Pattern: Quilled bat for Halloween crafts

I've decided to write the instructions for quilling a bat in a separate post. I have also added a diagram to make it clear.

Wedding anniversary cards with quilling

I made these two greeting cards for wedding anniversaries: one for my husband (and myself :), the other for my parents. For both cards I used paper punches and pattern-edged scissors. The first card features a spiral rose with veined leaves, the second — a simple quilling flower. The lettering done with a gel pen. The butterflies on the second card are paper punches. Look closer at the flower center, I used a punch for it, too.

Related step-by-step tutorials:

• How to make veined paper leaves
• How to make spiral flowers for scrapbooking, also on video
• How to make a simple quilled flower (basic quilling instructions)

Paper quilling for kids: 10 tips

I'm happy to have an opportunity to "blend" my two favorite subjects — children's crafts and quilling — in one post. Today I'm giving some tips for kids' quilling, based on my personal experience.

But before you read on, you may want to check out the basic quilling instructions.

Doing quilling helps in developing fine motor skills, creativity, patience, and diligence. But most importantly, it's just another way to have fun with your kids! So, here are my observations and recommendations.

Video: An Introduction to Quilling

This is the best video about paper quilling I've found so far. It's been in my favorite links section for a long time, and I thought I'd put it on the blog, too. You might also like other video tutorials in their YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 3

With this post I'm finishing the three-part tutorial on making quilled poppies. If you haven't seen the previous parts, here's the full list:

1. Instructions for making quilled petals using husking;
2. How to make the centers using the fringed flower technique and assemble the flowers;
3. How to make the foliage (husking) and the dandelion flower (fringed flower).

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 2

What I like about paper filigree is that it presents almost endless challenges, and I like challenges :) In this project the poppy centers were a challenge, at least to me.

Just to remind you, this is the second part of a three-part tutorial on making quilled poppies:

1. Instructions for making the petals;
2. How to make the centers and assemble the flowers;
3. Making the foliage and the dandelion.

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 1

My last quilling work, two poppies and a dandelion; its size is about 7 x 7 1/2 inches (17.5 x 19.5 cm) framed. This time I'd like to share with you complete, step-by-step instructions for making it. When I say "complete", I mean that you will see how each and every part of this piece was made. Actually, this will be a series of three tutorials, due to the relatively large number of different elements:

1. Petals of poppy flowers;
2. Flower centers and assembling the poppies;
3. Foliage and dandelion flower.

Quilled moth and flowers in a shadowbox

I'm back to quilling flowers. I know it may sound strange, but the starting point for this work has been a black shadowbox frame I bought once. This frame was just begging to be used for quilling. It's a square frame, 9x9 inch (23x23cm), so a circle layout seemed to be a natural choice for the composition. Once again I've got the inspiration from a Helen M. Stivens' book. This time it was "Embroidered Flowers". I used it to create a design of my own, made a sketch, and set to work.

Quilled Rosh Hashanah cards, final

It's time to wrap up making Rosh Hashanah greeting cards for this year. Seems like I've made enough for all friends and family :) This is the third and final set, the previous two can be found here:

• Rosh Hashanah cards with quilling, and
• Quilled Rosh Hashanah cards, continued.

Well, the one at the top isn't too much original. Apples (how to quill apples) with honey are traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah eve. Size: 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch (8 x 8 cm).

Quilled Rosh Hashanah cards, continued

I've been still making Rosh Hashanah greeting cards for this year. Here's another set of cards. The first two cards were made according to the same sketch. Just like with the previous set, I used oil pastels to color the edges and stickers for the lettering. I also added tiny rhinestones at the corners.

Size of the square cards is approximately 3 7/8 x 4 1/8 inches (10 x 10.5 cm).

Rosh Hashanah cards with quilling

Just like one year ago, I'd like to share a few ideas for greeting cards for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On these cards you can see two words in Hebrew: שנה טובה (shana tova). They mean "a good year", this is the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah. Pomegranates, apples and honey are all symbolic foods.

Quilled white dandelions and raspberries, framed art

This is my new dandelion project, the last one out of three designs with dandelions I planned to do (the other two are Dandelions and violets and Dandelion). If you wondered how I make the seed-heads, here are the instructions:

Quick & simple summer cards

Two ideas for simple cards for summertime, one with an ice-cream cone and the other with a chocolate mousse dessert. Actually, these are not cards but magnets. They are based on quilling patterns from one of my favorite quilling books, Twirled Paper: Make Almost Anything With Simple Paper Strips, which I recently wrote about. I used cheap children's colored paper for the quilling and background, and gold acrylic paint to decorate the cards with dots.

For a bit more complex summer card projects:

• "Have a great vacation!", a handmade card with crab, cloud and sailboat
• A card with orange slice and glass of juice

Dog-rose and butterflies, framed paper quilling

As I already wrote, Helen M. Stevens' Embroiderer's Countryside has been a great source of inspiration to me.

This dog-rose was also inspired by her stunning work. I had to figure out how to quill it, though. I had made the flowers with husking and the hips in three-dimensional quilling, but was still struggling the leaves. I tried traditional quilling shapes and husking, but ended up making simple paper leaves with veins.

Project: "Have a great vacation!" card with a quilled crab and sailboat

Another simple handmade card with elements of paper quilling (a step up from the summer card I showed). The quilled shapes require some experience in quilling (especially the crab, which is very tiny), so I can't say this is beginners level. I also tried to incorporate some embossing into this project.

Quilled dandelions and violets, framed work

My first quilled dandelions turned out so successful, that I was asked to make more of them for my friends. As I try not to use the same design twice, I added violets to the composition this time.

DIY: Homemade crimpers for quilling paper

Crimped strips can be used in paper quilling along with regular strips to add special effects and freshness to your projects. A crimper is a device that consists of two cogs, which a quilling strip is run through. The cogs must be wide enough to cover the width of a strip. A crimper can be purchased in one of quilling supplies shops, but for some of you (like for me) that's not possible. After looking for suitable cogs to make a DIY crimper for quilling strips, I've finally got it and wanted to share with you my solution.

Project: Summer card with a quilled slice of orange

You know, I'm not too much into scrapbooking and cardmaking, but from time to time I create greeting cards for my friends and family. This one is a pretty simple paper card with elements of paper quilling. I wrote a short tutorial on making this card, hope beginners will found it useful.

Book: Twirled Paper

Twirled Paper: Make Almost Anything With Simple Paper Strips (Klutz) is my second favorite book on paper quilling. I love and highly recommend it.

Owls everywhere... quilled

The owl is one of the most amazing birds in my opinion. I like owls as a subject of my crafts: I made an owl cake, a salted dough owl, owl salt and pepper shakers, and this time also a paper quilling owl.