After reading @ivan-g's post on quilling the other day, I visited @kristyglas's Random Games Week 5- Quilling. I enjoyed reading both posts as they are so inspirational and have motivated me to revisit origami and now try more quilling.

In the past I've only done a few little hearts to adorn greetings cards and paper beads when I worked out how to make them, but I decided it was time to try again. Paper beads are so fun to make too... This whole thing has inspired me to make some more.

Any paper related activity like this can easily be done with younger members of a family and also use scraps of paper left from envelopes or assignments. It's a great way to recycle.

Below's my entry.

To cut the strips of paper I used a mini shredder. I found that very thin paper was rather harder to use so I used scraps of thicker paper and leaflets.

I used a toothpick to wind the paper around tightly and a minute drop of PVA to keep it all in the shape I needed.

The picture above shows my work trying to come up with a 'setting' and before I came up with the bird.

I started with the hearts because I knew what I was doing and attempted to teach @jen0revision, but she was a bit abstract and totally digressed from the shape ... I am hoping she will be able to post her beautiful creation though.

I then started on the cheese slice making circles and surrounded the shapes to give it some definition. I had never attempted this and it was very hard...

... and after...

I liked the fact that the finished pieces are actually free standing. I like the 'sculpture' feel of it and would have like more shadow to play a bit more. I will keep on experimenting with that and pieces of sweet wrappers.

As you can see the face of the mouse is really a 'crooked' heart.

I meant to make an owl, but it was a 'lucky' misshape... I kept trying to make the owl and definitely need practice.

I am very pleased with the little bird carrying the heart though... another happy accident.

Thank you so much again to @kristyglas for organising this activity and thanks also to @ivan-g for always having paper related activities. I enjoyed it and learnt a lot.

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All photos by @cryptocariad