Create Beautiful Paper Quill Flowers
Table of Contents
Exploring New Quilling Techniques
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my “How to Make Simple Quilling Paper Flowers” series, even though it’s quite different from my usual quilling projects. Researching various flowers and plants and then recreating them using quilling paper has been an interesting and exciting adventure, and it’s definitely sparked my spring fever!
In this tutorial, I’m going to focus on one specific flower: the lily of the valley. While still fairly simple, this delicate flower requires a few additional steps and techniques. So, grab your 1/8″ width quilling paper in pale pink for the flowers and leaf green for the stems and leaves. Remember, lilies of the valley are usually white, but feel free to be creative and experiment with different colors! You’ll also need white glue, a needle tool, straight pins, and a waxed-paper covered cork board.
Crafting Lovely Lily Flowers
Let’s start by making the flowers themselves. Typically, each stem has multiple buds, but for simplicity, I’ll show you how to quill three flowers per stem.
To create each flower, you’ll need three 6″ strips of quilling paper. Roll each strip into an open coil, ensuring that the ends are glued together to secure the shape. Most of the buds will be fully opened lilies. Take one coil and pinch it into a teardrop shape, while bending the other two coils into marquise shapes. The teardrop will form the center of the bud, with the marquise shapes on either side. Once you’ve glued the coils together and everything is dry, you’ll have the elegant bell-like shape of the lily of the valley.
For some variation, you can also create partially bloomed flowers. Using the same length of paper, pinch two coils into half-moons and attach them to the center teardrop coil.
Emphasizing Beautiful Leaves
One of the defining features of lilies of the valley is their large, broad leaves. Let’s make them stand out!
Start by measuring approximately 8-10 6″ strips of dark green quilling paper. Stack them progressively, with each end slightly higher than the one underneath. Apply a small amount of glue between each layer and press them together to form a peak when dry. Then, use your quilling tool to create a gentle curve along the length of each strip. Holding the stack sideways, individually push and pull each strip until the leaf takes on the desired shape.
Once you’re satisfied with the look of your leaf, tear off some of the remaining paper at the bottom, creating a long, thin point. This will give your leaves a finished appearance that blends seamlessly with the stems and other foliage. Apply a small amount of glue between each layer and pinch the point as it dries.
Remember, each leaf will be slightly unique, adding character and individuality to your flowers and plants!
Adding the Finishing Touches
Lilies of the valley also have small leaves. Let’s create a few!
Roll 4″ strips of green paper into either tear drops or marquises (yes, that’s the plural of “marquise” – I had to look it up!).
Lastly, let’s connect the lilies of the valley to the main stem using short stems. For each stem, take 3-4″ of green paper, fold it in half, and glue the halves together, leaving a small amount of the ends unglued. Attach the open ends of the green paper to the bottom of each flower, giving the impression that they are growing out of the stem. Tear off some length at the end of the strip that will be attached to the main stem. Remember, ripped quilling paper always blends better than cut paper!
For an extra touch of beauty, let’s add stamens to our flowers. I suggest using a pale yellow for these buds to introduce a hint of brightness. Simply roll a small tight coil on a very short strip of quilling paper and glue it to the tail before releasing. Once dry, trim the tail to about 1/8 of an inch. These stamens will be petite, which is perfect for flowers of this size.
Bringing It All Together
Now, it’s time to assemble your beautiful lily of the valley.
For the stems, use single strips of quilling paper with a slight bend. Play around with the placement of the flower buds and leaves until you’re satisfied with the final result. Feel free to get creative and add your personal touch!
These lovely lilies of the valley will add a touch of elegance to any mixed quilling flower bouquet! Don’t forget to check out my other posts in this simple flower tutorial series for inspiration on daffodils, flower buds, plumeria, and lilacs. Remember, quilling is all about having fun, so enjoy the process and happy quilling!