This Paper Quilled Letter L | Fall Colors is probably better used as an example of the pitfalls of quilling than a notch in my portfolio. I created this for a friend of mine and I actually showed it to her without telling her it was for her. She screwed her nose up and said how awful it had come out.
Ouch!
Let’s just say this didn’t end up becoming her gift and I tossed it in the trash directly after the conversation.
What’s Wrong With It?
Normally I include a “Construction” section so people can be inspired (not copy!) by techniques (and not copy!). In this case, I just can’t even go there because this thing is so flawed. But it’s a great learning tool. So let’s work from that angle.
First, look at the background. It’s all wavy and warped. That’s because the cheap Michael’s cardstock that you get in bulk packs really isn’t the best background paper for quilling. A secondary issue is glue usage. I probably could have prevented a little bit of this by using less glue. And – to also keep the warping to a minimum, I should have used less pressure when pushing the quills and other pieces down onto the background.
Second, the vertical edgework is atrocious. Using regular weight quilling paper for this is nearly impossible and you almost always end up with a mess. At the time, cardstock strips weren’t commercially available. These days, I would never attempt this without using cardstock strips.
Lastly, you’ll notice the edges of the letter itself are also a little wavy. Again, cardstock strips solve this problem. If you can’t afford them or can’t obtain them where you live, consider cutting your own from thick cardstock paper.
See something on my site that you like? I am currently accepting commissions. Contact me for details. Or, if you’d prefer browsing my already-created, ready-to-ship artwork, head on over to my Etsy shop and see what’s on the shelves.
