Jul
01
2011
Here is a delightful card that uses an empty ribbon spool as the card base. A message strip is attached to the core, wound around the spool, and secured with a piece of ribbon tied into a bow. The lucky recipient then unties the bow to unroll the greetings. I guarantee that this card will be a keeper! Since I wanted larger flowers, I used strips of scrapbook paper cut to various widths and hand fringed them.
Since I firmly believe in giving credit where it is due, I must mention that I ran across this clever idea by Alison Eads in the paper crafting book, Retro Mania, published by North Light Books. The quilling design that decorates this card, however, is all mine.
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.
Apr
13
2011
I enjoy making and giving quilled cards to friends and family, but sometimes I simply run out of time to make a card from scratch. I end up giving a store-bought card, but feel a twinge of guilt because it seems so impersonal. Sound familiar?
To help with this problem, I have begun looking at commercial cards in a different way. I have found that by adding a little quilling, I can change a commercial card from ordinary to extraordinary. And best of all, it only takes minutes to do.
For example, I found this colorful birthday card with candles printed across the bottom. By adding quilled candles right over top of some of the printed ones, I added a layer of dimension and the crystals glued to the flames makes it pop even more.
The second card shows a cute little bear holding a bunch of balloons. I glued some quilled balloons (tied with a black string, of course) over the existing ones. It was so easy.
For those on a budget, this is a great way to dress up inexpensive boxed cards or thrift store finds. And it’s a great way to use up bits and pieces of quilling paper left over from other projects. Give it a try. It just a few minutes, you can create a special card any recipient will love.
Mar
18
2011
One of the things that I love most about writing this blog is meeting all of the wonderful quillers out there. Over the years, the popularity of this art may ebb and flow, but I have no fear of quilling ever becoming a lost art. There are just too many of us … and we enjoy sharing our art with each other and the next generation. Woo-hoo!
Speaking of sharing, I recently heard from a very clever quiller named Gina who created two very unique lockets. They are just awesome and I am so pleased to be able to share her art with you. Gina does what so many of you do – she takes designs and techniques of others and then changes them up to make them truly her own. But I’ll let her tell you …
“For example, the hummingbird pattern in the ‘Combing Quilling Kit’ [from Quilled Creations] was one of the first ones I tried. It was done in a lavender, which isn’t a hummingbird color, so I re-did it to look like a ruby-throated hummingbird. I added a tail and trimmed the beak to a point, which gave it a bit more realism. I got to looking at it and wanted to make one even smaller. Finding a comb smaller was a challenge, but I eventually got a tiny comb from the WalMart pet dept. that was for combing out fleas. It worked great! The bird came out 1/2 the size. I found a locket with flowers in relief on the front and an indent inside the size of a quarter. The tiny bird fit in there perfectly, with a circle of blue in the background to make it stand out more. I gave this to a friend as a gift and she couldn’t believe I’d made something so tiny.”
Gina also made a locket for a friend of hers who was expecting a little girl. She made a tiny baby foot in pink for one side of the locket and left the other side empty for a photo of the new baby. Is it any wonder that her friend just loved the unique gift?
Of course, I had to ask her where she purchased the lockets and she told me that they came from the online store, ornamentea, http://www.ornamentea.com/Lockets.htm. Gina used the Florentine Perfume Locket which has a round depression inside, perfect for the quilling. Ornamentea has several types of perfume lockets listed on their website, but unfortunately, by the time I got there, they were sold out of all of them. They might get some more in stock at a later date, or you might be able to use this information to find the lockets elsewhere. If you do, please be sure to let me know. I would very much like to try my hand at making one of these special lockets of my own.
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.
Feb
03
2011
This is a quick post, but I just had to share. Our oldest daughter dropped by at lunch and showed me these paper plates she found at an after Christmas sale. These are regular paper plates, but the design printed on them is a beautiful all over pattern of white quilled snowflakes. Aren’t they just awesome!
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The manufacturer is a company called Creating Converting. I found their website and they appear to be a wholesale company not set up for retail sales. I’m sure if you were interested, though, you could email the company to find out if there was a local retailer near you.
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I am so excited to see the art of quilling make its way into mainstream design. As quilling becomes more popular, I’m sure we’ll see it pop up in more and varied places.
Jan
23
2011
I love shopping the clearance section of craft stores. You never know what goodies you might find. This was the case with a pack of unfinished wooden hearts. I had no particular project in mind, but purchased them anyway — they were on sale! As with all of my treasures, they went into my inspiration bin.
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I starting going through my bin and rediscovered the wooden hearts. The ideas started bouncing around in my head. I could paint the heart red … decoupage a sentiment across it … add a quilled lace border …
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The result is this handsome Valentine’s Day card perfect for the man in your life. The tailored color blocked squares of red and black contrast nicely with the lacy quilled border around the heart making this card flirty and fun.
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I enjoy mixing various elements together with my quilling and this heart’s 1/8-inch depth makes it a great companion element for the standard 1/8-inch width quilling paper. The next time unfinished wooden items go on sale, I’m going to take a closer look at the other shapes available.
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!
Jan
03
2011
Wrapping Up 2010
The Mable House Christmas Show was a big success! We had record attendance and record sales. It warms my heart to know that in these tough economic times, our visitors chose to purchase beautiful handmade gifts from so many talented local artisans.
I want to thank all of you for a wonderful 2010. Your kind words of encouragement in the comments you leave keep me motivated. I enjoy “meeting” each of you through emails and love to hear how your own quilling projects are progressing. I’ve been truly blessed by the many new friends I’ve made through this blog.
Looking Forward to 2011
More Quilling Patterns. As I mentioned, the Christmas show was great and my captured snowflake was a hit. I couldn’t keep it in stock. I have been asked to make a pattern for this ornament revealing all of my construction secrets and it will be the first of many to be released in 2011.
New Quilling Project Kits. My good friend Sharon of
Studio Foster (a working art studio located in Hiram, GA) has a
Pazzles cutting machine that can create amazing paper shapes like gift card holders, bag toppers, fancy boxes, etc., that are perfect backdrops for quilled embellishments.
New Quilling Classes. As we continue to grow at
Studio Foster, I look forward to creating new and exciting projects for our local
quillers. I am also excited about exploring the fusion of quilling with other types of paper art techniques and mediums.
New Year Inspiration
I ran across these words from advice columnist, Ann Landers. I have no idea when they were written, but they still ring true today.
“Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you’ve always wanted to do but couldn’t find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don’t think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You’ll look ten years younger. Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I love you’. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.”
Ann Landers
I wish you all the best in 2011!
Charlotte
Nov
27
2010
The Thanksgiving leftovers may still be in the refrigerator, but I am going into crafting overdrive to finish up as many quilling pieces as I can. I have been lucky enough to have been accepted into two juried Christmas houses this year.
The Christmas House Arts & Crafts Show, hosted by the Mable House and the South Cobb Arts Alliance
Dates: December 3rd – 12th, 2010
Times: Mon-Sat 10am to 6pm; Sunday 2pm to 6pm
Place: Mable House Arts Center, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, Georgia 30126
Phone: 770-819-3285
The Christmas House Arts & Crafts Show is right around the corner, so mark your calendars and come see some of the the finest art and fine craft in the area. My good friend, Sharon, will have her beautiful bead and wire flowers there, too. Here is a fun little “save the date” video the SCAA has provided. They were kind enough to feature one of my quilled Christmas egg ornaments.
The Gift Box, hosted by The Art Station – Big Shanty and the North Cobb Arts League
Dates: December 2nd – 17th, 2010
Times: Tuesdays – Fridays, 10am-5pm
Place: Art Station-Big Shanty, 2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw, GA 30152
Phone: 770-514-5930
For those of you who may have a difficult time stopping by during the day, there will be a Shop & Share Party on Tuesday, December 7th, from 6pm-8pm.
If you live anywhere in the area, I do hope you are able to come. Perhaps you’ll find that perfect gift you have been searching for.
