How to Create an Embossed Parchment Card
Embossed parchment is used to make fancy greeting cards, invitations, announcements or framed designs. Embossing involves tracing a design on parchment paper and using special tools to raise the design to low relief. Special embossing tools are applied to the design with gentle strokes to relax the fibers of the parchment paper, allowing the paper to bulge in stroked areas, creating the raised design on the opposite side of the paper. The craft of embossing parchment is sometimes called pergamano.
Things You'll Need
- Parchment paper
- White pencil
- Design pattern
- Waxed food wrap
- Foam pad
- Embossing tools
- Eraser
Instructions
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1
Tape parchment paper on top of the design. Make certain the parchment will not move around.
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2
Trace all lines of the design with white pencil. Remove the parchment paper from the design template. Turn the paper over.
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3
Rub waxed paper on the back side of the design so the embossing tools can glide more easily.
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4
Use a small ball embossing tool or other tool, according to your preference, to press and glide along each line of the floral design outline.
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5
Select a shading tool of choice to emboss broad areas of the design, such as flower petals. Begin at outside edge of a broad area and stroke from edge toward inside. Make repeated gentle strokes. The area will turn white as it becomes raised.
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6
Use heavier pressure to go back over the embossed broad areas after the initial embossing has taken place and the parchment paper fibers are relaxed. Apply pressure and stroke the design until it has turned completely white.
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7
Create shading by leaving parts of the design unembossed.
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Tips & Warnings
Place a clean sheet of paper or piece of plastic wrap on the parchment if your hand will rest on the paper while you are embossing.
