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Paper Quilling Solar System

Celebrate World Space Week with a solar system made using paper quilling. Learn about all the planets while you create a colourful artwork to display!

  • Step 1Research the planets of the solar system. Make some notes to refer to while you are creating your artwork. Consider things like the colour and size of each planet, as well as the position and order of the planets within the solar system. Your artwork will only be an artistic representation of the solar system, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be scientifically accurate!
  • Step 2On a black sheet of cardboard, sketch 9 curved lines from left to right using a pencil, making sure they are evenly spaced. Use our image as a guide.
  • Step 3Use a quilling tool, quilling paper and a quilling board to help you create your different planets. Watch our Quilling Basics video before you begin creating your shapes!
  • CleverTip: You can also use a wooden skewer to create smaller, tighter quilled paper, as well as help you move the paper into the shapes on the quilling board. Wooden skewers are also helpful when gluing the paper strips together! Adult supervision is recommended when handling tools with sharp points such as skewers.
  • Step 4To create the Sun, we have used yellow, light orange and orange quilling paper wound into a circle shape. We have also used yellow quilling paper and a triangle shape from the quilling board to create the Sun’s rays. Glue the centre of the Sun to the left side of the black cardboard so it is inside the first curved line. Glue the rays around the Sun and allow to dry.
  • Step 5To create Mercury, we have used yellow and light orange quilling paper in a circle shape. Glue your Mercury shape along the first curved line and allow to dry.
  • Step 6To create Venus, we have used light orange and orange quilling paper in a circle shape. Glue your Venus shape along the second curved line.
  • Step 7To create Earth, we have used two strips of blue quilling paper to create the outer circle and water, then one strip of green quilling paper cut into thirds to create the land. Roll the green paper pieces tight to ensure they are small enough to fit between the coils of the blue paper. Glue your Earth shape along the third curved line and allow to dry.
  • Step 8To create Mars, we have used red quilling paper. Glue your Mars shape along the fourth curved line and allow to dry.
  • Step 9To create Jupiter, we have created a long strip using orange, purple then orange. Quill your long strip into a loose circle. Glue a pink strip to another orange strip and quill tightly, then pinch at either end. Place the pinched shape into your first outer orange part as shown. Glue your Jupiter shape onto the fifth curved line. Allow to dry.
  • Step 10To create Saturn, we have used half a strip of orange quilling paper for the ring and light orange paper for the planet. Glue the ends of the half strip of orange paper together to form a ring and allow to dry. Quill the light orange paper into a circle. Glue part of the orange paper ring onto the sixth curved line as shown. Glue the quilled light orange paper over the top in the centre of the ring. Glue the other side of the orange ring down over the top, so the ring surrounds the planet. Allow to dry.
  • Step 11To create Uranus, we have used purple and blue quilling paper in a circle shape. Glue your Uranus shape to the seventh curved line. Allow to dry.
  • Step 12To create Neptune, we have used blue quilling paper in a circle shape. Glue your Neptune shape to the eighth curved line and allow to dry.
  • Step 13To create Pluto, we have used pink quilling paper in a circle. Glue your Pluto shape to the ninth and final curved line. Allow to dry.
  • CleverTip: You may wish to leave out Pluto as it is no longer considered a planet in our solar system – it is up to you!
  • Step 14Use a silver marker to label your planets and add stars and the Earth’s Moon. We have also added some silver dashes along the curved pencil lines to show the orbit of the planets.
  • Step 15Your Paper Quilling Solar System is now ready to display ready for World Space Week!

Materials used in this activity

Wooden Skewers - Pack of 100
Optional
Product Code: 10014
EACH $3.07 (inc GST) $2.79 (ex GST)
6 or more $1.97 (inc GST) $1.79 (ex GST)          
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CleverPatch Junior PVA Glue - 250ml
Optional
Product Code: 10364
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
36 or more $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)          
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Product Code: 15518
EACH $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
CleverPatch Cardboard - Black - A4 - Pack of 100
Optional
Product Code: 16292
EACH $21.99 (inc GST) $19.99 (ex GST)
4 or more $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)          
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HB Pencils - Pack of 20
Optional
Product Code: 16618
EACH $8.79 (inc GST) $7.99 (ex GST)
6 or more $6.59 (inc GST) $5.99 (ex GST)          
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Quilling Starter Kit
Optional
Product Code: 19802
EACH $21.99 (inc GST) $19.99 (ex GST)
3 or more $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)          
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Product Code: 20345
EACH $6.04 (inc GST) $5.49 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value