Microscope slide quilling activity

Inspired by Dr Walker’s microscope and the microscopic cell images in our collection we created our own paper designs – why not have a go yourself!

You will need

• Scrap paper of different colours cut into 1cm width strips
• Paper glue
• Scissors
• Bamboo skewer (or quilling tool)

Instructions

1. Carefully split the end of your bamboo skewer and slide in a strip of paper
2. Tightly coil the strip by spinning your skewer
3. Slide your paper coil off the skewer, you can shape your coil by pinching the edges into points
4. Pinch one side to create a teardrop shape
5. Or you can create different size circles by tightening or loosening your coils
6. You can create a heart shape by pinching one side and pressing the opposite side with the blunt end of a bamboo skewer
7. Hold your coil tightly and glue the end
8. Once glued your coil will stay in chosen shape
9. Experiment with different sizes, abstract shapes and colours
10. Using one strip create a single large loop
11. Glue your shapes together and fill up your large loop

strips of paper

slide strip into split end of bamboo skewer

roll paper around the strip

pinch sides to shape the coil

pinch one side to make a teardrop shape

try a looser coil

create a heart shape

glue the end of the coil down

once glued the coil holds its shape

experiment different shapes and sizes

create a large loop from one strip

glue paper coils inside the loop

Other ideas

• Fix your design to a card and add a greeting
• Build up a picture using different shapes and colours for a more interesting effect
• Try our microscope roll tape colouring activity

Download

Download microscope slide quilling activity sheet (pdf)