Experiment with the age-old art of paper filigree, also known as quilling. It’s now easier than ever with revolutionary Crayola Shaper Paper™! Curl thin strips of paper into shapes and assemble them into decorative designs.

• 1.

  The art of quilling, or paper filigree, may date back to ancient Egypt. During the Renaissance, nuns and monks used this art form to decorate important documents. Quilling is a 3-D version of illuminated manuscript! Examples of quilling are found in museums around the world and contemporary artists continue to create stunning pieces.

• 2.

  Quilling uses long, very thin strips of paper that are rolled into coils. Many variations of shapes and methods of simple curling are incorporated into modern quilling. These directions will get you started.

• 3.

  Begin by preparing a sturdy base for your quilling. Cut Crayola Shaper Paper™ and foam board in the same small size. Cover your craft area with newspaper. Brush an even coat of water on one side of the paper to activate the adhesive. Press the wet side on the foam board. Use your fingers to smooth out the Shaper Paper from the center out. Air-dry for about 20 minutes.

• 4.

  Meanwhile, cut lots of thin strips of Shaper Paper, varying from ¼ inch (.6 cm) to 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide. You may find it easiest to practice your first few coils with ½-inch (12 cm) strips. Pinch one end of a strip around a wooden toothpick and wrap the entire strip around itself. Hold the tightly wrapped coil in your fingers.

• 5.

  Dip a brush in water and press it on a paper towel until the brush is barely damp. Dampen the outside end of the paper strip. Hold the coil until the adhesive sets (about 5 seconds). This basic shape is called a tight coil.

• 6.

  When you roll a coil, instead of attaching the end to the tight coil, allow the strip to pop open. Then activate the adhesive to attach the end to the outside of the circle. This is called a loose coil.

• 7.

  How do you make other shapes? Pinch one end of a loose coil while the adhesive sets to create a teardrop.

• 8.

  By pinching more than one spot you can make LOTS of unique shapes! Create several different sets of at least five shapes.

• 9.

  Tips: Put shapes together in different combinations to create other shapes. For example, alternate teardrops to create a straight line. Put teardrop points together to make a circle or flower. Or place two teardrops next to each other for a heart! Experiment with other effects such as swirls of strips, fringing one end of a coil, zigzag or other folded lines, and flattened coils. Attach short coils to taller ones for even more 3-D effects. Shaper Paper adhesion is most effective when flat surfaces are joined with very little water.

• 10.

  Try several combinations and designs until you are satisfied with a presentation that fits on your base. Dampen an area of the base in the shape you wish to attach. Gently press the piece on the tacky base. Hold it in place for about 30 seconds. When possible, set down several pieces at one time so that you can hold them together until they set. Gently dampen the edges of quilling pieces that touch other pieces so they stick to each other, too.

• 11.

  Continue adding pieces until your design is complete. While this art form takes time and patience, it is definitely one that you can proudly display!

Standards

• LA: Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band independently and proficiently.
• LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
• MATH: Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in all quadrants of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of points in the context of the situation.
• SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• VA: Select media, techniques, an processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of choices.
• VA: Intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of experiences and ideas.

Adaptations

• Teacher resource: Thrilling Quilling by Elizabeth Moad
• Students expand their quilling abilities by adding color, designs, and/or textures to papers using Crayola Mixing Mediums, Paints, or Markers before or after cutting into strips or coiling. How does this enrich the project?
• Student groups graph their quilling pictures using the space in all four quadrants of the plane. Use the graphed picture to assist with enlarging the scale of the pictures.