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How to Make a Quilling Paper Dragonfly

June 6, 2018

After Mr. Craftery and I got married in 2009, we moved into a large townhouse in our town.

It was a perfectly nice home and we stayed for a number of years until we had our children and started running out of room.

One of my favorite things about that house was that every summer, dragonflies would appear from nowhere and buzz all around.

I guess it was because our house backed up to a small forest.

But the sight of those flittering, fluttering bugs always looked so magical to me!

This week, I’m making my own and sharing the steps so you can learn how to make a quilling paper dragonfly, too!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on the links below and make a purchase I may receive a small compensation to help me finance this site and keep coming up with awesome tutorials and tips! There’s no cost to you and I only ever include links to companies and products that I trust and work with on a regular basis. 




Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

To start, grab the paper of your choosing and a couple extra tools.

I decided to make the main body of my dragonfly black, but I also wanted the wings to stand out.

The rose gold metallic paper from JJ Design is a perfect choice!

Also, think about grabbing some clear glue.

I get much cleaner results and less dried glue-bits when I use clear glue with black quilling paper.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Let’s begin with the tail section.

To make this simple, I chose to make my quilling paper dragonfly’s tail from multiple tight black coils.

But to make them a little more interesting, I’m adding a ring of bright color.

So I measured out 5″ of black paper, 3″ of orchid, and another 2″ of black.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Roll the 5″ strip into a tight coil.

I’m playing with the Savvy Slotted Quilling Tool again for these coils because I’ve found it makes really quick and even quilled shapes. Read my recent review here!

 

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

With the black roll still on your tool, glue one end of your bright strip to your coil, and wrap tightly.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Finish with the shorter black strip, attaching and wrapping the same way as the bright strip.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com


Repeat these steps to make 7 coils.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Now for the head and main body of the dragonfly!

For this part, roll 2 8″ strips and shape into teardrops.

Then, roll a 6″ strip, pinch into another teardrop, but add two other small pinches on the sides for a rounded triangle shape.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Tightly glue the two teardrops into an upside-down heart.

Add the triangle to the end.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

As your head and body dry, glue the 7 coils in a row to make the tail.

The tail can be straight or at a slight bend.

Your choice!

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com




To make the wings appear light and translucent like real dragonfly wings, I reached for my quilling comb.

I know, I know. I’ve been bringing out the quilling comb a lot lately, but it’s so versatile!

Grab a full strip of metallic quilling paper and roll a couple times on your needle tool to make a small loop.

Place this loop on the first tooth of your comb with the tail towards the back.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Bring the tail of your strip back to the front at the third post of your comb.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Pull the end back up to the top and around the back, making a full circle.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Keep wrapping your metallic strip around your comb in the same way, adding another space on your comb as you go.

After the eight loop, tear off any extra paper and secure the end using a tiny bit of glue.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Gently remove from your quilling tool.

Your paper should look similar to the photo below.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

To make these look more wing-like, you’ll need to shape them a bit.

I was looking for the wings to have one flat side and the other a little more bowed.

Start by bending your wing gently over your thumbs and pinching the ends slightly.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

You can see below how the left side of the wing is more domed than the flatter right side.

If need be, use your fingers to separate the rounded side.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

I found it helpful to add a touch of glue between the layers on the flat end.

Simply dip a toothpick or your needle tool in clear glue and apply a dab …

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

The shape and shine are similar to the glassy look of real dragonfly wings!

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Make the rest of the wings in the same way.

The bottom halves can be made a little smaller.

I only wrapped these around 6 teeth on my quilling comb instead of 8.

Don’t forget to pay close attention to how you’re bowing your wings.

The two sides are mirror images of each other.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Glue the wings to your dragonfly body.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

I tried adding some tiny antennae and golden wings to another dragonfly.

But I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

They look ready to take off!

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

Quilling Paper Dragonfly ~ Make your own flittering, flying summertime bug! || www.ThePaperyCraftery.com

I hope you’re inspired to make some summer crafts once you’ve mastered how to make a quilling paper dragonfly.

Maybe add some quick quilled grass, since you’ve already got a quilling comb handy.

Also a quick note: You may notice fewer posts and tutorials this summer from me. I’m planning on enjoying these next couple months with Moose and the Bean, so I’m going to be aiming for a new post every two weeks. I may add an extra here or there, but we’ll see what happens!

In the meantime, enjoy making these sweet insects!





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in Quilling, Tutorials # quilling paper bugs, quilling paper dragonfly, quilling paper tutorials, Summer Quilling Crafts

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Comments

  1. Joy says

    June 6, 2018 at 3:57 pm

    Got my savvy tool yesterday, making dragonfly’s today, thank you so much, Joy

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      June 6, 2018 at 6:28 pm

      Perfect, Joy! Let me know how it goes!

      Reply
  2. Norma says

    June 6, 2018 at 7:10 pm

    Thank you. Love your clear instructions.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      June 6, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      You’re very welcome! Thank you for the feedback. Happy crafting!

      Reply
  3. Cindy says

    July 9, 2018 at 9:16 am

    I love the way you have done the body with the teardrops, I’ve never seen it done that way! Enjoy your summer with your family. I am trying to spend more quality time this summer with my husband as well. I keep hearing quilling calling my name and I’m not sure I can keep putting her off..she is so persistent! Lol

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      July 9, 2018 at 10:33 am

      Thanks for understanding, Cindy. I’m still finding it hard to get everything done that I’d like too! Enjoy your summer!

      Reply
  4. Eldrid Rivas says

    November 9, 2018 at 6:57 pm

    I love quilling,and you are the best.Thanks for such good instruction

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      November 9, 2018 at 8:34 pm

      That’s so nice to hear! Thank you so much!

      Reply
  5. Sanne says

    January 27, 2019 at 8:57 am

    I have made the dragonfly thnx so much for the tutorial! But I still have one question, which size circels did you use for the body and the head? My head keeps on turning out to big to my liking :p

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 27, 2019 at 8:18 pm

      I’m so glad they’re working out, Sanne! The strips for the body were 8″ long, and the one for the head was 6″. Of course, they can be made smaller if you like that look better!

      Reply
  6. Sanne says

    January 28, 2019 at 5:28 am

    Thanks voor youre reply 🙂
    When I asked about the size of the circles I meant the size on the quilling board, when they roll louse, I hope i explain it a bit understandeble :p but reading youre answer I think you don’t work with a board 😜
    How do you get them all the same size then, that must be a bit of a challenge! I’m gonna try to make one without the board also verry curious if I can get them all in the same size 😅

    Ps: I used a smaller circle on my board and now the head and body turned out good 😃
    So my next challenge is making them without the board 😜😜

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      January 28, 2019 at 7:36 am

      I see. You’re right; I didn’t use a board to measure these coils. I let them open naturally. I’m so glad you’ve found a solution!

      Reply
  7. Nel Vana says

    August 16, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    I am new to quilling and happily came across your site. Thank you so much for all the information! I made a dragonfly – my second project ever! I wasn’t sure either about your antennae but it looked a bit incomplete without them. So I took a 1″ piece of paper, wrapped it tightly about 1/2 way and left the rest straiight. Voila – an antenna with a little curl at the end! I think they look great. Thanks again for your site .. I will be sure to click through on any sponsor links so that you benefit.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      August 16, 2020 at 7:55 pm

      So glad you’ve found my site and that you’re finding it helpful! Great idea on the antennae!

      Reply
  8. Benu Mehra says

    March 28, 2021 at 2:53 am

    Thank you so much for your very clear instructions. It helps a lot to make quilling things perfectly. Your work is absolutely very very neat. I love watching your videos. So keep inspiring us with your more new creations. God bless you. ❤️😍

    Reply
  9. Marilyn Conrad says

    March 29, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    I am making the dragonfly have a couple of questions how do you connect the tail do you put in a frame or card I have all the pieces it is just connecting yhem

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      March 30, 2022 at 8:19 pm

      To connect the tail, I just glued it to the body with a small dot of glue and it will work in either a card or framed. Your choice! 😊

      Reply

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