Monday 15 April 2013

So Very Lovely...an adventure in quilling.


Hello Lovelies. Welcome to UK Scrappers Spring BlogHop. You may have arrived here from Hysteri-Cal. If you haven't and are wondering what the Blog Hop is about, or if you lose your way, you can start here, right at the beginning. 

Today I am going to share with you a layout incorporating some quilling. I have seen some amazing quilling on the internet. I think quilling works best using solid colours and with larger volume. I am not sure I have the patience to take on some of them so this is my version, using scrapbook patterned paper.

I did a rolled up Sizzix paper flower for my class at The Retreat last month.  One of the problem with rolling up the flower is in trying to keep the roll tight. I have often suggested using the pointy end of a pencil because  the tapered end keeps a tight bottom and slightly more open top....just like the centre of a flower.

One of my lovely student showed me a quilling tool. It was just perfect for the job. It has a small pointed end wtih a slit to hook the end of the paper in. Wasn't that clever.  Not having done quilling before, I was well impressed.

I decided to make my own quilling tool. I used a long bamboo skewers...you know, the one you use for satay and kebab. Using a craft knife, I make a small slit at the flat end of the skewer.  Neat or what ?

I cut out 0.5cm strips of patterned paper using knife and ruler. The reason mine is 0.5cm is because my ruler is marked at 1/2 cm interval.  Normally quilling papers come in 1/8" which is close to 0.5 cm. Either would be perfect for the job.

I rolled them up so.


I bunched up the rolled up paper to make a scroll.  I glued them together where they intersect the best that I can.


I added a thin strip of non-slip matting across the page. I wrapped up the wire from the little roses around some of the white Thickers letters. 


Next I added my paper scroll and photo.


Followed by my journalling and a few other finishing touches.


This is my finished layout, with a few nude Thickers cloud and rolled up paper on the edge. To balance out the large scroll, I also added a smaller one to the right.


I made this layout to record my gratefulness of having my boys and dearest A with me. They definitely make my world lovely. And what's more lovely stand in for "my world" than a river scene down the Cam? What makes your own world lovely ? I would love to know.

If you are visiting my blog as part of UKS blog hop, your next destination is Jimjams.

82 comments:

Wizbit said...

I love your LO Ifa, the quilled swirls are gorgeous, my Grandmother used to quill and made lots of cards... I'm wonderinf if her quilling tool will be in with the card stuff I was given after she passed away (I was deamed to be the other 'crafty one').... Now where on earth would it be!

Thanks for the inspiration.

Wizbit (Liz)

MiniOwner said...

Such a gorgeous page, Ifa. Thanks for sharing how you did it.
Sue x

purply bunny said...

ooooh love the quilling! thnaks for sharing! :)

purplybunny (uks)

Unknown said...

This is just stunning, I have some quilling stuff from when I started papercrafting. I will have to dig it out. Jen x

Lesley G said...

That's beautiful Ifa :)

Candace said...

Simple, stunning and very effective as usual Ifa. Love it

debbie r said...

Absolutely stunning as usual if a thank you

Unknown said...

A gorgeous page, Ifa. I've never mastered quilling- but might give it another try now.
Kim

CoventryAnn said...

Fab, I got into quilled flowers a short while back, am loving these swirls to add to them!

Unknown said...

Totally stunning - never thought of trying this on a LO

UKS teajenny

Lelly said...

What a great idea for a LO I must try this never having done so before

Thanks UKs lelly

Suzy said...

Vewry pretty Ifa, thanks for sharing this technique with us

HilaryB said...

Beautiful. Very delicate. Tigerlady

Katherine said...

Gorgeous Ifa, love the quilling and what an awesome photo too :)

Sue said...

Gorgeous page. Never tried quilling but I think I will give this ago. Thanks UKS sue1952

new2this said...

Haven't done quilling for aaaaages ... but this scroll suits the technique beautifully. Thanks for reminding me just how good it can look.

lorraine daniels said...

I've never attempted quilling but this lovely page makes me want to give it a go

scrappybluecat uks

susibee said...

Gorgeous page and the quilled swirls are super.

Thanks for sharing.

vixen said...

Stunning, I've not tried quilling before but it looks fantastic on the page. Thank you for sharing
from Boland :)

Paulinexxx said...

I have never tried quilling -it has never really appealed to be honest but you have made alerted my interest with your gorgeous layout and the way you have used it - pinned for future reference - thanks for sharing.
The skewer 'tip' is great too.
PaulineD UKS xxx

Christine said...

Beautiful LO. Fab technique. Thanks for sharing :)

chrisrydal x

Bethank said...

Lovely Lo the swirls add movement it goes great with the photo.
Meg baby UKS

Wendy said...

that is so pretty :-)
*here be dragons*

Jimjams said...

Hmmm - not tried quilling before, thanks for the sate stick tip! An interesting embellishment - fun to do too!
Jimjams x

Jo_annepinc said...

Beautiful, I haven't quilled in years, interesting you made your own tool. JoPink

Leigh xx said...

amazing!! Never tried quilling before but i def will now :)

Leigh11

Alison said...

Ifa - your page is so minimalist, yet so full of detail and interest! I just love how you've used quilling - I think any technique is cool, dependant upon how you use it, of course! Fab-u-lous!
Ali x

Sharon S said...

A simple, but effective and beauiful layout Ifa. Thank you. UKS - Sharon1973

Sian said...

Gorgeous! I love the simplicity of the colour scheme, I especially love the red flowers on the white letters, beautiful! I've bookmarked this to have a go. Thanks for sharing. Sian aka Violaceous :)

Mary B said...

Beautiful page stylish and it pulls you in. Thank you for sharing

Nikki said...

Yummy! Off to see if I've got any skewers! xxx

chris said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ali said...

gorgeous photo too, thanks for sharing.

cathy0536 said...

Gorgeous LO, and love the quilling

Unknown said...

I love this. I have some quilling stuff from when I started crafting. I will look it out and give this a go. Thanks for sharing :) (uks Jacqui200284)

Maria said...

aww Ive never tried that, that will be lovely, shall have a go (Maria in France on UKS)

Allycat x said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Allycat x said...

The quilling looks lovely Ifa, I haven't 'quilled' in a while, so I may revisit that hobby soon. Thanks for sharing.
Almost forgot my UKS name: AllycatD

Karen said...

I haven't done quilling for years but this is lovely :) Kitty Crafts UKS

kjjc said...

Stunning Ifa. Tanks for sharing the technique and the layout. KJJC - uks name

Tinker said...

Beautiful. Why have I never thought about making my own quilling tool? Thanks for a great idea. (TinkerHamilton UKS)

Julia said...

That is such a pretty layout and I would never have thought about using quilling on one. UKS - Julesaroony

furrypig said...

I have never thought that I would be tempted by the whole quilling thing but really love what you have created for your LO. I think my family and natural beauty make this world lovely to me. Thanks for sharing xxx

K said...

I never thought of using quilling on the page like that thanks for sharing :)
K (aka Sylphraven)

Claire said...

I used to have a quilling set when I was younger! Awesome page, very effective.

UKS - Clairewill

Yolanda said...

The paper scrolls are so effective, lovely. UKS - Scrappyyo

Sue Jones said...

Thats SO pretty - I need to get a quilling tool.
Soojay x

scarymary555 said...

Not a big fan of quilling but must say your example is lovely! Mary x

scarymary555 on UKS

House of Bears said...

Wow, we are in awe of your quilling. It's so pretty and so intricate.

misteejay said...

Beautiful LO and I love that quilling - TFS.

Toni xx
(misteejay)

Unknown said...

Such a great Lo, love the quilling it looks fab.

Lindschick xx

Beverley said...

Gorgeous LO...would like to try quilling. My 4 grandsons make my life lovely! uKS. bubbleblitt

marionh said...

what an interesting layout-love the idea--alibi

Anonymous said...

Ifa I always love your los - both here and in various mags. This one is great as it uses a traditional technique but makes it so modern. Love the colour palette!
Audrey - uks poetcrafty xxx

Chidkid said...

A lovely way to incorporate quilling

gillyb's crafting blog said...

oh wow, that swirl is so so beautiful. must have a go at that.

Cantstopstampin

Lesley said...

What a lovely idea. TFS. UKS Tagsie

Niki said...

I used to do quilling, but never quite got the hang of it, but after seeing this I will give it another go.

NIKIG

Jane said...

Such a beautiful page, the quilling works very well! - Cassia

Sarah said...

I'm the same as Niki. I'm having a go again after seeing this. Beautiful work. Thank you for the tutorial. Love, stillcrafting from UKS xx

debbie r said...

Commenting again after i forgot to add my uks name when i commented this morning LOL

Beanpie11 aka Debbie R

chris said...

Beautiful layout, love the swirls
Thank you
Chris55 - UKS

Unknown said...

Very pretty Ifa
Laura Godfrey

Fran said...

Super idea for a flourish. Beautiful

Fran (Hedgie)

Unknown said...

Love your use of quilling

Tigs said...

It's always good to incorporate other crafts into my card or scrapping so thank you for the idea :)

thriftycrafter said...

A nice twist on an old technique, fun.

Stacey ScrapRed said...

Learnt to quill as a teenager and haven't done it since - it looks fab!

Stacey Scrapred on UKS

Eileen said...

I've just bought some B&W quilling papers, and was deciding what to do with them - now I have inspiration LOL! Thanks, Ifa (Eileen C)

The Scrapbook Lady UK said...

Fabulous! Guess who is putting swirls on her next layout! Pinned it so I don't forget! jenx uks wear crafts

Unknown said...

wow, what a unique embellishment, how was it glued down?

Sam R said...

Thats a great inventive idea! can not wait to give it a go

uks - darm

Rooty said...

That's just gorgeous as always!

UKS name Fizzydrink

Summer Sunflower said...

Fabulous LO, great to see some quilling!!

Paula - UKS Summer sunflower

Gill said...

I'd never have thought of making my own swirls. Fabulous idea

UKS Meggie

TracyW said...

That is a really effective Ifa, and thanks for tip on making your own quilling tool.
UKS - mumof4girls

Jolene said...

Lovely page, love your adaptation of Quilling. UKS Jolene.

Gibby Frogett said...

Lovely project. I haven't done any quilling for years but this is very inspiring - thank you. Gill x UKS name is Seaside Crafter.

stitching lady said...

I've never seen quilling done with patterned paper - it's really effective.

Karen said...

This is definitely "oh so lovely" Ifa :) I love the quilling idea and the whole page is stunning. Pinned it :)
UKS PinkSparklyScrapper

Ann Martin said...

Such a pretty layout and I love the look of your quilled scrolls. I enjoy quilling too, and hope you'll keeping doing it.

Scrappi Sandi said...

Hi Ifa! I'm not on the blog hop but am on a massive Blogland catch up as I've been AWOL since April 1st!! I've so enjoyed your last few posts especially the 'Hello Sunshine' LO & this quilling tutorial is great...it's something I tried years ago & will now be trying again!! :D