When Paper Does Art

Paper quilling is an art form that uses strips of paper and glue to create intricate tracery. The history of quilling paper dates back to the Renaissance when the nuns and monks would use gilded paper to decorate books and other scriptures. It became an aristocrat's hobby and in the modern era, has spread to the masses as a common way to decorate just about anything without having to spend too much. This art form closely mimics ironwork filigree where strips of paper are coiled, rolled and crimped into shapes that can be combined to form larger designs and artwork.

Over the years, paper quilling has gained immense popularity because of its straightforward and self-explanatory learning technique and easily procurable materials. Although different tools like the needle tool, crimpers, quilling comb and paper quilling kits are readily available in stores, these can be easily substituted with items lying around the house. Professional crafters use a lightweight but sturdy paper to make the paper strips. The pre-made strips come in all different colours and textures.

If you don't want to make an investment in buying paper quilling materials, regular A4 paper or even newspapers will do the trick. Instead of a slotted tool, you can also use toothpicks, skewers or the ink reservoir of a pen for coiling. Alternatively, the sticks of our handy-dandy jharu will work wonders as well. For newspaper quilling, the paper tubes should be flattened with something smooth like the back of a spoon or scissors before giving it shape. A fast drying white glue is most suitable for holding the quills in place. In theory, the crafts seem to be flimsy and fragile but you'll be astonished to see how well-built and durable the structure comes out to be.

Apart from being an excellent way of expressing one's artistic abilities, paper quilling has a useful side as well. It is usually used to make 3D cards, pendants, charms and a myriad of other personalised gifts. Newspaper quilling is also a great way to make practical and functional items. From DIY newspaper bikes to paper jewellery, anything can be crafted through this technique. Though this craft is a tad time-consuming, the end results are worth the effort.  Be it for enjoyment or just for passing time, paper quilling is a fun skill to acquire. The simplicity behind this craft has made it popular among kids and adults. Go rogue with the paper and let your imagination soar up to the sky. Inspire to create!

Farnaz Fawad Hasan considers herself to be the fifth member of The Try Guys. Suggest her things to try at [email protected]