the edges (Figure 3). What an amazing difference! Now I have a stunning gold quilled cross ornament to sell at the show.
I really appreciate all of the feedback I receive from my newsletter subscribers and blog readers. One request that I hear quite often is for more quilling projects made from recycled materials, which is great because I enjoy creating them!
In my last post (
I was browsing through the bargain bins of ribbon and found a funky retro paisley design in yellow, green, and orange that simply screamed mini skirt and go-go boots. 
I used the ribbon as my inspiration for a fun retro birthday card featuring a quilled go-go boot. The boot was created using an “outline & fill-in” quilling technique. You can use this technique to create any design you wish by following these simple steps:
Tear several strips of paper (I find 6″ to be a good length) and quill them into loose coils. Starting at either the top or bottom of your design, pinch the coils into shapes that fit within the outline of your design. Glue the quills together where they touch and pin into place. 
Spread a very thin layer of glue as large as your quilllwork onto a flat surface like a plate or plastic lid. Using a pair of tweezers, pick up your quilling, touch the bottom edges of the paper to the glue, then place it on the desired backing. A thin glue (such as Elmer’s) works best for this technique. If you normally use a thick, tacky glue for quilling, you might try thinning it with a drop or two of water. You want the glue thin enough to spread thinly and evenly over your flat work surface. A foam brush helps to spread the glue. If the glue is too thick, the loose center of the coils will stick to the gluing surface, pulling them apart and ruining your piece. This method works especially well when tendrils and vines are part of the design. Once you have the glue on the back of your quillwork, you need to attach it exactly where you want it. If you try and slide your quilling into the correct placement, you will leave glue smudges. Any glue you see will turn shiny and even though it is clear, it will be noticeable.
You can also use a small paintbrush to paint the glue onto the back of your quilling. Use care in touching only the bottom edges of the paper with the glue to avoid unwanted globs or smudges. Again, a thinner glue is easier to spread with the paintbrush. Tweezers are useful to help hold the quilling and assist in placement when glued. 
I actually don’t use either of these methods. I spread glue on the back of my quilling using a toothpick. I pick up a little glue on the tip of the toothpick and roll the toothpick over the quills. Depending on the design, I apply glue to the tight rolls and centers of the quills to allow a little more “wiggle room” when placing the quilling on my background. If glue is not over the entire back, I can slide the quilling just a tad if needed without the glue showing. If I do end up with a bit of glue on the background, I slightly moisten a fresh toothpick (you don’t want it dripping) and gently wipe up the glue. 
The trunk of the palm tree is made from a coil called a “rectangle” because it is, well, a rectangle. To make this quill, roll a loose coil and pinch it into a marquise. Next, move the marquise slightly between your thumbs and index fingers and pinch again, forming two more points near the original ones. You should now have a rectangle quill that has two long sides and two short sides. 
We’ll also be playing with a new tool — a paper 
Finally, I want to show you a bit about 
Free Quilling Pattern – Palm Tree & Small Goldfish
