What Makes a Great Quilling Newspaper? + How to Cut Your Ain

Image of quilling paper
Images via Little Circles

When it comes to quilling, one of the most overlooked but downright essential supplies to the craft is quilling paper strips. We painstakingly plan out our projects, gather every quilling tool we might possibly demand, and then plot out a color scheme. Very piffling idea is given to the newspaper itself. Yet without it, quilling would not exist quilling.

Modern quillers are spoiled in comparison to our paper rolling predecessors. We have options galore: hundreds of colors, creative finishes and golden edged papers and more than.

There are nonetheless times, though, when pre-cut quilling strips aren't platonic. Maybe you come across an amazing hand-dyed paper that you lot just have to use in your next quilling project or yous run out of black strips and need only three more to end. It'due south times like these that it's great to know how to cut your own quilling paper.

Cutting your own paper strips is extremely unproblematic; the trickier part in fact is knowing how to cull the right paper for the job. When we buy paper from quilling suppliers, they do the choosing for us. When cut your own, paper selection is up to you. Hither's what to consider.

Choosing the Weight

Image of multiple colored quilling paper strips

The weight of the paper (how thick information technology is) has a huge bear on on not only the finished project, but likewise on how easy information technology is to work with. Nigh commercial strips come in either writing weight (approximately 20 lbs.) or text weight (60-80 lbs.).

Writing weight

Writing weight paper is lighter — similar in thickness to the paper you'd typically use in your printer — which is useful for more traditional or delicate quilling. Still, lighter weight paper tears hands if you ask too much of it.

Text weight

Text weight is on the heavier side and is unremarkably preferred in modern quilling projects such as jewelry. A heavier newspaper can stand up upwards to stretching and more manipulation, but may not give you lot the traditional quilling wait you were going for. Play effectually with both so you can feel the most comfortable when making paper selections on your own.

Carte stock

A third weight category to know a trivial about is bill of fare stock, which is used in quilling typography projects and outlining in mosaics. Information technology too can vary vastly in weight from 60 lb. bristol weight up to 110+ cover stock. When working with card stock, retrieve that the heavier the weight, the less quilling-friendly information technology is. Bristol weight card stock can however be coiled and rolled up using a quilling tool, only cover stock would be too think to fit into a tool and would crack when rolled. The heavier weights, yet are an excellent selection for use in direct and gently curved lines.

Selecting a Finish

Paper variations are virtually boundless. With enough effort, you tin notice whatever paper in whatsoever cease you lot can think upwards. Not all finishes are the easiest to quill with, all the same, so consider a few things to avert disappointment and frustration later on y'all've gone to the trouble of cut it.

Metallic

Image of metallic paper quilling strips

Metallic paper has a great look and is a popular option for quillers who accept a special projection in listen. Nigh metal papers are available in a heavier text weight and are easy to cutting at abode. Keep in mind that the glossy stop is non as easy to glue, and it requires a bit more drying time and patience.

One-sided papers

Image of glitter paper

If you've ever walked downward the scrapbook alley of your local craft store, you may take been tempted to quill with some of the fabulously designed paper. One-sided newspaper can be an excellent selection for some projects, but remember that in quilling, information technology is the edge of the newspaper that shows. Since one-sided newspaper is commonly printed or backed on white, information technology's less than platonic for coils, but works well to outline a shape.

Specialty papers

wood quilling paper

Specialty papers can be a lot of fun to apply and need to be considered on an individual basis whether they are a skillful choice for cutting at home. The paper higher up is made from genuine cerise wood. It'due south lovely to look at but a picayune difficult to cut. Keep the paper'south special qualities in mind when it comes time to select a cut surface and implements. Safety kickoff!

Vat-dyed colored paper

Images of quilling paper

The easiest to cut, the easiest to quill, the easiest to find in your local store. Colored paper makes an excellent selection in most quilling projects. Be sure to choose paper that's acrid free and colorfast. Quilling is a fourth dimension-consuming project, and if yous want it to concluding, these variables are a must!

Finding the Correct Length

1 final thing to consider before stepping into the studio is the length of paper. A standard eight.v″ x eleven″ paper is the easiest to find, merely most quilling patterns use strips that are 17″ or longer. If you can find the larger size to cut, it will be slightly easier for follow-forth projects. If not, however, don't sweat it! A niggling gum is all y'all need to get the correct size.

How to Make Your Own Quilling Newspaper:

Image of supplies needed to cut quilling paper strips

At present that you are armed with the noesis to select the right paper for your project, you are ready to cut your ain quilling strips. To do so, you volition need the following supplies:

What You Demand:

  • Self-healing mat or appropriate cut surface
  • Ruler or 1000 stick
  • Craft knife or rotary cutter
  • Newspaper of selection

Footstep 1: Square up your edges

Image of squaring up your edges

Using the ruler on your self-healing mat, square upward the edges on the left-hand side of your paper sail.

Stride 2: Trim abroad the excess

Image of trimming away the excess

Utilize your yard stick to square upwardly the opposite side of your paper. A canvas is almost never cutting exactly perfect, and yous will demand to cut off the backlog earlier beginning to cut your quilling strips. I prefer using a rotary cutter instead of a utility pocketknife for safety reasons, but the choice is yours.

Step 3: Line it up

Image of lining up paper to cut quilling strips

Keeping your paper deeply in identify, move your yard stick to the left. Pay attention to the preset markings on the cocky-healing mat to give you the desired width when you cut.

Step 4: Cut your strip

Image of self cut quilling strip

When cutting with a rotary tool, I find it easiest to begin at the bottom and movement upward. When using a utility pocketknife, I discover the contrary to be truthful. Either way, lean heavily into the one thousand stick with your body weight and hand to avert slipping.

And there yous have it — self-cutting quilling paper! Repeat this same process as much as needed for your paper project.

Image of coil made with self cut quilling paper