This project shows how to make a card with someone's first letter. It's a personalised present easy to do, specially if you are just starting with quilling paper. This instructions cover how to complete the project but I encourage you to be creative and make as many changes as you like.

I have cut my own strips of paper but you can buy your own to save time (skip step 1 if you already have them). I also include tips that I found useful when doing my projects.

Tools:

Quilling Tool
Tweezers
Scissors
Pencil or pen
Ruler
White PVA glue
Toothpicks (optional) - to apply the glue in small quantities
Brush (optional) - to apply the glue uniformly
Cutter + cutting board (Optional) - to cut the paper strips

Materials:

A4 white card
A4 coloured paper (if you cut the strips yourself) or about 30 strips (3mm) of two different colour

Step 1: Cutting the Paper Strips

Measure 3mm 30 times on both sides of the paper, align the ruler on the marks and hold it on the cutting mat to cut the strips. Don't worry if they're not perfect, it will make it look different and original.

Tip: keep the cutter straight to avoid cutting onto the ruler and try to press hard enough to cut in one go, to avoid the paper from tearing.

Step 2: Quilling the Circles

Draw or print the letter that fits on a A5 paper.

Tip: You could apply cello tape over the letter to avoid the glue sticking to it on step 3. This would also help preserve it in case you want to use it again.

Use the quilling tool and glue to make the circles. Cut some strips in half (twice for the smallest circles) to obtain different sizes. Prepare different combinations using the drawing as reference.

Tip: Use toothpicks to apply just a bit of glue at the end of the strip

Step 3: Glueing the Letter Together

Once you have filled the letter, use the tweezers to grab the circles one by one and apply some glue to start to stick them together. Only apply glue on the sides not the bottom.

Tip: - Regularly check that the circles don't stick to the reference paper (if you didn't cover it with cello tape before)

- Apply the glue at the end of strip to hide the end of the paper

Step 4: Preparing the Card

Fold the A4 card in half

Tip: use the ruler to help you

Cut 3 wide strips of coloured paper (2.5cm). You could chose a different amount, sizes and outlines. I used a rotatory cutter to have a different shape but this step is optional and can also be done with straight line (or any pattern scissor if you have one).

Use the brush to apply the glue evenly on the back of the strip. Try not to apply too much or the card won't absorbe it well.

Tip: if you applied too much you could leave the card under a heavy plain surface for it to straighten up again before continuing.

When it's dry, glue the quilled letter to the card. You can add other circles around it too.