Quilling Projects - Greeting Cards

A quilled greeting card is especially beautiful in that it’s a unique piece of artwork made for someone special. And for added value, the recipient can frame their card to view and enjoy for many years. If your quilled cards are framed, be certain to make them with that eventuality in mind—so use good solid cardstock and extra care in gluing.

Pick a good quality cardstock in a solid color that is complimentary to your quilled pieces. Consider using a piece of foil or vellum as a front panel to further accent your quilling.

You can use rubber stamps to print your greeting, or you may experiment with various inks and paints to freehand the greeting. Be sure to use Jet Black solvent ink with your rubber stamp to ensure a clean, dark imprint.

Attach your quilled pieces to your card using small dabs of clear-drying glue. If the card might be framed, be sure to glue every piece well enough to ensure they will stay in place.

Creating a basic card decorated with quilled shapes should require scissors, tweezers, a rubber stamp of your choice, brushes or pens if you decide to freehand your greeting, and your glue applicator.

To begin this project, first decide on the size of your card. Next you need to decide on which quilled shapes you wish to use and the design for your card overall. You can arrange your quilling pieces on your board as a ‘dry-fit’, to make sure the arrangement will fit on the card attractively.

Next, decide which form of print you want to use for the greeting—stamp or freehand—and if then try both on scrap paper to make sure you can get the effect, or a clear imprint before going to the actual card. Once you feel comfortable with creating your greeting, do a final printing on the cardstock—then allow it to dry completely.

Now you are ready to apply your quillings. Have your tools ready—tweezers, scissors and glue applicator filled with glue. Carefully transfer each quilled shape from your ‘dry-fit’ area to the card, gluing each piece one-by-one, until all have been moved and glued to the card. Allow the work to dry completely. Before you move the card again, re-check all pieces to make sure your glue has set up and that all pieces are secured. Any quillings that seem loose should be carefully re-glued and then allowed to dry.

Your simple, yet beautifully decorated card is now ready to go to family, friends or anyone you wish to surprise with such a wonderful gift!

This basic card approach can be upgraded using a number of decorative techniques—adding beads, using a paper punch on paper overlays to expose the color of the underlying cardstock, using scribing tools to bring texture and depth to leaves—and many, many others. You will, undoubtedly, find techniques from other crafts that can be utilized in your quilled cards, or other, projects.