Flower Box Card for Thanks and Birthday

Gift cards are great - one size fits all, and they can choose what they want. But how do you personalize that ubiquitous gift card? For me, unwrapping a gift a part of the fun. Well, I guess I mean wrapping it up for someone to unwrap is THE funnest part of all! I just love seeing them gasp and ask if it's all made of paper. I love it even more when my card is the chosen one to stay on the shelf when all the others get tossed.

My nephews wanted to give their teachers an appreciation gift, so I designed a box card that also has a pocket for a gift card.

Paper Anemone Flowers

Don't you just love how nature supplies the perfect color palette? Anemone flowers have so many variations that I never get tired of looking at my finished blossoms.

My favorite part is how the center dome is covered in what looks at first to be pollen.

They are great as table setting decor or as a 3D greeting card. Can you imagine using this on top of gift boxes instead of a bow? I'd have a hard time opening my gift.

I teach how to make these anemone flowers in my Craftsy class, Quilled and Sculpted Cards, as well as 6 other lessons. To celebrate Black Friday, ALL their classes $19.99 or less! It's the best deal of the year and you can watch whenever you like because it'll never expire.

A Tribute to Aunt Berni

I received a message through FaceBook from Kirsten the other day, whose Aunt Berni passed away a few years ago. While cleaning out her belongings, Kirsten and her mom found a box of quilling supplies and wanted to find someone who would appreciate and use her supplies. I was the incredibly lucky person they found, and I wanted to express my gratitude by writing a tribute to her aunt by showcasing her work and tools.

Berni (Bernice Spencer Wilmeth) enjoyed quilling flowers and created this lovely bouquet full of a variety of blossoms. There's something about ovals that frame a bouquet nicely. Kirsten tells me the quilling is on top of olive green raw silk - can you imagine using that in your craft room? I've never thought about quilling on top of fabric. My favorite is the blossom near the middle, shown from the side in a range of pinks. A similar, smaller bud is just to the left of it.

Here is a basket of flowers she made. Can you see all the layering involved here in the basket weaving and overlapping flowers? Can you imagine the patience it took to place all those elements? They didn't have Zig glue back then!

I now know how archeologists must feel, with fingers tingling to peel back the years, uncovering treasure. Her box of half-made shapes were safely stored in a hosiery box. Unopened strips were .49 cents for 50 strips, purchased at American Handicraft.

This is the slotted quilling tool Berni used - Hazel's Quill Quiky! Don't you just love this retro teal? My mom had a hand blender in this color. There is a hand cranked slotted tool and a disk with circle template. Turn the disk over to uncover a storage area for pins. They're used for making eccentric coils and maquise shapes. I think they took more care back then to ensure they were very even.

The slot is similar to ones I've seen for making paper beads. One hand holds the strip in place and the other cranks the lever on the opposite side. Even though the turning isn't smooth anymore (perhaps needs cleaning or from disuse), the tension is extremely even!

She had 4 books from the 70s, some purchased from F&W Smith for 1 dollar. The basic beginner shapes are similar to the ones we have today. They used a corsage pin as a needle tool back then.

And oh, the paper! Sigh, just look at these gorgeous colors! They are earthy without being drab, vibrant without being bright. Can you see a hint of texture? They are also ever so slightly thicker than our usual fare and I look forward to trying them out. Wish I could buy this kind of paper today!

Was it kismet that my neighbor had 4 nieces visiting from Norway and Canada, and they asked for a quilling demo? Of course after making some simple hearts, they were asking where to buy supplies. They were leaving in a few days and wouldn't have time to shop while fitting in time with relatives. So I gave them the majority of the paper, in hopes that quilling may now be rekindled abroad.

Beyond quilling, Berni's talents lay in oil painting, sewing (clothes, quilts, purses), cooking, decorating, and flower arranging. She always wanted a little store – in today's world of Etsy and e-stores, I think she would have had quite a successful business. I'm so grateful to Kirsten and her family for letting me showcase Berni's quilling and supplies!

Shaping Die Punch Flowers

Before buying my Silhouette SD digital die cutter, I bought die punches like these. I toyed with giving them away, but now I'm really happy I didn't.

I shudder to waste paper scraps and want to use every inch of it before tossing it out (see my post on How to Use up Scrap paper). Using these die punches was easier and faster than trying to register the exact placement needed on my Silhouette. However, I still used the Silhouette to cut my cherry blossoms (middle punch) because I wanted the cup the petals more readily.

Top left: If using a cherry blossom die punch, snip in between the petals to make them easier for cupping.

Top right: This blossom is cut from my die cutter - see the deeper gaps between petals? I used a burnisher and rubbed the petals against a mouse pad. For those who have a digital die cutter, here is the cherry blossom I made in SVG, DXF and PDF format.

Bottom left: Continue rubbing into the center to make a small bud.

Bottom right: If you want the blossom to stay open, flip it over and poke a smaller burnisher into the middle, then add dots with a felt marker to represent the stamens.

I then used them to decorate this 3D cake card.

3D Cake Card with Punched Flowers

My sister in law is always well-dressed, so put together. She is feminine without being girly. I  wanted to give her a 3D birthday cake card that expressed that (I hadn't chosen my greeting yet when I took this photo).

I had so much fun making these flowers after being inspired by Michelle's version. After stepping back I worried I had gone too far and overdid it, but I think I'm just not used to so much adornment, being a tomboy at heart.

I cut some 1/8" quilling strips in half which made them more pliable as I decorated the cake. This let me strew blossoms in a more random way. I used a white felt marker to dot some stamens in the middle of the blossoms.

I dipped the blossoms into Aleene's Tacky Glue and they held fast when applied to the cake. I didn't have to sit there and wait around. I'll be showing how I shaped the blossoms in a following post soon.

Quilled Thank You Cards (8 of 8)

Yet another variation of the first card, just a different mix of colors and layout. Thanks to all who have been tracking this set of 8 cards.

The blank greeting card stock I'm using is Neenah Classic Linen Cover, Solar White, 80 lb. It's A6 size (4 5/8" x 6 1/4"). Can you believe I scored a box of 250 for just $5 from Spicers Cash & Carry? They were being discontinued, so of course I bought all 5 boxes for easy Christmas gifts. I love how the embossed rectangle subtly frames everything.

I'd like to thank my client, "C", who kept me in her back pocket for a whole year, waiting for this project to come along to contact me. It's been a dream come true! I am allowed to reveal it tomorrow, and if you live in Vancouver or Toronto, you'll can see it in the Ming Po or Sing Tao Chinese newspapers too.

Quilled Thank You Cards (6 of 8)

I never realized how fun it would be to do abstract quilling until I had to use up my leftover pieces. It's amazing to me how little can still say so much. Since these were made with thicker strips I didn't want to mix it up with my regular pile of quilling pieces in progress, which I keep in a fishing tackle box - just $6 at Canadian Tire and comes with re-positionable compartment walls.

My thanks this time goes out to all of you who comment on and follow this blog. Your positive words encourage me to work through my doubts and give me a pick-me-up. I appreciate your visits and the time you take to let me know your thoughts. Thank you all!

Quilled Thank You Cards (5 of 8)

Another variation of Card 1 and 3, but with a softer color palette and smaller scale of petals.

These quilling strips were cut on my Silhouette die cutter out of Canson Mi-Tientes. I chose this paper because the thicker qualities allowed me to carry the curves over a longer distance with more control. I find standard quilling paper to be rather thin, more suited to smaller designs. I learned cutting with/against the grain had an impact on the innermost coil, causing either buckling vs a smooth tight line. I suggest cutting one strip and testing it first before cutting the entire sheet.

A quick thank you to hubby for wrapping all the xmas gifts this year, leaving me free to focus on finishing my project on time. It's not his forté, but he took it on without hesitation.

Quilled Thank You Cards (4 of 8)

These two particular shades of orange and green remind me of cantaloupe and honeydew - they just go together.


The project I'll be showing soon had to be completed during the holidays, from the moment I got off work on Dec 21st and due on the 27th. Usually hubby and I would do our holiday baking together in choreographed synchronicity in our compact kitchen - this time he did almost all of it himself and with a huge variety as well. Although it was nice not to be covered in flour, I'm looking forward to next year's bake-fest when we can just orbit each other again. Thanks honey, for taking this huge task off my "plate".

Quilled Thank You Cards (2 of 8)

Here’s my 2nd thank you card made from leftover quilled items from the project-yet-to-be-named. Ever feel that zipped mouth feeling playing Taboo when you can’t say the actual words?

I’d like to thank my hubby for driving me to 3 different store chains, 4 separate nights, to pick up 23 shades/sizes of paper for this 1 project…and for listening to countless hours of debates on color usage, composition, drawing style and my self doubts of ability to do this in general.

A sneak peak can be seen in today’s SingTao & MingPao in Vancouver and Toronto. They’re Chinese newspapers, so that should give you a hint which direction I’m going in!

Quilling Flower Pattern Update

3 years ago I offered my open style quilling flower patterns on Etsy. I’ve wanted to update this tutorial for quite some time and have finally been able to finish this project. What’s new? Double petals, stamens, larger and smaller flowers, 8 petal flowers, and a super easy-peasy guide for measuring each strip. For those who dislike reading manuals, there are more step-by-step photos to show each stage. The new quilling tutorial/pattern will still be $5. All 2012 purchasers will receive the new pattern free. Clients up to Dec 31, 2011 will be emailed a coupon code for a 50% discount.

I’ve had such positive response over my previous “heart full o flowers” that I chose to do it again, but bigger to show off all the flower types. I used 2 strips of 11″ Bazzil scrapbook paper because it’s thick – I prefer to have a stronger “fence” as I filled in the elements. Here are some stages as I went along. I started at the bottom and just nestled some next to one another, seeing what fit in terms of size, color, and style. Loose scrolls would be added after to fill in some blank areas too small for flowers. The final size is about 5″ x 6″.

My previous PDF pattern included 5 card designs to be used as backgrounds and 1 envelope. I’ve decided to offer these printables for free on my blog. Download here. Your feedback keeps me going – thank you!

Quilled Heart Full O Flowers

I made this quite a while ago and forgot to post it. The heart-shaped frame was made first - it helps to corral all the flowers in there. So girly!

Update: I have instructions now!
http://paperzen.blogspot.ca/2012/03/quilling-flower-pattern-update.html

Blogged by Nancy of My Legacy

This is the heady stuff authors must feel when readers tell them the impact of their words. My recent Etsy sale to Nancy resulted in a flying ping pong email match of quilling discussion. I am humbled by Nancy's array of skills and her enthusiasm for learning reminds me of what it should always be like - itching to play.

Just look at what she's made in such a short time. I love her side view of a flower in the letter N and the way a flower is dangling downwards in the letter E.

 

To see her first flowers, click here. Then check the rest of her site for other handmade projects!

How To Quill Tea Cup and Vase

It’s been a few months since my last post because we’ve been in the throes of selling and buying our home. Renting in the meantime makes my creative head space chaotic, but I really wanted to address a comment left by a reader.


I received a request to explain how I made this design, and heaved an deep internal sigh. I have to fess up – it’s not as easy as it may seem. I have a  graveyard box of half twirled strips that were too long or too short. I try to resurrect these leftovers like a hopeful owner in Pet Semetery. Every time I try to re-do the same design, it’s as if the wrong side of my brain is getting tangled up and I end up not liking my second time around result. I don’t measure one-off designs, unlike the flowers I sell on Etsy, which I explain in a way that anyone could do. So I’ll do my best to explain here.

My coils tend to be very open and loose. I made the cup bottom first by pinching a corner (where the paper ends to hide the seam better), then a second corner, forming a dip in the middle.
The “tea” is a very open circle. This was my 3rd attempt to fit the teacup – just like Goldilocks. Even so, a tail stuck out, which I minimized with the handle.

The vase is also made by pinching two corners. As I glue to the surface, I would gently pinch the shoulder closer – it’s not always a docile item before I glue.

This ratio may seem off, but if I were to glue it down, I would elongate the vase during the time of gluing to give a better ratio. Vice versa, if you find your vase too long, just push the bottom up and have a wide style vase. I honestly don’t remember how I did this first card and how many attempts it took. So if it feels like you are trying and trying, and not succeeding, just realize I’m there too! Don’t give up and just enjoy the process – celebrate the pieces that do work out.

Birthday Cards in Vinyl

Saving these scraps of vinyl from the landfill gives me a total thrill because something so nice can be made from nothingness – kind of like a MacGyverism. Still learning which fine lines don’t cut well on vinyl. I was shocked brushed metal (kind of like heavy duty aluminum foil sticker material) is offered in vinyl and couldn’t wait to use it on the blue card – it just made it!

I used Adobe Illustrator to layout the elements, and Sillhouette/Craft Robo to cut vinyl, then manually aligned as straight as possible. The vector illustrations are free and found via these links: Lovely Flowers / Happy Space Pack

I’m on Etsy now!

It may be blasé in a high-tech computer age to be listing on Etsy, but for me it was a huge step.

When I quill, I’ve made items without thinking about length of strip or where the elements will be – they take shape as I go and if it doesn’t feel right I reach for another strip. When I try to re-create something I enjoy and write down a pattern, the two sides of my brain conflict. To create instructions to make my flowers or lay them on a card has been quite a process – not to mention how to photograph my hands when both are glueing pieces together!

Anyway, I have been buoyed by friends and comments here on this blog to put instructions together. Thank you always for your encouragement!

Cecelia

Quilled Happy Father's Day Card

My dad loves to garden and eagerly anticipates snow peas every year. I hope one day I'll be able to garden as well as he does.

Quilled Thank You Cards

Wow, I didn’t think I could make 3 cards in the span of less than a week! I hope the teachers enjoy these cards I made for a friend’s kids’ teachers, and know they are appreciated. The last is for a music teacher obviously.

Quilled 1 year old Birthday Card

Our adorable little niece is turning 1 and we’re celebrating all her firsts – smiles, crawls, steps…