DIY: Quilled Flower Locket Tutorial

This is part two of a three part jewelry series on learning to quill. Last week's tutorial showed how to make a crimped flower locket... a super-simple design, good for those who are brand new to paper rolling. The same can be said about today's ring coil flower... it can be made in under an hour and the end result is nice enough to give as a gift. This pendant isn't as feminine as the first considering the gray and black color scheme and tartan ribbon. It's a little larger too - 1.25 inches in diameter.

Supplies: 

Quilling paper - gray, black (1/8 inch standard width strips) or cut your own light to medium weight paper using a craft knife, metal-edged ruler, and cutting mat
Quilling tool - slotted tool or needle tool or substitute a stiff wire or even a muffin tester
Glue - I like Scotch Clear Glue for quilling and Crafter's Pick: The Ultimate or Aleene's Tacky Glue to adhere quilling to a slick surface
Scissors
Ruler
Tweezers
Paper piercing tool or cocktail stick - to apply glue
T-pin or glass head pin - to shape flower center 
Non-stick surface - use as glue palette and work board. An acrylic sheet, waxed paper, or Styrofoam tray are fine too; I usually use a jar lid
Damp cloth - sticky-glue fingers and quilling don't mix
Jewelry pliers - 2, mine are flat nose
Jump ring - silver
Locket - silver (the one I used is from Michaels; read more about it in Part 1)
Ribbon  - 3/8 inch width; about 24 inches


Additional quilling and paper craft supplies can be found in my Amazon shop.

Instructions:   

1. Make the flower center: roll a 3 inch black tight coil on quilling tool of choice. (You'll find more info about choosing a tool in Part 1) Glue end in place before slipping coil off tool. Tip: if the strip has a torn end, the paper will adhere smoothly when glued, making the coil look nice and round.

Shape the coil top by pressing a T-pin or a glass head pin against one side to make a rounded dome.

Then apply a small amount of glue inside the dome to preserve the curve.

2. Make 10 matching ring roils by wrapping a length of quilling paper three times around a dowel. Experiment with different dowels to determine which one produces the correct coil size for the pendant you are using. Probably one of your tool handles will work; I used a paper piercer.

Slide coil off dowel, tighten it if necessary by pulling the strip end, and pinch one spot to a point to create a teardrop shape. You'll feel all thumbs at first with the wrapping/sliding/pinching, but after a little practice it becomes second nature.

Glue end and trim excess paper.

3. On a non-stick work board, glue tips of teardrop petals around the domed center taking care to space them evenly.

4. When the glue has had a chance to set for several minutes, apply a thin coating of glue to the back of the flower with a fingertip or cocktail stick. Use tweezers to center the flower on the locket. It's best to not wiggle it into position as this will leave a snail trail of glue. Allow the flower to dry overnight... try not to be impatient. :)

5. The next day, twist open a jump ring with pliers and slip it through the fixed locket ring.

Close jump ring and thread onto ribbon. Finish off with an adjustable sliding knot so the necklace can be slipped on and off over the head.

The locket is ready to wear or give to someone on your holiday list; perhaps a young girl who might be inspired to try quilling too. Kids usually love to quill!

For next week's jewelry project I have something more sophisticated in mind, so I hope you'll come back then to see if you agree. (Here's that new tutorial for making gilded drop earrings.)

September 2017: You'll find many new quilled jewelry designs in my how-to book, The Art of Quilling Paper Jewelry.