It’s no secret that lots of crafters are supply hoarders.
Quilling paper artists are no different!
There is always the newest tool or another pack of paper strips to buy.
It is easy to get overwhelmed!
But a newcomer to quilling doesn’t really need many supplies at all!
Today, I’m sharing the essential toolkit for quilling beginners so all newcomers can get started now!
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Paper
Obviously, there is no quilling without paper!
Quilling paper is a little difficult to find in stores, but it is available by the tons online.
Every color and shade, multiple lengths, thick and thin. You can find it all.
Many experienced quillers prefer cutting their own strips, but for now, buy a bunch of packs of paper and just start quilling!
Quilling tool
Yes, you can make due with a wooden dowel or a toothpick, but for under $10, you can pick up a needle tool and a slotted tool.
Grab them both and see which you like better.
If you need some tips on which tool to use, check out this post on the difference between the two tools.
Glue
Glue is another supply that all quillers have a personal preference about.
I mostly use regular, old extra-strength white glue.
It dries quickly but is still moveable for a few moments.
I also like to have some Tacky Glue around for 3D quilling and a small bottle of clear glue for gluing black strips.
There is really no need to get fancy with your glue!
Needle-nosed glue bottle
A glue bottle with a small nozzle is another item you can pick up for a couple dollars that will make your quilling much more efficient.
Fill it up once every few weeks, and you’ll be able to glue your shapes and strips quickly and easily.
If you tend to make a mess with your glue, this one is for you!
Tweezers
Now, I went without using needle-nosed tweezers for a few years, but when I finally got some… I was amazed at how handy they are!
I use them constantly to pick up small coils, to work in tight spaces, or to hold strips in place while they dry.
They are super handy.
Cutting mat with measurements
I can’t recommend a cutting mat enough!
I keep one on my workspace at all times, so I can quickly lay a strip down and tear off exactly what I need.
No more hunting for a ruler when I’m trying to keep all my strips the same length.
The mat is in front of me all the time!
Corkboard
At this point in my quilling journey, I have quite a collection of corkboards to work on.
Corkboards are really useful to build your quilling masterpieces on and to pin pieces together while they dry.
And I think for the beginner, a really handy tool is a board with a coil template on the back.
Once you get the basics of quilling down, you can start gathering more fun supplies, like quilling combs, fingers and molds.
Are there any other basic quilling tools that you really love? Leave a comment below!
I haven’t done quilling in so long and miss it. I was happy to see that I have all the things listed in your essential tool kit. I think that quilling would be wonderful on my handmade greeting cards. Thank you for your post.
That’s wonderful, Pat! Quilling and cards are a perfect fit! Check back in if you can and let me know how it is working out.
I use toothpicks to apply the glue. I put a small amount of the glue in a 2lt bottle cap so I don’t accidentally get glue on my fingers or elsewhere. I also use small sharp scissors to trim uneven rolls. I’m a newbie so my work isn’t perfect yet. But I love quilling! Thanks for your posts.
Thanks for the tips, Pat! I have used toothpicks in the past, but I always ended up with a big blob of glue on the end. Scissors are really handy, too!
I’ve just recently learned about quilling, I might have to try it out! Thanks for the tips!
I do think quilling is starting to gain in popularity again. I hope you will give it a try. It’s so simple to start!
This is super helpful! I’ve never done it myself but friends of mine have and it looks so cool. 🙂
Thanks so much, Christine!
I have been wanting to start this. Thanks for the great info!
You’re so welcome, Celeste! I hope you find it helpful!
Love all your post and designs, you sure have a talent. I hope I can get as good as you. I’ve only been doing it for a few months, and you are correct it is easy. I still have some trouble with some odd shaped ones.
Thank you for the kind words, Laurie! I’m sure your quilling is coming along nicely. And you’re right, some of those odd shapes can be tricky!
I started quilling a few months back but the swirls were my most difficult to get right. Thank you so much for these instructions, you make it look so easy. Much appreciated.
That’s so great to hear, Debbie! Swirls were tricky for me for the longest time, too. I’m so glad you’re finding some useful info here!
Good morning Meredith! I know this is a new comment on an old post but I wish just wondering if you could share a resource for quilling paper. I have tried different online stores, and some of the quality is just not up to par. Many thanks! TORI
Hi Tori! Quilling paper definitely varies by manufacturer and even by color sometimes. I don’t know if you’ve used quilling.com or Custom Quilling by Denise. They are the 2 sites I use the most because they have the most variety, but I prefer my paper on the thinner side. I do find Quilled Creations brand to be a medium weight paper that works well for most projects. LittleCircles.net sold really vibrant paper, but they seemed to not be active on their site right now. Quilling paper does seem to be more available on Amazon, but you’d have to trust the reviews. I’ve tried out a few packs and found them to be a little thicker, but they usually are wider than other commercial paper strips. If you’re not finding what you’re looking for, you could always cut your own.
Thank you Meredith!! I really appreciate your input. I have browsed two of those sites, but I’m not familiar with Custom Quilling by Denise, this is very helpful Thanks again!
Hello, I hope this finds you well. I just stumbled across your site by accident and i am so glad i did. I became disabled due to a brain infection 6 years ago and started making greetings cards at home for the local to me charity that helped me to live again. They showed me what i still can do rather than can’t do, so i make cards for them to sell for much needed funds, my very small way to give back to them for all they have done for me. I thought quilling wouldn’t be something i would manage to do with my lack of coordination and jerking but you inspired me to have a go and with perseverance i can do it with some nice results. I want to thank you as without input from your website and tutorials i do not think i would have been inspired to try and to continue trying until i succeeded! So thank you truly from the bottom of my heart as now i can make even more new cards for the charity to sell in different designs.
Thank you for reaching out and sending me this lovely message! I’m so honored to have been able to be a small part of your journey 😊. If I can help in anyway or answer any questions, please feel free to send me an email at thepaperycraftery@gmail.com