What Weight Paper Should I Use for Quilling?

I had someone ask me about paper weight, specifically, what weight paper should she use when cutting her own paper? What a brave soul she is to cut her own.

Here is my response:

Hello Sylvia,

This is not an easy question to answer. I will share you my thoughts/experience and encourage you to experiment. Yes, experiment, play, you may find something that you hadn't thought of that looks incredible - and don't forget to share your exeperiences here.

Paper weights in the US can be deceiving, from what I have read here, the US measurement of pounds (#) can be deceiving. The same number in #s can be used for thicker and thinner paper. They use the example of 80# Cover and 80# Text. Text weight paper is thinner. So, keep that in mind as well. I am US based, so I will talk in terms of what I use here.

The easiest paper to cut is the "copy" paper, generally 20# - 24# weight. I use this paper when punching, it can be a little bit thin for making coils, but this doesn't mean that you shouldn't use it. They generally are the same color on both sides and you can get a huge variety of colors. I will shortly be posting instructions for making the wild or spiral roses, and I used this weight paper for the examples I have.

I like the scrapbooking paper. Most of this paper is white on one side, so it will look like those quilling strips that are 2-toned with white on the back. You can always alter this by stamping an accent color on the back of the strip if you don't want the white. This is generally a 60# weight on the scrapbook packs that show the paper weight. Please Note: I do not mean the heavy cardstock, as that is a little thick and the coils don't roll as nicely, I am talking the thinner weights.

Many of the quillers I know who frame lots of invitations have pointed me in the direction of using envelopes. You know how you get a bill and the inside of the envelope has that black or blue design so that you cannot see through the envelope? That paper makes fantastic fringed flowers. When you get a nice card with a colored envelope, use that paper as well. This weight (not sure what it is) is great for punched and fringed flowers. You hit a bonus when the inside is lined gold or silver metalic. The envelopes work well to make coils, but the downside is that there is not that much paper to work from.

Magazines and those mailers you receive with ADs also make nice variations in your quilled strips. They can run the gambit with the weight of the paper and the quality, but if you get a good quality it will work for you. If you go this route, you will have to be ok with the variation in colors, etc as they are not one solid color. But like above, they make for interesting fringed flowers and generally cut nicely.

Vellum - I have seen some examples of vellum punched and coiled flowers. The trick is be the glue. Just like a metalic or shiny paper I would recommend a thicker/tackier glue so that it holds. You will need to hold your glue in place longer than you might normally to give the glue a chance to adhere to the more slipery surface.

A few final thoughts:

Always keep in mind the grain of the paper. According to my friend Sherry, when you cut paper, it is best to cut against the grain because the coils will hold better when rolled against the grain. Think about when you fold a piece of cardstock to make a card. If you fold it and you get a nice crisp edge you are folding with the grain, if you get a bumpy fold, you are folding against the grain. So, how do you know which direction the grain goes? The direction of the grain is usually the 2nd number in your paper size. For instance, an 8-1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper has the grain going parallel to the 11 inch side.

One final thought, in addition to the weight of the paper, you may want to check to make sure the color on the paper doesn't bleed, especially if you use a water based glue. You can test this by dabbing a bit of water in a test area of your paper and see what happens.

PS - I have written this in the past, I don't have a great track record of cutting straight lines so I generally don't cut my own strips, I have found that for the time and energy, I can get enough supplies to last me quite a long time for about $20 - $30 (including shipping and handling in the US) so I generally go this route.

The manufacturers also produce sheets of paper that match their quilling strips which work well with punches, or alternatively could also be cut down into strips.

Enjoy!
Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Technorati Tags: quilling, paper filigree, filigrana, paper weight

Free Quilling Pattern Autumn Basket

I know that it is only August, but with the fall colors that will soon spread across the North East, I thought I'd share an Autumn Basket with you. This pattern creates a basket for your fringed flowers.

Basket

• 10 Brown C-scrolls (3 inch, 7.6 cm)


• 6 Tan Tight rolls (1.5 inch, 3.8 cm)
  


• Using the picture as a guide, start at the bottom and work upward


• Base is 1 Brown C-scroll


• Then 2 Brown C-scrolls with 1 Tan Tight roll between


• Then 3 Brown C-scrolls with 2 Tan Tight rolls


• Finally, 4 Brown C-scrolls with 3 Tan Tight rolls

For the Basket: 5 Brown and 3 Tan 6 inch (15.2 cm) strips

Please click this link for the fringed flower instructions.

Fringed Flowers

• 1 Fringed Yellow strip (1.5 inch, 3.8 cm) long


• 1 Fringed Orange strip (1.5 inch, 3.8 cm) long


• 1 Brown (1.5 inch, 3.8 cm) long cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide


• Glue and roll Brown, Orange, then Yellow tightly and glue. Then gently push out the fringes to make the flower


• Make all 8 Fringed Flowers the same way, simply alternate colors
  


• Add 4 Green Shaped Marquise (1.5 inch, 1.8 cm) cut to 1/16 inch, .15 cm wide
  
  For the Fringed Flowers: 2 Yellow, 1 Orange, 1 Red, 1 Purple, 1 Brown and 1 Green 6 inch (15.2 cm) strips
  Use the photo for placement

Enjoy!
Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco

Technorati Tags: quilling, paper filigree, filigrana, free quilling pattern, autumn basket, fringed flowers, free pattern, naqg, childrens crafts

September Quilling Patterns

Welcome to the September 2008 Accord Quilling Calendar Pattern Listing

I am providing you a list of all the patterns and the name of the artist who graciously allowed Accord to print them.

September 2008 Accord Calendar Projects

1 - Notebook and Pencil (Artist: Gerry Stafford)
2 - Owl (Artist: Cathy Schlim)
3 - Pretty Outfit (Artist: Linda Krieg, www.krazyquilling.com)
4 - First Place Award and Push Pin (Artist: Cathy Schlim)
5 - Megaphone (Artist: Cathy Schlim)
6 - Schoolhouse (Artist: Patricia Caputo, www.whimsiquills.com)
8 - An Apple for the Teacher (Artist: Cathy Schlim)
9 - Apple Tree (Artist: Jane Cleveland)
10 - Crayons (Artist: Suzzy Howard)
11 - Pencil (Artist: Jane Cleveland)
12 - Scissors (Artist: Jane Cleveland)
13/14 - Cupcake (Artist: Susan Harl Custer)
15 - The Mouse Ran Up the Clock, part 1 (Artist: Donna Nicholson)
16 - The Mouse Ran Up the Clock, part 2 (Artist: Jill VanDieren)
17 - Magic Lamp (Artist: Anne T. Pfahler, www.picturetrail.com/quiller1111)
18 - Waka-waka with Dots (Artist: Gina Jiang)
19 - Spider (Artist: Jane Cleveland)
20/21 - Saxophone (Artist: Fredricka Whitman)
22 - Puppy (Artist: Maryann Gerber)
23 - Dog Dishes and Toys (Artist: Jill VanDieren)
24 - Cat (Artist: Donna Nicholson)
25 - Ladybug (Artist: Stacy Smith)
26 - Tennis Anyone? (Artist: Deborah Hartin, www.deborahhartin.com)
27/28 - Lacrosse Sticks (Artist: Vikki Levy)
29 - Ball and Bats (Artist: Sheryl Scott, www.simplyelegantcreations.net)
30 - Golf Ball (Artist: Anne T. Pfahler, www.picturetrail.com/quiller1111)

Enjoy!
Antonella

Technorati Tags: quilling, paper filigree, filigrana, naqg, childrens crafts

Wow - An Award! I am so Honored

I am so honored... My friend Toni, 3 am Designs, presented me with the Arte e Pico award. Toni is a very talented artist and a wonderful person - I cannot believe she gave me this award. Thank you so much my friend.

According to the rules, you have to pay it forward and follow the following steps:

1. Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.

2. Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog so everyone can view it.

Quillarina - Today's Visions

Sherry - Esprit d'art

Carolyn (Ratmoma) - Infinite Visions

Abbie's Place -

Karla - Daydream Studios

3. Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.

4. The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the "Arte y Pico" blog so everyone will know the origin of this award.

 The "Arte y Pico" blog is written in Spanish, here is a link for the relatively good English translation.

5. Please post these rules!

Now I have followed all the rules.... Hugs!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!!!! Toni you are a sweetheart.

Enjoy!
Copyright for Personal Use Antonella DeFalco