Parchment craft is a hobby that uses transparent paper - parchment paper. Using various techniques one can create elegant and "soft-looking" projects. WIth these basic techniques it is easy to master the beauty of this craft. As with any new concept practice is key. I hope that you enjoy this month's closer glimpse at new additions to creating, using additional parchment craft techniques - tracing, perforating and cutting. It is these techniques that create a look similar to lace.
SUPPLY LIST
Most of the supplies for this project can be purchased in our store - Ellen Hutson LLC
Memory Box Cantaloupe Notecard and Ocean Cardstock, Lockhart Checkered Butterfly; Pergamano Parchment Paper, Embossing Pad, Embossing/Perforating Pad, Embossing Tool - Extra Small Ball and Fine Stylus, Parchment Scissors, Perforating 1-Needle Pen; Large Long Scalloped Rectangle Nestability; Copic Markers - Y21, Y38, B23, B29, Colorless Blender, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen, Soft Grip Embossing Stylus, Piercing Tool, Stampin Up Piercing Mat, C-Thru Ruler, Altered Pergamano Template (see PDF file)
CUTTING SCALLOPED PARCHMENT AND COORDINATING CARDSTOCK
Step 1.
Cut largest Long Scalloped Rectangle shape from Parchment paper.
To begin this project I knew I wanted to begin with my new Long Scalloped Rectangle die. I have been fiddling around with Parchment paper and was very much wanting to see how it would react to cutting and embossing using the Wizard and Nestabilties. As you can see from the pictures below it cuts perfectly and leaves a very soft embossed edge.
Backing parchment projects with a contrasting color really makes the white pop.
Step 2.
To cut a strip that would coordinate perfectly with the Parchment paper, cut an identical Ocean Blue scalloped rectangle. Remove this strip from the die and move it over two scallops as shown above. Keep the sandwich close to the back end of your plates. With the larger size of the new dies and spacer plate this is an important consideration. The front end of the sandwich must be thinner so that you can ease the plates into the machine.
Tip: Adhere cardstock to magnetic mat using temporary adhesive, such as Tombow Removable Monoadhesive. This keeps your project from slipping out of place as you place your sandwich into your Wizard.
TRACING
The first step in creating beautiful patterns is tracing. I have included below an altered version of a pattern that I found in a book authored by Martha Ospina titled Pergamano - Handbook of Parchment Craft Basics. This template, Download butterfly_outline.pdf, is altered to fit perfectly with the scalloped parchment Nestability cut out.
In traditional parchment craft one uses a specialized ink called tinta ink. Well being that I am so very practical I decided to try something different - my new Inkssentials Opaque White Pen. The traced lines form the basis for the embossing and perforating that you will do later.
Step 3.
Using the Opaque White pen trace your pattern as shown. If you are right-handed begin on the left side of your project and work towards the right. (work from right to left if you are left-handed). This allows the ink to dry without smudging.
As you can see my hand is not that steady, but once you begin to emboss the lines, the shakiness disappears.
EMBOSSING
Parchment paper has a unique property - it can be stretched. This makes it possible to create an impression or relief in the paper called embossing. When you use this technique you will note that the color of the paper will change from a soft, grayish white to a soft, white color.
Step 4.
Place your traced pattern upside down on an embossing pad. For this project I elected to use the Extra Small Ball embossing tool. The point on this tool is fine, but not quite as fine as the Fine Stylus. Hold your tool nearly vertical and applying gentle, yet firm pressure, trace the outline of your pattern. I find that by working lightly the first time and then going over it a second or third time I have better control over my tool and do not risk piercing the paper. A general rule of thumb is the finer the tip of the tool, the less pressure you need to apply to emboss the parchment paper.
Tip #1: Marsha, the wonderful artist who shared this art form with me gave me a wonderful tip to help me keep my supplies to a minimum. One of the products that is useful to this craft is called Perga-Soft. It is a wax that ensures that the embossing tool will move easily over your parchment paper. Well rather than spending additional dollars to have yet another product in my inventory she shared the secret of other Pergamano artists - that secret is to just run the tip of the embossing tool on your scalp. You guessed it - it works like a charm - no further products needed. Now if that grosses you out to much then just go and grab some wax paper - LOL! I doubt it will do as good a job though :D
Tip #2: When embossing is complete use a damp paper towel to clean the ink from your embossing pad.
PERFORATING
Perforating essentially means making holes in the parchment paper. To accomplish this task you can use a variety of tools that contain 1 or more needles. Adding perforations to your project allows you to make all sorts of designs in the parchment paper.
Step 5.
Place your embossed parchment project back on top of your pattern. Again use a removable adhesive or tape to hold the project in place. Place your project on the perforating pad. This pad is different from the embossing pad. Do not try to perforate on your embossing pad, the piercing would ruin the surface of the embossing pad, where as the perforating pad is made out of a dense, spongey material.
The small dots on the pattern indicate the location of the perforations. Hold the 1-needle tool vertically and press the needle through the parchment paper. Insert your needle to the same depth with each perforation for consistent results.
CUTTING
The cutting technique in parchment crafting is essentially connecting the dots. Parchment craft scissors have a curved tip that points downward when cutting. The tips of these scissors are incredibly fine to allow for detailed cutting. Hold the scissors with the curved end pointing downwards. Place the pointer finger in the left hole of the scissors and the middle finger in the right hole of the scissors. The thumb is used to brace against the outside of the left hole of the scissors.
Step 6.
Hold your piece of parchment paper with your left hand lightly on top of your perforating pad. Insert the points of the scissors into two adjacent perforations. Snip. Move the scissors to the next set of holes. Cut all perforations, so the entire center piece comes loose from the squares.
COLORING
Step 7.
Stamp butterfly on Parchment paper using Palette New Canvas ink. Allow to dry. Turn over and working on back side emboss all lines except circles using the Fine Stylus. For a thorough explanation regarding this process please review the tutorial, Parchment Craft, I did on the Splitcoaststampers website.
Using a larger stylus, emboss the circles and body of the butterfly as shown below.
Dorsing is the term given to the technique where color is added to the parchment paper when using Pergamano products. This technique is used on the back side of the paper which adds an air of softness to the color of the finished project. This again requires an entirely different set of tools and thus my experimentation with Copic Markers. The results I am able to achieve with the Copic markers makes me a happy girl.
As you can see I have used two shades of yellow (Y21 and Y38) and two shades of blue (B23 and B29). I also use my colorless blender to remove any mistakes and lighten the colors where necessary. Note how much softer the colors appear on the right side of the parchment paper.
COMPLETION
To complete my project I adhered the Ocean Blue background directly to the back side of the Parchment paper. I did not want to try and hide my adhesive with embellishments being I wanted the beauty of the tracing, piercing and cutting to stand out. So I tried a new all-over adhesive that I have been given as a sample. I have to admit I am WOWed by how evenly this adhesive appears through the parchment.
The butterfly was affixed using Inkssentials Matte Accents along the body line.
Last but not least a little extra piercing was added to the Cantaloupe notecard to balance the project and add texture. I love the sheer elegance that the techniques of Parchment craft add to a project. I know many of you have purchased the supplies for this month's stamp of the month and I hope this gives you one more thing to do with those supplies. Just think what a beautiful mother's day card this will make!
