What is Paper Quilling?-Small Introduction

                                             What is paper Quilling?

If you are a paper craft lover, the chances are good that you have searched the internet for inspiration and have seen paper quilling works of art. Paper quilling is a favourite crafting pastime but is by no means new. This paper art has existed for centuries since the invention of paper.

Some of you may be asking yourselves just what the heck is paper quilling and why would I want to learn this craft. Paper quilling is the art of cutting paper into long thin strips, rolling and pinching the pieces into different shapes and then gluing the shapes together to form decorative art. Paper quilling projects can be used to decorate cards, boxes, gift bags, picture frames or even be made into 3D stand-alone art pieces.

Your imagination only limits the possibilities. The decorative pieces can be simple or complex, but one thing is for sure, paper quilling can be mastered in an hour or two. Quilling is the perfect project for beginners! It is easy for a novice paper crafter to get good results, and another plus is the fact that this craft costs almost next to nothing to make.

The History of Paper Quilling

The origins of this artwork are not known. Some people believe that quilling was started in China after the invention of paper, and others think the craft had its origins in the 13th century. Nuns would imitate the iron decoration that was used as metal ornamentation in home decor. They would roll strips of gilded paper cut from books. The paper filigree designs were then used to decorate books and religious objects.

Paper quilling then re surged in popularity in the 18th century as a "suitable" pastime for the women of the aristocracy.  The art of quilling spread from Europe to America and was favoured by the American colonists as a decorative method. Quilling has had a resurgence in popularity, and it has been raised to an art form today.

Tools Required for Paper Quilling

Beginning quilling can be accomplished using only strips of paper, a toothpick, knitting needle or similar object and some glue. If you get bitten by the quilling bug, you can invest in proper quilling tools to make your job that much easier.

Paper Quilling Strips: pre cut paper designed especially for quilling can be bought online or at your local craft store. The advantage to using pre-cut paper is that your paper strips will always be the same width and of course you will also save time when using this type of paper.

Slotted Tool: This tool is a handle with a comfort grip that has a slotted metal piece at the top to insert your paper strips and then twists them into circular shapes. This tool makes it easier to control and roll your paper strips.

Tweezers: Tweezers are handy for holding your quilled shapes together while you are applying glue.

Needle Tool: The needle tool is a handle with a comfort grip that has a needle on one end. This tool is useful for applying glue to the ends of your paper strips.

Circle Sized Ruler: This handy tool is a ruler that has various sized holes in the middle. Place your rolled paper coil into a hole and get an accurate measurement.

Curling Coach: This tool is similar to the sized circle ruler. It makes the job of curling paper easy. It is especially useful when used in conjunction with the slotted tool.

Crimper Tool: This tool adds some crimped texture to your paper strips. Crimping adds interest to your quilling design.

White Glue: Most quillers use ordinary PVA glue.