The art of paper quilling dates back three or four centuries to a time when nuns used the gold edges trimmed from Bible pagess to create simple but beautiful works of artistry. The scraps of paper were wrapped around goose quills to create coiled shapes -- hence the name "quilling." Hobbyists Carol Stevens, who engages in quilling two to three hours a day, says she doesn 't sell her creations (figure A) but gives them as gifts or displays them for her own enjoyment. Stevens modifies a basic technique to create a variety of shapes: - To make a paper curl, she uses a ruler to tear paper into strips 3" long .
- One end of the paper strip is moistened to stick to the pointed end of a round toothpick.
- The paper is wrapped continuously around the stick until the entire length has been wrapped.
- When finished, the paper is pulled off. The paper unwraps a little but keeps a coiled shape.
- Once the paper coil relaxes the desired amount, a small amount of glue is added to secure the shape.
Stevens bends the coils to create various shapes before adding them to crafts projects or creating paper sculptures.
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