Aug
30
2011
In response to the many requests I’ve received for more “captured” ornaments, I am so very pleased to announce the newest addition to the collection: a quilled wreath!
Just like the snowflake, this quilled wreath is assembled inside a glass ornament, safely preserved for years to come. The wreath’s shape fills the ornament nicely and the red gems added to the tops of the berries add a nice touch of holiday sparkle as they catch the light. Since the glass ornament is clear, the wreath is designed to be two-sided so it can be enjoyed from all angles.
For those of you who would like to create your own, I have written a full color digital pattern complete with photos to guide you every step of the way. You’ll find this pattern, along with the Quilled Captured Snowflake, in my new Quilling Pattern Store.
The holidays will be here before you know it. It’s never too early to create one of these stunning ornaments for your family and treasured friends.
May
31
2011
This quilled bookmark is a good project for children because it is quick and easy to do. And since the quilling is glued onto a wooden base, it becomes very durable, even for little ones who may not be as gentle with the paper coils as adults would be.
The materials used are very inexpensive, making it an ideal group project. The cross shown in this post would be a good choice for a Sunday school class or vacation Bible school. You could easily change the wooden base, however, to appeal to any group — perhaps a wooden heart with a quilled heart on top, or a round disk with a quilled flower for girls or a bug for boys.
For each bookmark, you will need: a small wooden shape, paint or scrapbook paper, a jump ring, assorted beads, cording, glue, and quilling paper of your choice.
To make the bookmark pendant, drill a small hole in the wooden shape for the jump ring. Paint the wooden piece or glue scrapbook paper scraps to the front and back. Insert the jump ring. Glue the quilling design of your choice to the top of the wooden shape.
To assemble the bookmark, thread one end of the cord through the beads, then through the pendant’s jump ring, and back through the beads. Secure the cord by wrapping it around back around itself and tying a knot. Tie a knot at the other end of the cord to finish the bookmark.
Mar
08
2011
I want to send a big THANK YOU to all of my newsletter readers who took the time to tell me the kinds of projects you would like to quill. The information received was just wonderful. I am going to tally up the results and will definitely keep your wish list in mind as I create my new quilling designs.
As promised, all feedback responses were put into a single folder and I used random.org to generate a random number used to select the winner of a free quilling pattern.
The number generated was 107 and the lucky winner is … (drum roll, please) … Eileen from Ward, Arkansas. I have contacted Eileen and she has selected the Floral Heart Wreath pattern for her prize.
Congratulations, Eileen! I hope you enjoy the pattern.
Jan
19
2011
I am so excited to share the news! As promised in my last post, the first pattern I’ve completed for 2011 is for the Quilled Captured Snowflake — a beautiful paper snowflake captured for all time inside a glass ornament — just like a ship in a bottle.
When I created my Captured Snowflake ornament I knew it was special, but the response I have received has been truly amazing! It seemed like everyone who saw this snowflake ornament either bought one or asked me how to make it.
I was going to keep the secret all to myself, but you know me … I just love to share. So, I sat down and created this pattern so that you, too, can quill your own Captured Snowflake ornament and WOW your family and friends.
This downloadable PDF ePattern contains complete easy-to-follow instructions, lots of step-by-step full color photos, a sprinkle of hints and tips to keep you on track, and all pattern templates to ensure your success.
The pattern is available for purchase in the Quilling Pattern Store section of the blog. Enjoy!
Oct
18
2010
I was wandering around my local Jo-Ann recently, and I do mean wandering — they have totally changed the layout of the store, moving the merchandise and shelving. The entire store is now different.
I managed to find the scrapbook department and discovered a wonderful 4.5″ x 6.5″ bound stack of Halloween papers by DCWV, Inc., called
The Midnight Spell matstack®. It contains 72 heavy card stock sheets with wonderful Halloween prints (half of them have foil or glitter) that are just the right size for card making. I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, but just had to have it. I had a coupon, but when I went to pay, it was on sale, so it only cost me around $5.00. What a deal!
Some of the papers have all over patterns and some have wonderful scenes on them. As I thumbed through the stack I discovered this delightful haunted house and knew it would make a great card with quilled ghosts flying out of the windows.
To assemble the card, I layered the printed card stock onto black and then attached it to a purchased blank ivory card. The scene needed a big orange moon, so I punched one out and stamped it with happy halloween. Then I glued it to some scrap black card stock and cut around the circle with my pinking sheers. I then glued the moon in place.
You won’t believe what I used for the strip of spooky ground fog — a torn dryer sheet, already used, of course! I happened to be going back and forth between doing laundry and working on the card, when I saw the dryer sheet in with the clothes I was folding and thought it looked a bit spider-weby. However, when I went to stretch it out, it was far too sturdy. I was playing around with the torn strip, wondering if I could use it like a ribbon on the card, when I realized it made great fog. How’s that for recycling?
All I needed to add to finish it off were the quilled ghosts and a large black bat flying in front of the moon. I was going to add wiggle eyes to the ghosts, but they didn’t look right, so I added a pair peeking out of the upper window instead.
Sometimes all it takes are a few paper quills to make a simple card extra special.
Oct
02
2010
I belong to several Yahoo quilling groups. If you want a constant flow of creative ideas and great quilling, I urge you to join.
The other day a very talented quiller, Lucia, posted some photos of some ornaments she had finished. They were glass balls with quilled Christmas designs inside. Obviously, they caught everyone’s eye and very quickly a discussion popped up as to how they are made. It turns out that they were constructed inside the ornament, much like a ship in a bottle, using tweezers.
I just had to give it a try with one of my snowflakes, although many quilling patterns would work. I have to admit that it was tricky, but I am so pleased with the results. I added some fake snow to give the ornament a bit more visual dimension and sparkle since it is clear glass.
I am definitely making more of these for the Christmas season.
Are you working on your holiday projects yet?
***Blog Post Update: I was going to keep the secret to making this amazing ornament all to myself, but you know me… I just love to share. You’ll find the downloadable pattern, priced at only $5.95, in the Quilling Pattern Store section of my blog.
Aug
23
2010
A while ago, I saw a window tag at the scrapbook store that held confetti. The tag was made from two pieces of card stock with a clear plastic window sandwiched in between. As I examined the piece, I wondered if it would work with quilling and filed the idea away in my
idea box.
We have a dog, Trixie, who is part golden retriever, part husky, (and who knows what else) that my husband brought home from the pound. She loves the treats I purchase that come in a plastic bag. This bag is heavy duty, clear, and pliable. In other words …. perfect for crafting … so into my inspiration bin it went.
While looking through my inspiration bin I ran across the plastic bag, remembered the window tag, and I knew it was time to give the idea a try.
First, I created a bookmark template with a window and printed two (front and back). Then, I cut two pieces of plastic (from the recycled plastic bag) larger than the window. I quilled a little acorn and slid it between the plastic sheets. I then placed this between the front and back pieces of the bookmark, tacking the two together at the top and bottom away from the stitching area. Next, I stitched around the edges to hold it all in place. Finally, a tassel on the bottom completed the bookmark.
You’ll find the free quilling pattern for the acorn, along with the bookmark template and complete instructions and photos for creating the bookmark, in the next newsletter. So if you haven’t already subscribed to “The Art of Quilling News” be sure to sign up today. (You’ll find the enrollment form in the upper right-hand corner.)
(Oh, and please excuse the sewing around the window. I was almost done when Trixie decided that she needed my attention and bumped my arm.)
Apr
08
2010
I have been sitting on this news for several months now, but the May issue of CardMaker Magazine finally arrived in my mailbox yesterday and my quilled Father’s Day card, Sail Away, is featured on page 18 in their Quill It Easy section. Needless to say I am thrilled to see my card in print, and yes, I do plan on purchasing an extra copy of the magazine so I can frame the article for my workroom. 
My card isn‘t the only one featuring quilling in this issue, however. Alli Bartkowski shares a lovely card perfect for that special sister, and Ann Martin has designed a handsome Father’s Day card that could be used for any occasion simply by changing the sentiment.
If you are not familiar with
CardMaker Magazine, I encourage you to seek it out at newsstands, or, better yet, order a subscription. I was talking to Ann Martin earlier today and she said that, “Tanya [the editor] is great about including quilling in every issue – as far as I can tell, it’s the only U.S.
papercraft magazine that features it regularly.” If you are eager to see this trend continue, I encourage you to write a
letter to the editor and let Tanya know how much you appreciate seeing quilling in the magazine, and support the magazine by ordering a subscription for yourself or your crafty mother, sister, friend, etc.
On a personal note …..
I would like to thank Alli Bartkowski for taking the time to talk to me at the 2009 NAQGCON held in Tampa last year. She encouraged me to submit a card design to CardMaker Magazine and for that I will always be grateful.
Ann keeps a close eye on the paper art community and her blog posts on
All Things Paper are a constant source of inspiration.
…
Feb
24
2010
Whether you want to embellish a wedding card, create a handcrafted framed wedding gift, or create a special card for your sweetheart, this versatile heart made of quilled flowers is the perfect way to express the beauty and magic of love.
To learn more about this 12-page downloadable PDF quilling pattern (ePattern),
click here or select the Quilling Patterns link at the top of this blog.
…
After numerous requests, I am pleased to announce the release of my Quilled Floral Heart Wreath ePattern that was recently featured in the blog post, 
