Introduction: "Fantasy Flowers" Quilling Design

“Fantasy Flowers” quilling design. Inspired by both folklore patterns and natural flowers.

This project is for those who appreciate the art and craft of paper quilling. The flower design was made out of various elements using different quilling techniques.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

  • Strips of paper (2 mm wide) of different colors: yellow, orange, shades of red, shades of green, blue
  • Paper for the base
  • Small beads
  • Quilling tool
  • Comb
  • PVA glue
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Cocktail stick

Step 2: ​Make a Sketch

Make a sketch of a design you are going to create.

Decide what quilling techniques you are going to use for the particular elements of your design.

Step 3: Make Leaf “A”

How to make a leaf “A”

  1. Take 5 green strips of different shades, glue them at one end.
  2. Starting from the glued end, using scissors blades, scrape the stack of strips to make a curve.
  3. Turn the stack over. Scrape from the end of the curve.
  4. Trim off the excess paper and glue the ends.
  5. Repeat these steps to make one more shape of this kind.
  6. Glue two shapes together to form a leaf.

The design uses the total of 24 leaves of slightly varying sizes and shades of green.

Step 4: Make Blue Flowers

Blue flowers are made using the technique similar to Leaf “A” above (total of 15 strips for 1 flower), followed by decorating them with small red teardrop shaped coils (4cm long red strips).

Step 5: Make Petals for Flower "B"

How to make a petal for the flower “B”. (For this design you need to make 2 small petals, 2 medium, 1 big.)

  1. Stack 9 red strips of various shades (6cm long for the largest petal, 5.5cm long for the medium, 5cm long for the smallest). Arrange strips so the colour gradually change from darker to lighter shade. Glue them at one end.
  2. Starting from the glued end, using scissors scrape the paper strips to make a curve.
  3. Hold the strips sideways; with the other hand pull or push each strip separately so that the lengths of strips gradually increase.
  4. Bend this shape and glue the ends together.
  5. Trim off the excess paper.

  6. Apply a small amount of glue at the centre of 3 outer strips. Bend and stick them together and to the 4th strip.

Step 6: Make Petal for Flower “C”

How to make a petal for the flower “C” (For this design you need to make 6 petals.)

  1. Stack 6 strips of various shades of red, orange and yellow (2cm long). Arrange them so the colour gradually change from darker to lighter shade. Glue them at one end.
  2. Starting from the glued end, using scissors, scrape the stack of strips to make a curve.
  3. Hold the strips sideways; with the other hand pull or push each strip separately so that the lengths of strips gradually increase.
  4. Trim off the excess paper and glue the ends.
  5. Repeat these steps to make one more shape of this kind.
  6. Glue these two shapes together to form a petal.

Step 7: Make Buds "D" and the Center for Flower "B"

Elements that are used to create the center for the flower “B” and buds “D” are made following the steps 1-4 of “How to make a petal for the flower “C”, and then followed by: 5. Hold the shape from both ends and bent it to get the desired curve.

Step 8: Make Leaf "D"

How to make a leaf “D”

Green loops are made using an ordinary comb.

  1. Insert the end of paper strip in between the prongs of the comb and wrap it around two prongs to make a small loop.
  2. Apply a little glue where the paper overlaps.
  3. Wrap the paper strip around next prong making the second loop over the first one.
  4. Repeat this and create the third loop. Secure the looped coil with a glue and trim off the excess paper.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 and make the second looped coil.
  6. Glue two coils together by their corresponding ends.
  7. Out of red paper strip (10cm long) make a coil in the “eye” shape for the center of the leaf and insert it between looped coils.
  8. To complete the leaf, glue the steam into the slot.

Step 9: Make Yellow Flowers “E”

  1. Wrap yellow paper strip (4cm long) around cocktail stick, glue the end of the strip.
  2. Remove from the stick and pinch it on one side to get a “teardrop” shape.
  3. Make 4 more "teardrops" - the other petals of the flower.
  4. Glue the petals together.
  5. For the center use a small bead.

Step 10: Make Small Yellow Flowers for the Center of Flower “C”

How to make small yellow flowers for the center of flower “C” (you need 2 smaller flowers, 1 bigger flower)

  1. For the petals make 5 tight teardrop coils out of yellow paper strips (10cm long for smaller flowers, 12cm long for bigger flower).
  2. Glue the petals together.
  3. For the center make a tight roll out of light green paper (3cm long).

Step 11: Complete the Picture


  • Make small elements: stems, swirls, etc
  • Arrange all the elements according to the sketch, glue everything down.
  • Frame the finished picture.

Quilling Contest 2016

First Prize in the
Quilling Contest 2016