Parchment craft

[1][2] Historians believe that parchment craft originated as an art form in Europe during the 15th or 16th century.

However, missionaries and other settlers relocated to South America, taking parchment craft with them.

Parchment cards became larger in size and crafters began adding wavy borders and perforations.

In the 19th century, influenced by French romanticism, parchment crafters began adding floral themes and cherubs and hand embossing.

Designs are traced onto parchment using a mapping pen and acrylic ink (usually white, but various colors are used to accent purposes).

The tips of these tools also are made with different materials, some plastic – for lighter embossing – and some steel – for the brighter whites.

Needle tools are sometimes used for embossing details, but mostly are used for perforating to make decorative, lace-like patterns.

When tracing the mapping pen should be allowed to glide easily over the parchment, no pressure should be used as this increases the amount of ink that is dispersed from the nib and may also create an unintentional embossment.

A finished embossment will be satin-white in color and will contrast with the translucency of the parchment paper.

Stippling is a technique used for generating a matte white surface to areas or for fine detail work such as the centers of flowers.

Perforating is used to create decorative and special lace patterns in parchment craft.

Dorsing can also be done using other coloring media such as felt-tip pens/markers, watercolor pencils, acrylic paints or inks.