The Idea

As a senior in college I have an entire drawer full of old assignments that I don’t have much purpose for. Both in celebration of finishing my engineering degree and desperation to clean out the cabinet I have decided to make a rolled paper craft using these old school papers in the style of Mediterranean tile work. The technique of rolling thin strips of paper into decorative shapes is referred to as quilling, I believe the ability of this art form to allow in light mimics Mediterranean stained glass and indoor-outdoor features. In addition, the intricate inner layers of the rolled paper add an exciting texture which meshes well with the focus on texture inherent to this aesthetic. I received an interesting comment on my first post exploring the Mediterranean revival asking how the Mediterranean design aesthetic can be implemented in colder climates given its focus on indoor-outdoor living. This struck me as an interesting challenge as a Coloradan who loves the architecture and interior design of Spain, Italy, and Morocco. In order to bring in the light and warmth to my cold Colorado apartment I will be adding a lining of smart leds. These LEDs will be Iot (Internet of things) enabled through an ESP32 microcontroller to display a different color depending on the outdoor temp. This not only adds a nice light which I can program to focus on a warm pallet, but also gives a window into the outdoors without the freezing temps. Furthermore in my research I have found that “The design principles [of the Mediterranean] prioritize functionality, comfort, and aesthetic harmony, creating spaces that are as practical as they are visually striking” (skurman.com). In this way, giving my Upcycle Project a purpose, in addition to its aesthetic appeal, also agrees with the principles of the Mediterranean Revival aesthetic. This object is very much inspired by an amazing color-changing chameleon craft that I found on Instructables. Thank you so much to Arpan Mondal for your great article!

Credit: Arpan Mondal, Instrcutables.com

The Design

I want the final rolled paper design to resemble Mediterranean tile such as those shown below. The design needs to be intricate and maximalist with bright colors and personality. In an ideal world I could fill up a whole wall with these “tiles” so that it could have the feel of a floor to ceiling window without the nightmare of insulating such a feature in the cold. But for this project I am planning to either make 1 tile or a collection of 4 tiles in a custom panel.

Mediterranean Tile Mix Wallpaper - Geometric Patterns in Blue, Ceramic Fas, Portugal Mosaic - The Wallpaperer

Credit: https://thewallpaperer.com/4

The rolled paper itself has to be somewhat open so that light can shine through a transparent panel on the back. I am planning to focus on simple florals and lots of dark blue in alignment with the tilework that I have seen. I believe this will complement the warm pallet of the lights well.

160 Paper Q ideas | paper crafts, paper quilling, quilling patterns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: Quilling Boszi

paper art – Art Room Happenings!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit: artroomhappenings.com

Current Progress

At the moment I am struggling to cut paper evenly enough for the classic quilling strips especially with the added weight of paint. Any tips are appeciated!

 

Sources Cited: 

https://www.instructables.com/We

ather-Chameleon-20-Changes-Color-With-the-Weathe/

https://artroomhappenings.com/category/paper-art/

https://www.skurman.com/post/architectural-elegance-embracing-the-majesty-of-mediterranean-design-principles

https://www.facebook.com/quillingboszi/

7 Comments. Leave new

  • This is a great project idea; I like that you are using a simple medium such as paper to create incredibly complex and intricate designs. As far as cutting the paper evenly the only solution that comes to mind for me is a paper cutter. I’m sure there is one on campus, but I just don’t know where. Either way, I look forward to seeing the result of your project.

  • Claire, I love this concept! What a cool way to repurpose old paper, which there is definitely an abundance of waste with. I am a huge fan of the artistic style in southern Spain and Morocco, and I love the attention to detail that goes into the famous tiles. I believe this is a perfect way to recreate that in your style. Have you considered using other materials other than paper, or are you just want to keep one medium? Good luck with your project, can’t wait to see the results!

    • Thanks for the comment Cooper! I’m planning to use several recycled materials. In an ideal world, the transparent back panel could be made out of soda bottle plastic and I could frame it in scrap wood as well. I have no idea how to wood-work though haha

  • Claire,

    I really love the idea of the mediterranean aesthetic you’re going for in order to bring more light into a cold space. It’s really striking how one piece of art can change the whole feeling of a room!

    I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble with the initial cutting of the paper. If the paper is too thin I can definitely see how that could cause some issues. Maybe you could find some cheap craft paper that’s a bit stiffer and already colored? That way you’d save some time painting and the paper would be stiff and easily cuttable.

    • Hi Ben, thanks so much for the comment. The paper itself is the item I’m upcycling so I can’t really purchase new paper for the project unfortunately. I’m hoping paint will mimic the fun colors of construction paper.

  • Garrison Nazare
    February 2, 2025 9:32 pm

    Hello Claire,

    The project you chose is a creative and innovative way to upcycle school work. It is also a great way to celebrate finishing school. The examples you picked to illustrate the colors are also very accurate and helpful as a visual aid. My personal favorite is the second to last picture. If you can create a project that looks similar to that, it would be very impressive. This type of craft is not something I’m familiar with, so I do not have any helpful tips about how you would roll the paper. But if you are having trouble maintaining the thickness of paper strips, I would suggest getting a paper cutter similar to the one I linked here: https://www.mcguckin.com/2919632/product/FISKARS-154460-1013?store=16605&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlKeYydWmiwMVMGFIAB04-S27EAQYAyABEgLgSPD_BwE. There are markings on it to help you maintain measurements, but it also has a sliding cutter that may speed up the process a bit. Good luck on your project, I bet it will turn out awesome!

You must be logged in to post a comment.
Previous Post
Upcycled Project: 3D Printer Filament Spool Shelf
Next Post
Recycled Aluminum Spoon Post 3