Quilling, the art of twirling paper into decorative designs, has a long history going back over 500 years ago to European monks and nuns who twirled paper into intricate ecclesiastical works of art used to decorate religious objects. The craft evolved to be largely practiced by the upper classes to pass the time and remained popular through Victorian times. The paper strips used were often cut from old books. It wasn't until the craft, then known as Paper Filigree, came to America that the name quilling came into play, as early American settlers used to roll their paper strips around quill feathers. Today's quillers use a quilling tool like the one pictured in the photo at right. The end of a tool has a thin piece of metal with a slit running down the middle. To roll paper strips, you merely slip the end of the paper in the slit, and start rolling (photo instructions below). If you don't have a tool, you can roll the strips of paper with your fingers alone -- it works just as well. I did this for months before I ever got a quilling tool, although the tool makes the process much quicker and easier. Cutting Quilling Strips You can buy precut quilling strips, but if you have a paper trimmer (and anyone interested in paper crafts should), why go through the expense? It's simple to cut your own strips. Click for easy photo instructions.

Quilling Projects Curled Paper Package Ornaments Quilled Bow How To Twirl Paper

How to Twirl Paper
All quilled designs are based on curled strips of paper. It's what you do with the coils and how you put them together that turns them into art. We will be adding to this section in the near future, but for now we wanted to show you some quilling basics, so you could make our awesome quilled package decorations in time for the holidays. So here's how to make a quilled coil:

The quilling tool has a small slit in its end. Insert the end of a paper strip in the slit on the tool. Start to turn the tool so the paper coils around it. Use your fingers to maintain even tension in order to get an even coil (see photos above). When you reach the end, give the tool a slight 1/4 turn in the opposite direction to loosen it and gently ease the coil off the tool. In traditional quilling you would apply a spot of glue to keep the coil rolled to the width you like (more instructions on this coming to this space soon). If you plan on using the strips to make our Quilled Package Ornaments or Quilled Bow, do not use glue.

More About Quilling

• Shop for Quilling Books, Tools and Supplies through Amazon.com.