Aleene’s Favorites: Burnt Brown Paper Bag Quilling Art with Tacky Glue
Aleene's burnt brown paper bag technique is a vintage crafting favorite— Tacky glue is applied to brown paper bags and heated to create a rustic metallic texture, making it a versatile material for all kinds of crafts! Check out this tutorial from Aleene's daughters Tiffany Windsor and Heidi Borchers and learn how to use the burnt brown paper bag technique to create quilling art with the look of metal!
Supplies Needed:
Gold aluminum foil
Brayer
Wood or canvas 9" x 12"
Squeegee
Scissors
Brown paper bags
Pencil
Ruler
Black acrylic paint
Paintbrush
Candle
Matches
Binder clips (to hold strips while burning the glue)
Paper towels
Gilding wax
Screwdriver (optional)
Toothpick
Frame
Step 1: Prepare the background for your metallic wall art
To create a background for your burnt brown paper bag quilling art, lightly crinkle the gold foil, uncrumple, and flatten with a brayer. Squeeze a generous amount of Tacky Glue onto the wood or canvas base and use a squeegee to spread it into an even coat. Gently lay the foil onto the glued area, slightly overlapping in the center, until the entire base is covered. Use a brayer to flatten and adhere the foil to the base. Trim excess foil as needed.
Step 2: Prepare the brown paper bags
To prepare the brown paper bags, cut down the seams to create a flat piece. Squeeze a generous coat of Tacky Glue onto the bag and use the squeegee to spread the glue into an even coat. Press two layers of brown paper bags together, roll the brayer over the bags to flatten completely, and let the glue set for about 30 minutes.
Step 3: Mark and cut the brown paper bags
Mark and cut the glued brown paper bags in ½” width strips. Measure the following lengths, adding ½” to each measurement for the binder clips (used in step 5).
- (12)10” for circle coils (inside body)
- (1) 17” for body
- (1) 10” for top of head (after burning, fold and bend following pattern as guide)
- (2) 12” for eyes
- (1) 4” for feet
- (1) 3” for feet
- (1) 2” for feet
Step 4: Paint one side of the strips
Brush black acrylic paint on one side of each brown paper bag strip. Set aside to dry while you set up the next step in a well-ventilated area, securing your candle on a steady base.
Step 5: Apply and burn the Tacky Glue
On the unpainted side of the strips, apply Tacky Glue with fingers or brush. Be sure to cover all the exposed brown paper bag with glue. Use binder clips to hold the ends of the strips. Hold the strip over the candle flame and continually move it back and forth, keeping slight tension on the clips to keep the strip flat while the wet glue burns. This will create soot and bubbling in the wet glue. Repeat the process with each strip, then set aside to let the glue dry completely.
Step 6: Apply gilding wax to burnt brown paper bag strips
Once the glue has dried, use a paper towel to gently wipe away the soot. Apply a very small amount of gilding wax to both sides of each strip to create a burnished metallic effect. Allow the gilding wax to dry completely.
Step 7: Roll strips into quilling art coils
To create the coiled quilling art pieces, roll each strip tightly around a screwdriver or pencil, ensuring the burned area is on the outside of all pieces.
Step 8: Match coiled strips to pattern
Enlarge and print the attached pattern to 8 ½” x 11”. Use the pattern as a guide for the burnt brown paper bag strips and quilling art pieces, molding into the necessary shapes. Use a toothpick to apply Tacky Glue to the ends of the strips as needed.
Step 9: Glue quilling art pieces to background
To glue the quilling art pieces to the background, apply a thin layer of Aleene’s Tacky Glue along the edges with a toothpick and place onto the foiled background, referencing the template as needed.
Step 10: Let dry and enjoy!
Once the Tacky Glue has dried completely, your paper quilling art is ready to display. Frame if desired— a shadowbox frame works best due to the depth of the design. The burnt brown paper bag technique elevates quilling art with a rustic, metallic look!
How will you use Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue for your vintage-inspired projects? Show us your burnt brown paper bag art and tag us on social media @AleenesDIY!
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