December 31, 2009

Video: Quilled Poinsettia Tutorial by Ann Martin

Paper Quilling from Ann Martin on YouTube.

Somehow I overlooked this fantastic video tutorial by Ann Martin :( Eventually I watched it and enjoyed very much! Check out Ann's post with the list of supplies and instructions, too: That's Clever Video - Quilled Poinsettia Tutorial .

December 25, 2009

Flowers of Israel, framed paper quilling art

Flowers of Israel, paper quilling

This is another of my big quilling projects, along with the quilled flowers on black velours background. The design is mine, from beginning to end. In this quilling picture I tried to reproduce a few species of Israeli flowers that bloom in February through April. Here they are, left to right:

  • yellow Lupin(e),
  • red Poppy,
  • white Iris,
  • purple Maltese Cross Ricotia (Egyptian honesty),
  • white Chamomile,
  • yellow Dandelion,
  • pink Cyclamen,
  • dark purple Cloven-Petalled Campion.

Besides the flowers, there's also a quilled Gonepteryx butterfly (also known as brimestone) and a ladybug. For this project I mostly used 1/16"-wide strips (1.5mm); but for the ladybug, foliage, and lupin flowers popular 1/8"-wide (3mm) strips were used. I cut-out the leaves of the chamomile using small scissors. Size of the finished artwork: 9x9 inches (23x23cm). Sorry, no close-up photos this time :(

December 15, 2009

Sacred lotus seedpod, clay sculpture

Lotus seedpod painted clay sculpture

Here are my excuses for not blogging as often as usual: I've been taking art classes! This clay sculpture is one of my first projects. It's a dried seedpod of the sacred lotus.

December 10, 2009

Quilling tips, patterns and tutorials round-up

Basic quilling shapes

With 200+ posts and counting, my blog has grown too large, so I'll be posting a series of round-ups in an attempt to make some order. I'll start with quilling (paper filigree) tutorials, and you are invited to suggest a subject for a next one.

December 7, 2009

Miniature quilled Hanukiyot

Tiny quilled Hanukkah Menorah with candles

I think these Hanukiot (Hanukkah Menorah's) are my last Hanukkah crafts for this year. I'll be giving them to friends and family, hope they'll like my miniature handmade gifts.

December 4, 2009

Homemade flying saucer Hanukkah Menorah

Flying saucer Hanukiah with candles

This year's Hanukkah Menorah (Hanukiah) — a flying saucer (UFO). Every year we're trying to come up with a new idea for homemade Hanukkah Menorah. Last year it was the Hanukiah with houses, the year before — Hanukiah with jugs, and so on.

November 30, 2009

Quilled cyclamens framed art

Quilled cyclamens

This is one of my old quilling pieces inspired by nature, my attempt to make cyclamens with their unique flowers and patterned leaves. As an accent I added the red-and-black firebug, a little larger than life-size. In Israel, both cyclamens and firebugs can be seen in February through April.

November 20, 2009

Hanukkah (Chanukah) crafts

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) is a Jewish holiday, the Holiday of Lights. This year it will be celebrated in mid-December. You can read about Hanukkah in Wikipedia, but if you're looking for craft ideas for Hanukkah, I have a few to share:

Hanukkah Quilling and Greeting Cards

Miniature Hanukkah Menorah, quilling Quilling card with Hanukkah Menorah
Quilling card with dreidels Quilled Hanukkah Menorah

November 19, 2009

Make a space rocket toy from toilet paper rolls

Space rocket kids craft

Some time ago I stopped throwing away toilet paper rolls, because they can be used in a variety of craft projects. This toy rocket is another example of such easy and eco-friendly kids crafts.

November 16, 2009

November 15, 2009

Make a Hanukkah-themed lantern from a milk carton

Hanukkah-themed lantern

Hanukkah is coming, and I'd like to suggest this simple craft idea. A Hanukkah-themed lantern can be made with kids, it doesn't require special skills or materials and lets you recycle things you would otherwise throw away.

November 7, 2009

How to make a beveled picture frame out of paper

Quilled passionflower in a paper frame

Long awaited instructions and templates for making a beveled paper frame I've used for my quilling projects "Poppies" and "Dandelions and raspberries". To additionally illustrate the use of a frame like this, I've created a quilled passionflower, which isn't a thoroughly designed work, so be indulgent, please.

October 31, 2009

Making bookmarks with paper punches

Bookmark with hearts Bookmark with autumn leaves

I've been playing around with my paper punches. My husband is an avid reader and often runs out of bookmarks. I hope you understand why the first design is made up of hearts :) The second one is fall-themed. I cut out the large leaf using scissors, the rest are paper punches. Just another way to make something nice and handy with paper crafts. Don't know why, but I love these simple tricolor designs.

October 30, 2009

Book: Paper Crafts Workshop

Paper Crafts Workshop. Cover

Today I'm sharing a short review of the wonderful "Paper Crafts Workshop: A Beginner's Guide to Techniques & Projects". Writing about it is particularly pleasant, because from this book I've learned about paper quilling for the first time.

October 26, 2009

Pattern: Quilled bat for Halloween crafts

Quilled bat

I've decided to write the instructions for quilling a bat in a separate post. I have also added a diagram to make it clear.

October 22, 2009

Wedding anniversary cards with quilling

With Love. Card with spiral rose Wedding anniversary card with quilled flower

I made these two greeting cards for wedding anniversaries: one for my husband (and myself :), the other for my parents. For both cards I used paper punches and pattern-edged scissors. The first card features a spiral rose with veined leaves, the second — a simple quilling flower. The lettering done with a gel pen. The butterflies on the second card are paper punches. Look closer at the flower center, I used a punch for it, too.

October 19, 2009

Paper quilling for kids: 10 tips

Examples of primitive quilling

I'm happy to have an opportunity to "blend" my two favorite subjects — children's crafts and quilling — in one post. Today I'm giving some tips for kids' quilling, based on my personal experience.

But before you read on, you may want to check out the basic quilling instructions.

Doing quilling helps in developing fine motor skills, creativity, patience, and diligence. But most importantly, it's just another way to have fun with your kids! So, here are my observations and recommendations.

October 12, 2009

Witch and wizard paper craft

Paper craft witch and wizard

Many of my readers celebrate Halloween, so I thought I'd post something related. Do you like these cute witch and wizard? They can be made out of paper withing a very short time. Actually, you can make any figure following the same principal: create a paper cone, cut out and attach arms and hands, then just decorate and add attributes and accessories. For the wizards it's a magical wizard hat and Turkish shoes, for the witch it's also a broomstick. Got it? Well, I'll try to make some order:

September 29, 2009

Video: An Introduction to Quilling

This is the best video about paper quilling I've found so far. It's been in my favorite links section for a long time, and I thought I'd put it on the blog, too. You might also like other video tutorials in their YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Another award

I received an award from Regina at "Handmade by Regina". Thank you very much, Regina! This is such an honor to be nominated by a great fellow quiller like you. Unfortunately, for me passing awards on requires a lot of time, so I'll do it later some time. Sorry.

September 26, 2009

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 3

Quilled poppies, detail

With this post I'm finishing the three-part tutorial on making quilled poppies. If you haven't seen the previous parts, here's the full list:

  1. Instructions for making quilled petals using husking;
  2. How to make the centers using the fringed flower technique and assemble the flowers;
  3. How to make the foliage (husking) and the dandelion flower (fringed flower).

September 23, 2009

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 2

Quilled poppy flowers, close-up

What I like about paper filigree is that it presents almost endless challenges, and I like challenges :) In this project the poppy centers were a challenge, at least to me.

Just to remind you, this is the second part of a three-part tutorial on making quilled poppies:

  1. Instructions for making the petals;
  2. How to make the centers and assemble the flowers;
  3. Making the foliage and the dandelion.

September 18, 2009

Quilled poppies step-by-step, part 1

Quilled poppies and dandelion, framed

My last quilling work, two poppies and a dandelion; its size is about 7 x 7 1/2 inches (17.5 x 19.5 cm) framed. This time I'd like to share with you complete, step-by-step instructions for making it. When I say "complete", I mean that you will see how each and every part of this piece was made. Actually, this will be a series of three tutorials, due to the relatively large number of different elements:

  1. Petals of poppy flowers;
  2. Flower centers and assembling the poppies;
  3. Foliage and dandelion flower.

September 17, 2009

Spooky spider cake :)

Spider cake

I made this spider cake for one of my kid's birthdays. I thought I'd post it before Halloween, for my readers who celebrate this holiday.

September 14, 2009

Quilled moth and flowers in a shadowbox

Quilled flowers, general view

I'm back to quilling flowers. I know it may sound strange, but the starting point for this work has been a black shadowbox frame I bought once. This frame was just begging to be used for quilling. It's a square frame, 9x9 inch (23x23cm), so a circle layout seemed to be a natural choice for the composition. Once again I've got the inspiration from a Helen M. Stivens' book. This time it was "Embroidered Flowers". I used it to create a design of my own, made a sketch, and set to work.

September 10, 2009

Quilled Rosh Hashanah cards, final

Quilled apple, bee and honeycomb

It's time to wrap up making Rosh Hashanah greeting cards for this year. Seems like I've made enough for all friends and family :) This is the third and final set, the previous two can be found here:

Well, the one at the top isn't too much original. Apples (how to quill apples) with honey are traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah eve. Size: 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 inch (8 x 8 cm).

September 7, 2009

Letter and number cookies

Letter and number cookies

Isn't this an excellent way to learn! Kids have fun making letters and numbers and then... eating them.

September 5, 2009

Quilled Rosh Hashanah cards, continued

Greeting card with a quilled pomegranate

I've been still making Rosh Hashanah greeting cards for this year. Here's another set of cards. The first two cards were made according to the same sketch. Just like with the previous set, I used oil pastels to color the edges and stickers for the lettering. I also added tiny rhinestones at the corners.

Size of the square cards is approximately 3 7/8 x 4 1/8 inches (10 x 10.5 cm).

September 4, 2009

Blog awards

First off, I must say that I don't like blog awards. They require a great deal of skills in public relations, which I'm not good at. Having said that, I'm sincerely grateful to Juhi, Monica, AlenysWka, Konul and Rina for nominating my blog. Thank you!

Book: Nature Printing

Book Nature Printing. Cover

The book "Nature Printing" is not about paper filigree :) This is a wonderful art & craft book and kids' crafts book, though, and I'd like to share with you my impressions of it.

August 30, 2009

Homemade kaleidoscope toy

The kaleidoscope is one of those toys that make me nostalgic for my childhood. Today, just before children go back to school, I'd like to show how to make a homemade kaleidoscope toy. On the photo above you can see samples of what's seen through the kaleidoscope I've built with my kids. Each pattern is enclosed in a black circle because of the way I photographed them. In reality though, you should see continuous patterns throughout the field of view.

August 27, 2009

Rosh Hashanah cards with quilling

Just like one year ago, I'd like to share a few ideas for greeting cards for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On these cards you can see two words in Hebrew: שנה טובה (shana tova). They mean "a good year", this is the traditional greeting on Rosh Hashanah. Pomegranates, apples and honey are all symbolic foods.

August 20, 2009

Bat birthday cake

Bat cake

I made this bat cake for my twins' third birthday. This happened about a year and a half ago, though. Such a cake is very easy to make: its components are cut out of a round sponge cake and coated with chocolate cream. The eyes, ears and teeth were made of marzipan, although colored cream or candies can be used as well.

I found this great idea in Kids' Party Cakes. Maybe someone will find it useful, especially now, when Halloween is almost here :)

August 3, 2009

Quilled white dandelions and raspberries, framed art

Dandelions and raspberries. Quilling

This is my new dandelion project, the last one out of three designs with dandelions I planned to do (the other two are Dandelions and violets and Dandelion). If you wondered how I make the seed-heads, here are the instructions:

August 2, 2009

Turquoise clay hamsa with a template

Paper quilling isn't my only passion. I also like making Hamsa wall hangings (Chamsa, Chamsah). Here's a brand new one. I wrote about making these decorations in a number of posts, for example here is a short tutorial.

July 30, 2009

Quick & simple summer cards

Two ideas for simple cards for summertime, one with an ice-cream cone and the other with a chocolate mousse dessert. Actually, these are not cards but magnets. They are based on quilling patterns from one of my favorite quilling books, Twirled Paper: Make Almost Anything With Simple Paper Strips, which I recently wrote about. I used cheap children's colored paper for the quilling and background, and gold acrylic paint to decorate the cards with dots.

For a bit more complex summer card projects:

July 27, 2009

Dog-rose and butterflies, framed paper quilling

Quilled dog-rose with moth and butterfly

As I already wrote, Helen M. Stevens' Embroiderer's Countryside has been a great source of inspiration to me.

This dog-rose was also inspired by her stunning work. I had to figure out how to quill it, though. I had made the flowers with husking and the hips in three-dimensional quilling, but was still struggling the leaves. I tried traditional quilling shapes and husking, but ended up making simple paper leaves with veins.

July 24, 2009

Project: "Have a great vacation!" card with a quilled crab and sailboat

Another simple handmade card with elements of paper quilling (a step up from the summer card I showed). The quilled shapes require some experience in quilling (especially the crab, which is very tiny), so I can't say this is beginners level. I also tried to incorporate some embossing into this project.

July 22, 2009

Quilled dandelions and violets, framed work

My first quilled dandelions turned out so successful, that I was asked to make more of them for my friends. As I try not to use the same design twice, I added violets to the composition this time.

July 20, 2009

DIY: Homemade crimpers for quilling paper

Crimped strips can be used in paper quilling along with regular strips to add special effects and freshness to your projects. A crimper is a device that consists of two cogs, which a quilling strip is run through. The cogs must be wide enough to cover the width of a strip. A crimper can be purchased in one of quilling supplies shops, but for some of you (like for me) that's not possible. After looking for suitable cogs to make a DIY crimper for quilling strips, I've finally got it and wanted to share with you my solution.

July 18, 2009

Project: Summer card with a quilled slice of orange

You know, I'm not too much into scrapbooking and cardmaking, but from time to time I create greeting cards for my friends and family. This one is a pretty simple paper card with elements of paper quilling. I wrote a short tutorial on making this card, hope beginners will found it useful.

July 17, 2009

Make a cardboard castle using discarded boxes and toilet paper rolls

There are many ways to build a castle with children. Once I already made a small cardboard toy castle with my kids, but this time we wanted something more impressive. For our castle we collected cardboard boxes of different size, and toilet paper tubes. Using those building blocks, paint and some colored paper, we created this castle with floors, round towers, windows and a cone-shaped roof.