We make New Year’s cards using the quilling technique

Basic quilling techniques

Quilling, or paper-rolling, is now a very popular type of needlework in Europe. Narrow strips of paper are twisted into spirals, from which filigree patterns and flowers are folded on postcards, photo frames, gift wraps, etc. Even whole pictures are created. Everything you need to master the basics of quilling at home: thin paper (special quilling kits are sold in art stores), a toothpick or an awl (to wind paper strips around them), tweezers and glue.

If you wind the paper tape tightly and secure the tip with a drop of glue, you will get a tight roll (this is how we will make blanks for small flowers and red Christmas berries).

If you wind it tight and release it slightly, a loose roll will come out. It can be shaped like a half-bomb or a drop by flattening the workpiece with your fingers (this is how we will make petals for a large flower).

To make a large fantasy flower, we need ribbons of red and green colors.

Petals for a large flower

First, prepare 10 petals: 7 large (each from 1 whole red ribbon) and 3 small (from 1/2 red ribbon). Each ribbon needs to be wound tightly, dissolve and form a part, as shown in the photo.

Stamens for a large flower

Now we will make thin stamens, for this take 1/2 part of the green ribbon, cut it lengthwise into two parts, and then divide each part into 4 more parts. You get 8 parts. Use an awl to make curls from 6 parts (see photo).

For a two-color fluffy flower core, we need a quarter of a red and a green ribbon. Using scissors with straight and sharp points, cut each ribbon across its entire length as often as possible (fringe size approximately 1 mm). The cutting height should not exceed 2/3 of the tape width to leave room for twisting.

Finishing the core of the flower

Now, with the help of an awl, you need to tightly, but very carefully, twist together the two cut ribbons, and, without dissolving, glue the ends of the ribbons with a drop of glue. For the convenience of wrapping, you can glue the ribbons together (see the previous photo). Let the element dry, and then fluff it in different directions.

Using tweezers, glue the flower petals to each other, glue the stamens and fluffy core on top. Our big flower is ready!

Small flowers are collected from round elements (size – 1/8 ribbon). Take 4 strips of milky color, cut each into 8 equal parts. This makes 32 strips. Take 28 strips, wind them tightly on the awl and, without dissolving, glue the ends of the ribbons with a drop of glue. Use the tweezers to collect 4 flowers. Before gluing the last flower detail, glue the stem of 1/4 of the green tape (see photo).

Using the same technology, make 26 round parts from a red ribbon, set 20 of them aside, and from 6 parts, collect 2 flowers (see photo).

To make a branch, take a whole green ribbon. Fold the end of the tape 1 cm. Step down 0,5 cm and bend the tape again. Then step back 0,5 cm again and bend the tape in the opposite direction.

Fold the branch tape to the end

Thus, form the branch to the very end. Glue the tip of the tape with a drop of glue.

Next, using an awl, bend the branches and give them a shape (as in the photo). You need to make 4 such branches.

To make spruce needles, you will need 1 whole green ribbon. It is formed in the same way as a branch, but without indentation.

Make 12 pieces of spruce needles.

Glue the needles to the branches

Then take 2 branches and glue 6 branches of needles to each of them, in the corresponding sinuses, starting from the bottom row.

Lush spruce branches for our New Year’s card are ready!

Take 2 branches set aside, cut them lengthwise into two parts, you should get 4 thin parts. Use an awl to bend the branches slightly inward. Now, using tweezers, glue the set aside red berry rolls between the branches, 5 elements to each.