How to Quill Typography with Carla Bagshaw

Lay your template on top of your backing cardstock and use low-tack Washi tape or masking tape to tack it down.

Use a small-tipped ball tool or a biro to trace over the outline so that you create a fully embossed impression on the piece of cardstock below. Remove the tape to reveal the embossed template beneath.

The first process involves creating your quilled outline. Work slowly and in increments. Place some glue along the embossed line (don’t go over 3cm at a time). Place a quilling strip vertically on top of the glue using tweezers. Place the strip down and hold it in place until the glue has dried and the strip is standing upright. Follow the lines around the whole word, bit by bit.

When your outlining is complete you can begin to fill the shapes. Use your quilling tool to create spirals and coils by placing the end of the quilling strip into the quilling tool and rolling the paper around. You do not have to use a full strip - small coils can be very effective. These can be glued and ‘squashed’ to create shapes such as ‘teardrops’ or ‘eye’ shapes. You can use small straight strips to create a ‘rainbow shape’ that adds a different style and aesthetic. Fill in all of the letters, gluing your coils down and filling in the space, or you can choose to fill in around the letters (leaving the letters empty) to create a ‘negative’ of the image.

When your letters are filled you can begin to add flourishes to finish the image. These should be wide and flowing, and should look ‘loose’ and ‘feathered’. Play with the shapes and test them out before gluing them down so you can judge the final placements