Have some paper crafting news you’d like to share? Maybe you have a quilling problem or have a tutorial that you’d like to see me create?
Also, I’m having trouble responding to comments on my posts! If you have a question or comment, please send me an email or reach out on YouTube or Instagram so I can respond as soon as possible!
I’d love to hear from you! Drop me a note at thepaperycraftery@gmail.com I’m pretty friendly!
And, as always, find The Papery Craftery on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram!
How do i know what length and width of quilling paper of your paterns ( your patterns are beautiful) thanks Barbara
Hi Barbara! Thanks for the compliment and questions. I try to include the lengths of the strips I’m using in all my tutorials and I always use 1/8″ width. If I have missed some measurements somewhere (and I’m sure I have 😊), feel free to let me know which ones by emailing me at Meredith@ThePaperyCraftery.com and I’ll be happy to help!
I am finding it hard to find quilling paper. And when i do it is very limited. Where can i find different assortments of paper? I am interested in double sided also. Thanks.
Hi Linda! Quilling paper is very hard to find in stores, but there are lots of choices online. You can reach Custom Quilling by Denise through the affiliate button on the sidebar of my site. That’s where I shop the most often. Her site is really easy to navigate and find just what you need.
I have a question that I was hoping you wouldn’t mind answering. I found a picture of a quilled hummingbird that I would love to make for a dear friend as a birthday card. I am rather new to quilling but have practiced quite a bit. This looks looks a little difficult but I really want to try it. The lady that made this design cannot be found and her website is inactive so I don’t think I am “stealing” her idea. I have not found this answer anywhere and find your website is very thorough. Does it help if I use the picture (the size is fine) to overlay the strips to measure for length and curve as I begin? Sorry I am long winded. Love your tutorials and designs.
That’s a great question, Holly, and one that brings up strong feelings in most crafters and artists. Most creatives would probably say that they don’t mind if you use their work as inspiration if you’re planning on giving the item as a gift or making it for your own personal use. But I think all would be against reproductions that someone is planning on selling. Even I have a note along these lines on my site. That being said, even though you’re planning on making this hummingbird as a gift and you did try to research the artist for permission, it’s a good practice to avoid copying. Perhaps you can use her design as a starting point, but add and subtract elements to make it uniquely you.
As far as the last question, overlaying strips is super helpful. I like to place my sketch on my cork board, then lay a piece of waxed paper on top and pin the corners. That way, you can see what you’re working with, but the quilling paper won’t stick to your sketch.
I hope some of this helps!
Thank you for your kind response. I did find the lady whose created the hummingbird and she did give me permission to use it on a personal greeting card, but have decided against it. I respect the long creative hours that go into these designs and will work on something of my own. I love your site.
I’m glad it all worked out. If you think of it, send me a photo of your finished card. I’d love to see it!
Thanks a lot Meredith for all your wonderful tutorials!😁
It is a great pleasure, you give this to us for free!🌹
It’s my pleasure, Agnes! I’m glad you’re enjoying my site!
Hi Meredith. I’ve seen a partial picture of a quilled seahorse on your blog. Do you have the tutorial for creating that project somewhere on your website? I’d love to make that for my granddaughter. Thanks so much.
Hi Debbie! I don’t have any tutorials for items that I have sold in my quilling shop, such as the seahorse. If you would like to email me directly at Meredith@ThePaperyCraftery.com, I can send you some tips to help you recreate it.
Hi Meredith,
I enjoy your blog and always find something interesting on here. I hope you can help me with some suggestions.
I’m working a beach scene and trying to determine the best way to represent sand using some elements of quilled work to add ‘texture’ to the base of flat paper. I already plan on using various shades to show where the waves are coming in but a beach is never truly flat. Other than using crimped paper, do you have any possible suggestions?
I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on this. 🙂
Hi Robin! Thanks for your kind words.
Have you thought about using spirals as your sand? Here’s a link on how to make them. I’ve seen some quillers use long spirals as a beautiful background by stacking them on top of each other. Or they can be snipped into small pieces for some real texture, like I did in this hydrangea post. I think spirals can be a really interesting addition to quilling projects.
Let me know what you decide on! I’d love to hear how your project turned out!
For some reason, and its is probably my mistake, I get two emails to the same email address. It’s not a problem, I just delete one.
Hmmm, I’m not sure why that’s happening. I would think my email service would not send duplicates. If you would email me directly at Meredith@ThePaperyCraftery.com with the email address that you’ve signed up with, I can look into it and delete one if necessary.
I was wondering is there a book or a source to obtain husking board patterns?
I don’t have any resources for husking board patterns, but I’ll post this on my Facebook page and see if anyone else can help!
Thanks for responding so quickly Meredith. I did the pattern you provided, and I seen some youtube videos, but that’s it. I appreciate the help.
I am new to quilling and feel lucky to have found your site. When you do the craft shows, what size are those pieces in the plastic? I think it would be great to try to make a size that people love. Is 5 x 7″ sheet large enough? or 8 x 11″? Obviously the actual quilled object would vary, but just wondering what people. tend to enjoy the best. Thank you!!
Hi Pam! I’ve done both sizes, but usually I use a 5” x 7” mat board as a backing when I make quilling to sell. I’ve found that the price point for those sizes were more acceptable for the customers. I would sell that size at about $30. But it never hurts to have a variety of sizes. Maybe throw in some lower priced items too, like bookmarks, gift tags, or cards, and a few larger pieces too.
Thank you so much! Your work is beautiful!
Bonjour, je trouve votre travail magnifique !!! je débute le quilling et j’avoue que vos astuces m’aident beaucoup notamment les tourbillons… je suis en train de faire un petit tableau pour ma petite fille, du moins j’essaie et je m’amuse beaucoup… mais l’astuce que j’aimerais aujourd’hui serait de savoir comment vous conserver toutes vos bandes de papier, non seulement les “entières” mais aussi les morceaux qu’il reste lorsqu’on coupe un bande un peu trop longue… je n’ai pas d’idées … je viens donc vers vous en espérant que vous pourrez me conseiller… je vais continuer la visite de votre site qui est un régal… merci pour tout. … PS… J’espère que vous comprenez le français et que vous pourrez me répondre.. bien cordialement
Bonjour, merci pour vos aimables paroles. Je suis un peu paresseux avec l’organisation de mes bandes de quilling. Je les garde généralement dans le sac dans lequel ils sont entrés ou je les place dans un vieux pot.
Meredith,
Thanks for the idea both the long spirals and small pieces will make for an interesting effect. 🙂
Robin
Meredith,
I’ve been looking for some kind of pattern for texas bluebonnets and i can’t really find one that actually looks like the flower, do you have any ideas?
Robin
Sometimes when I’m stuck on how to recreate a flower or something else in nature, I google that thing as a drawing (example – google texas bluebonnets drawing). You can usually find a simple outline drawing that can give you the basic shape and some inspiration. It’s worth a try!
Meredith,
There is a book called “Pin Board Designs” by Christine Herring. I found it on the Quilling Supply website “https://quillingsupply.com/quilling-craft-books/dvd/pin-board-designs/” currently she is out of stock for the book since the author is from England and she hasn’t been able to get the book back into stock yet. Hope this helps.
Robin
Meredith ,
Thank you for your inspiration. My question seems rather basic. How do you get the thick Elmer’s glue into your needle point bottles? The opening is so tiny, even if I found a small funnel the thickness of the glue would not allow it to drip into the empty bottle. Thanks for your help.
Louise
When I have to refill my bottles, I just unscrew the top off the needle-nosed bottle and fill it by very slowly squeezing my Elmer’s into it. I have definitely made a mess this way a few times, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. It usually happens when I try to fill it up too quickly and an air bubble gets stuck in the needle-nosed bottle. If I go slowly, it usually goes much better. I have seen those really tiny funnels, but I agree that they are so small that they would clog really quickly.
Hi Meredith. I have recently fallen in love with quilling and appreciate your videos. I have been buying supplies through Amazon. I found that the paper strips I have purchased vary in quality. Is there a brand of paper you like best?
I’ve bought a few packs from Amazon to try them out, but since those widths are typically different because of the metric system, I don’t prefer them. I usually choose Quilled Creations strips because they are nice and thick so they roll easily and also Craft Harbor Paper found on Quilling.com because their strips are very long and they have some colors I really like.
Hello, I’ve recently created a piece on 65lb paper as background. I’d like to mount it to a board backing, and need to know if there is an adhesive that you’ve used that will mount the finished quilled art, but not make the paper curl, or colours bleed? your help is appreciated.
Hi Noelle! I can’t give you exact advice because different types and colors of papers *could* react differently to glues, but papers usually curl or warp because of too much glue. As far as bleeding, I usually don’t have any problem with that with standard white glue, but if I were you, I would start by doing some test gluing with some scrap pieces of the same paper you used to make your piece and see if there’s any color bleeding. Also, check put the site Honey’s Quilling. She’s done extensive research and testing of all types of glues and sealants. You might find some additional advice there.
Do you have any tutorials on how to quill fonts?
I don’t, but I treat letters and words just like any other template. If you can find a font you like, print it out, pin it to your work board with wax paper on top, and just play around with your quilling until you are happy with the results. I know that’s not a tutorial but I hope it gives you a starting point 🙂
I h have bought quilling paper 3mm and 5mm and they are n@gmail.comot true to size and very thin What paper company is the best to buy? Im very frustrated Your tutorials are the best. Help please
Anne ladyannsc@gmail.com
There are lots of brands out there that use metric measurements, but I usually use Craft Harbor paper sold on Quilling.com and Quilled Creations paper sold on QuilledCreations.com. Both have paper that are 1/8”, 1/4”, etc. Craft Harbor paper is sold on longer strips but is thinner than Quilled Creations. I would try them out and see if you like them 🙂
What kind of paper/ backing should I adhere my designs to?
I like to build designs in a 12×12 sheet if scrapbooking paper. I often build something on a floral design in the background. Scrapbooking paper isn’t heavy enough. What are the best substrates for mounting quilling designs on?
Thank you
Claudia Coen
I like to use sheets of mat board. I buy a pack of 100 precut to 5” x 7”, but I have also bought large sheets at craft supply stores and cut them down myself for larger projects. You can also use your scrapbook paper on top if you want to use that too. Mat board is very sturdy but only about 1/16” thick. I hope that helps!
I have just recently discovered paper quilling and I live by your tutorials. Today I spent learning how to do the basic shapes and loved every minute of it! You are a joy…your voice is soothing and your demonstrations are so easy to follow. I am so excited to begin a project. I absolutely love the heart with flowers and vines. I downloaded the template for the shape of the heart. Is it possible to download and print the instructions? When I attempt to do this, only the writing shows not the pictures. If this isn’t possible, I will read on my computer (which is in another room 🙂 the step by step instructions. Please let me know. Much appreciated, an excited newbie!!!!
Hello Meredith, please disregard my request for the instructions for the Heart and vine template! I am following the instructions from your tutorial which is so fantastic!!!! It’s coming along wonderfully for a newbie, if I dot say so myself. You explain and demonstrate so clearly with fabulous tips and lengths of the paper for each step! I am so grateful that in researching quilling that I have be fortunate enough to discover you! Thanks again, Karen
I’m so glad it’s working out! I’ve been trying to figure out why the photos aren’t printing, but I’m stumped for now. Keep me posted when you’re done with your project. I’d love to hear how it turned out!
Thank you for your response. I’ve done all the flowers now working on the scrolls… I love this craft!!!! Enjoy your tutorials so very much. I’ve found my niche in these trying times. Karen
Miss Meredith, I have a question but first let me say THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome craft! I make lots of stuff, especially cards and was looking for a new element and I found YOU! You are a wonderful Teacher and I have enjoyed all your videos and advice.
And now to my question…. I have made two 8 x 10 topography pieces and the ONLY glitch is that since I create it on wax paper, it’s difficult to remove once done and mount it on a pretty background (shadow box or canvas.) Do you recommend doing pieces on wax paper and then remove OR create it on the actual finished background?
And again, thanks so much for all you do!!
Thank you for your kind words! I make my quilling on wax paper then transfer to its final surface, but that is a personal choice because I find it’s easier to correct mistakes that way. But it can be difficult to transfer depending on the design. If it’s easier for you to create on your final background, go for it!
Hi I’ve enjoyed your tutorials and as a beginner I’ve learned a lot. My question is what texture of paper do I build my project on….some say don’t use printer paper and don’t use card stock! my picture I did on the paper I used is gone all wobbly looking would that be from too much glue?
I cannot find your templates
I’ve printed your snowflake patterns. Are there instructions available as to the various sizes used
I do have a printable cheat sheet with all the measurements that go with the 4 snowflake templates. You can find it on this page: https://www.thepaperycraftery.com/quilling/how-to-make-quilling-paper-snowflakes/
How to choose the correct frame to the quilling art? Which is better the normal frame or shadow box?
You can use any frame that will fit your project, but it can be hard to find a frame that is deep enough without removing the glass (which is always another option). If you can’t find a frame that works for you, shadow boxes work perfectly fine as well.
Hi Meredith! Thanks for your hard work and dedication in sharing your amazing skills on this site. 🙂
My question. I see a lot of folks using watercolor under their quilling to add color behind a piece. Would that also require priming the paper with gesso? I’ve never worked with it before. Would you prime just the area you are painting?
Any other suggestions or thoughts on adding color to paper?
Thank you
Amy
I would do your painting and let it dry, but I would be afraid that any kind of gesso or other cover could damage your painting because of the high water content in them. You can experiment with a spray sealant because that doesn’t apply as wet. Definitely do a test first! You might find that if you use a very small amount of glue attaching your quilling to your painting that you don’t even need to protect your painting first.
I just want to thank you for your generous sharing if method steps and pictures for clarity, tools, and your general enthusiasm for just having fun with designing quilled flowers.
– much appreciated!
I look forward to reading your other ideas as I’m new to this craft.
Judy