Quilled Eyeballs from Archives

This is an oldie for my new followers. I ran across these the other day and I am thinking about making them larger (really big) to send to the grandkids next week :-) I will definitely post a photo if I get this done. (Didn't get it done, sigh)

The original 2009 post with instructions for eyeballs and the tiny box is HERE .

Thanks for stopping by!
~Molly

Happy Easter

On this Good Friday I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Blessed Easter.

The bottom layer is 1/8" bright white paper strips. On the top layer, I used a silver holofoil edge on white paper imported from England. I added several Swarovski crystal rhinestones.

This cross pattern is copyright of Malinda Johnston in her book The Book of Paper Quilling (Sterling Publishing, Lark, 1994).  I love the look of all the eccentric shapes. The instructions can be found on page 81.

Molly

Tuesday Tip

I have been using this daisy background graphic for about six months for all occasion cards. I make the daisies while watching TV or when I am in a mood to quill. I like to use the 1/16" English paper strips I buy from Whimsiquills .. the strips are actually more narrow than the American 1/16" paper.

I embellished this with several shades of brown chalk, set it with a fixative and glued it on the card. The center tight roll is slightly convex. I covered the quilled daisy with two layers of tissue paper and mailed in a regular envelope, no bubble packaging.

TIP: If you make up a stack of all occasion cards ahead of time and use quilled motifs on your cards, try using 1/16" paper strips and mail one to yourself, first, to test how it turns out in regular mail.

Have a great day!
-Molly

Quilling Tool Choices

When I opened my first quilling kit in the 70's, there was a regular corsage pin included. This is what I used to learn to quill and still do. I like to use my commercial wooden handle quilling tool when I don't need a really tight center.

 I also use a round wooden toothpick or wooden dowel when I quill with wide, crimped strips to make large pieces.

In 2000 I started making a novelty quilling needle tool with a polymer clay handle. I tested them for a year with different focus groups and then sold over 500 on eBay and at a few NAQG conventions. Seems like 15 years ago a lot of people used needle tools.

I used a regular corsage pin and made all sizes of handles. Then I started making the same tool with a smaller quilters needle for miniature quilling and sold them as sets. I used either gold plated or sterling silver beads and discs at the base.

I experimented quite a bit. These are all the imperfect needle tools I kept and a few I still use. I shined up the handles over the weekend, brushing on a coat of Future floor wax.  I'm going to make some type of enclosed, framed art piece for my craft room with the imperfect ones -- to remind me of that particular time in my life. Plus I just like bright, colorful things around :)

The only slotted tool I have bought, and use to make fringed flowers or roses, is the 4" metal handle. This is all I will say about slotted tools as I know they are the most popular, easiest to use and I want people to use what is best for them.

What are your favorite quilling tools?

Enjoy the week!
~Molly

P.S. I don't make these tools any more.

Quilling with Whimsiquills

Pat Caputo of Quilling with Whimsiquills has the most gorgeous quilled valentine on her latest blog post and she is sharing the pattern. Take a close-up look at Pat's valentines ... they are perfect, as always. Pat has been quilling longer than I have and does not use a quilling tool ... she rolls with her fingers! She is a good friend, actually my mentor for quilling, and if you don't already know, she has the largest supplies of quilling papers, accessories and books in the world (and she ships worldwide last time I checked).

Her store: Whimsiquills

Happy weekend everyone!

~Molly

Getting your Crafty Projects Published

Oddly, I've had two inquiries recently about how I got my work published in magazines and books. With little time to respond, I forwarded this blog post from over a year ago. I am reposting for those who may also be interested.  Part two of my interview with Pat contains the basic information and my suggestions. There is also gobs of similar information online if you take a bit of time to research.

Quilling with Whimsiquills

Happy Weekend!

Quilling in a Paperweight

This is a two-inch paperweight and I used 1/8" pearlized quilling paper. The glass certainly magnified it to show every single flaw, lol! The sculped paper letters are from one of the alphabets in my book :o) This is a gift for my cousin who is such an inspiration to me.

click photos to enlarge

Did you know Truman Capote collected paperweights?

Happy crafty Tuesday!
~Molly

Quilled Flowers

I was inspired to use these colors from a silk arrangement shown in one of the photos. I love making the tight marquise with center hole shapes introduced to me by Claire Sun-ok Choi in her book. Easy, easy .. and I like how they look. I had no quilling strips where I was staying, so I bought the thick cardstock-like 1/8-inch strips that come in a tube-- from Michaels. UGH! All primary colors and absolutely a pain in the rear to work with.

click photos to enlarge

The petals are made from 6" strips. The centers are 4" x 1/16" loose coils.

This is a gift for my Aunt Maxine. She loves hummingbirds so I made the one from the background paper 3D. The shadow box frame is a Dollar Tree find :-)

Enjoy!
~Molly

"Inchies" Quilled Valentines

I made these little two-inch Valentine's Day cards with a silver embossed inchie, raised and embellished with quilling, punched hearts and a tiny red crystal. I stamped on white gloss paper for a little place to write a few words inside. The 1/8 inch quilling strips are silver gilded on edge garnet paper made in England. The shimmer of the silver is gorgeous in person. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Source for quilling paper:  Whimsiquills

A tisket, a tasket ..

quilled eyeballs in a basket!

• 6" black for the pupil

• 12" any color for the iris

• 72" of bright white Lake City paper - yes, three strips of paper. If you use another brand and the paper is thick, use less (60")

I shaped the tightroll on a 1/2" round dowel (wooden, marble, hard foam) and brushed tacky craft glue inside first. When that dried I brushed a coat of Beacon Liquid Laminate on the top. A red Sharpie ultra fine point works best for the squiggles.


Credit for this eyeball pattern goes to Patricia, the owner of Whimsiquills. Thank you, Pat!


Do you like the tiny box? I think these would be perfect for any holiday and it takes so little to fill them up. I am not an illustrator by any means, but I did make this quick template to show how easy the box is to make with a 4"x4" piece of cardstock. The bottom is 1" wide so score in at 1-1/2" on two sides first. I forgot to indicate that on the template but most people would figure it out.

Thanks for stopping by :)
Enjoy!
-Molly

Quilling with Whimsiquills

Patricia Caputo, blog owner of Quilling with Whimsiquills, featured me in a two-part article. Part one tells about my earlier quilling adventures and a few pictures of miniature to huge quilling pieces. Part two is how-to details and tips about getting published-- from a magazine project to writing a book.

Thanks for looking!
-Molly


Pat has been quilling for more than thirty years and owns Whimsiquills, the mega quilling store that carries quilling papers, tools, kits, books, plus, a gazillion American, English and specialty papers. Order online, the eBay Store or via a toll-free phone call. [ quilled teacup, plate, spoon © Patricia Caputo ]