I discussed quilling briefly in my article about non-stupid crafts for teens. But I wanted to delve into this topic a little deeper, after having come across some fascinating and amazing examples of the art.
Quilling is a great craft for teens and crafters on a budget because all you need is paper, glue, something small and round to wrap the paper around, and a lot of patience. (It's not so great for younger children, since it requires a great deal of fine motor control and precision. But younger kids are certainly welcome to give it a try!)
Any paper can be used for quilling, with a bit of work, which is great for people who enjoy using upcycled materials in their crafting. Despite the promises of the digital era, we are pretty much awash in unwanted paper, if you haven't noticed. You can also buy scrapbooking or origami paper at craft stores, and some stores even sell pre-cut paper strips for use as quilling supplies.
Quilling was practiced by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, but it became most popular during the Renaissance when monks and nuns developed the art to mimic the filigree that other craftsmen made out of thin strips of gold or silver. Poorer churches which couldn't afford that much gold would commission quilled works which were painted with silver or gold leaf, rendering the works indistinguishable from real gold or silver filigree.
The basic procedure for quilling is to roll up a strip of paper, nudge it into the shape you want, then glue it to the background. An easy beginner's quilling project is to make some greeting cards, which you can use as beautiful gifts for any occasion. Martha Stewart has a great beginner's tutorial for quilled greeting cards here. (Say what you will about the woman, she knows her quilling.)
Image courtesy Flickr/Texican3k
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