Flashback: Fringed Flower Gift Topper

By Ann Martin

If you love wrapping packages as much as I do, you might enjoy making this mega-fringed flower. It’s reminiscent of a Gerbera daisy and is an attention-catching substitute for the usual bow. Based on the same technique as a much smaller quilled fringed flower, the cuts are made with detail scissors. Instead of regular paper or lightweight cardstock, I used a new product called TerraSkin (essentially, pressed mineral powder), but paper or cardstock would be fine too.

Materials

Quilling tool
1/8″ wide quilling paper, black. Can be found at craft stores or online at Quilling Superstore.
TerraSkin or lightweight cardstock, or medium to heavyweight paper, white or orange. Read my review for more info on TerraSkin.
Glue, any type suitable for paper
Ruler
Paper cutter
Detail scissors
Paper piercing tool or round cocktail stick, to apply glue and/or as a substitute quilling tool
Damp cloth, to keep fingers glue-free
Faber-Castell Color Gelatos stick, orange. Optional. Can be found at Faber Castell Design Memory Craft.

Directions

Step 1: To make a flower center, use a quilling tool to roll a strip of black quilling paper (approximately 24″ long).

Step 2: Glue the end of the strip in place and slide the coil off the tool.

Step 3: Use the rounded end of the quilling tool or a fingertip to gently push up against one side of the coil, creating a dome.

Step 4: Apply a thin coating of glue inside the dome to preserve its shape. Set aside to dry.

Step 5: Cut a total of four white or orange strips from your TerraSkin or cardstock using the following measurements:
1″ x 4″
1 1/2″ x 4″
2″ x 8 1/2″
3″ x 11″

Step 6: Fold each strip in half lengthwise. Avoid making a sharp crease, so that petal loops will fluff more easily.

Step 7: Color both sides of TerraSkin or cardstock with orange ink, crayon, or paint. I used a Color Gelatos stick, which has the consistency of crayon. It transforms into watercolor paint when touched with a wet brush and dries to a nice marbled effect.

Step 8: To fringe, hold each folded strip as pictured and snip from the folded edge toward the opposite open edges. Cut slowly and evenly to avoid snipping all the way across. If this happens, all is not lost – simply glue the cut portions back together as the join won’t show when the fringe is rolled. Graduate the size of the cuts: the 3″ wide strip will have the widest snips, approximately 1/4″, and the narrowest snips will be about 1/16″ wide.

Step 9: Glue the four still-folded strips end-to-end in decreasing size to make one long strip.

Step 10: Glue the black domed coil at the very end of the narrowest folded strip. Allow glue to dry.

Step 11: Slowly and evenly roll up the strip, beginning at the narrow black coil end.

Step 12: When the strip is fully rolled, glue the end in place and apply additional glue to the underside of the flower to prevent it from unraveling. The flower measures approximately 3″ across and 1 1/4″ high.

Step 13: Quilled paper is fun to use instead of ribbon when wrapping small packages. I spaced three strips about 1/4″ apart on the diagonal, taping the ends on the package back. As a finishing touch, fluff the looped petals and glue the flower onto your package.

More

• Learn the basics: Quilling 101

About the Author

Ann Martin of All Things Paper is a quilling enthusiast who loves introducing the craft to others. She teaches, designs projects for books and magazines, and is especially hooked on making paper filigree jewelry.