Alli Bartkowski - Quilled Mandalas: 30 Paper Projects for Creativity and Relaxation

Have you ever considered coloring mandalas with curled paper strips? Instead of the usual ink pens or colored pencils, imagine mandalas filled with intricate paper coils and three-dimensional layers!

The art of paper quilling is the perfect extension of the meditative and creative art form of mandalas.

When I was first exploring mandalas, I was fascinated by their different meanings. Mandalas are defined to be the sacred circle of life or the dreamers search for completeness. They are found in hundreds of cultures and religions. They are always symmetrical, and they always draw your eye toward the center. Their themes are drawn from simple details in nature, like water drops and flowers. Mandalas can be hypnotic to look at, filling your eyes with color, inspiration, and delight. But the overall purpose of creating one is to get in touch with what makes you feel calm, with satisfying, creative accomplishment.

Quilling is known to induce similar feelings and emotions. It uses detailed patterns and symmetrical beauty. When repeated quilled shapes are grouped together, they can grow into magnificent flowers or snowflakes, like in a mandala. But what I love most about quilling is the peaceful and relaxing process. Your mind starts to take in the colorful paper strips and geometric coils. To stir up my creative feelings, I always fiddle with the quilled pieces. Ill move them around, flip them over, pinch a shape, and reshape it, until that right feeling comes to me. Quilling, like mandalas, will allow your busy mind to take a break while the creative mind is allowed to run free.

Im excited that this book includes different project levels. If youre looking for a project using the basic quilled shapes in a simple pattern, then try the Easy level projects. For those who want to adventure into new quilling techniques, then go for a Medium project. Advanced quillers can definitely dive into more intricate and Hard projects where you can master multiple techniques. Theres something for everyone! Themes include blooming flowers, crashing waves, animals, and more. Youll definitely find your own voice and style as soon as you finish your first one!

So, relax and be inspired as you enjoy making quilled mandalas!

Quilling Basics

Creating unique mandalas only requires a few standard quilling tools and quilling paper in a variety of shades and colors. The techniques will show you how to use quilling strips of paper in different ways.

Materials

All of the projects in this book use quilling strips or text-weight paper (70 lb text or 105 gsm). Some of the projects use sheets of paper that will be used to die-cut quilling strips.

Paper

Quilling paper comes in all lengths, widths, and weights. Since mandalas are a combination of many quilled pieces and layering, the best width to work with is the 18-inch (3 mm) width. You can cut your own paper strips, but having a uniform paper width gives you the best results for your mandala. Precision-cut papers are inexpensive and come in a variety of shades and colors. Text-weight paper is highly recommended because its easier to roll and shape for the techniques used in creating the mandalas.

Tools

These basic quilling tools help you quickly roll your paper. They are inexpensive and can be found in your local craft store or online quilling store.

Basic Quilling Tool Kit

Slotted tool

Needle tool

Fine-tipped tweezers

Toothpicks

Scissors

Ruler

Straight pins

Wax paper

Corkboard or foam board

Circle Template Board or Circle Sizer Ruler

Craft glue

Sticky notepad

slotted tool The slotted tool is designed to hold the papers end so that you can immediately start rolling the paper. Its perfect for beginners and rolling quilling shapes like the loose coils, tight coils, and crimped strips.

needle tool This is basically a needle set into a handle, but rolling paper strips with this tool takes a little more practice than with the slotted tool. Most quillers prefer this tool because it leaves a small, tight center that is more pleasing to the eye. Its also used to place small amounts of glue on the paper strips.

Circle Template sizes