Make your own envelopes

Envelopes should be the right size for the card, I have found that pearlescent paper is strong enough for an envelope.

My method for making nice looking envelopes to fit any size card.

You will need:
12" x 12" paper
Power pritt stick glue
Double sided tape

Equipment required:
Paper cutter
Envelope score board
Ruler

1. Measure the diagonal of the card (I'm using metric)
2. Add 2.5cm to the diagonal measurement
3. Use this total to measure and cut a square of envelope paper using the paper cutter.
4. Centre the card on the square of paper like a rectangle over a diamond (the corners of the paper should be above the sides of the card), and score the sides of the envelope 1cm larger than the card, making sure that the score lines cross over at the corners
5. Cut out the upper triangles where the score lines cross
6. Round the envelope flap with a punch and emboss if you want. Glue the envelope together and use double sided tape on the flap

I have tried different methods but this one has worked out the best, I have adapted it from the instructions in the enveloper made by Crafters Companion, a brilliant product!

Sent from my iPad

Embossing with a Star Tool / Sun Tool

How to use a star tool (Pergamano) or sun tool (PCA)

Press the tool gently onto the parchment and move your hand in a circle. This works best for me in an anti-clockwise circle, but I am right handed. If I use a clockwise circle I get an ellipse!

A thinner harder mat is better for embossing.

Pergamano - The True Passion! DVD Review

An introduction from Martha Ospina, who introduced Parchmentcraft to Europe.
The DVD is purely instructional, unlike other DVDs I have bought, this one does not have a pattern to work from. You watch the demonstrations of all the techniques and then apply these to your own work.

If you are a total beginner this will be a very useful purchase if you are unsure how to start, it covers all the the basics for example how to :-

Trace using a mapping pen
Embossing techniques and effects
Perforating, using the mesh type grid
Cutting, how to hold the scissors and cut crosses
Dorsing
Dabbing using templates and without
Painting using paints, crayons, ink and pens

It also introduces the International Parchment Craft Academy and informs about the Pergamano company.

A thorough introduction to parchmentcraft giving instruction, demonstration and tips, and a history of Pergamano, but don't expect any patterns to work on.

Christine's DVD -Working with Pencils

I love this instructional dvd! If you like using coloured pencils you will enjoy the projects on this dvd. Demonstrations for using polychromatic pencils and water colour pencils and plenty of advice like the importance of keeping the pencils sharp.

The projects include flowers, a face, a bird and a lovely final project fuschia which has a lovely grid work frame and is large enough to use as a picture. The demonstrations are very clear the close up camera work is so helpful when you are not quite sure of what you are doing! And of course you can spin it back and try again.

Painting Techniques DVD Review

Painting techniques DVD
By Christine Coleman

This is volume 2 in Christine's series of parchmentcraft dvd's and a great starter for beginners. Christine explains and demonstrates seven painting techniques within seven different projects. As a real beginner to painting I was pleased with the small details like how much water to put on the brush and how to load the brush with paint, also how to position the brush.
Tinta inks are used, also pintura acrylics and perla paint.
There is a lot of work to practise on this DVD almost 2 hours of tuition!

Embossing

Embossing parchment is definitely a skill that needs a lot of practise, I have found a tutorial on Robyn Cockburns site that gives a helpful step by step guide to start with. Click on the heading to link to it.
The flower pattern she uses is at Mettemusen,

http://www.mettemusen.dk/Pergamano%202009/Homemade%20patterns/Homemade_patterns_blomster.htm

Amazing Brushstrokes

Review of Amazing Brushstrokes by Kannikar Sukseree

This is a beautifully presented book with many pages of explanations of techniques and step by step photography taking you through each project. I think there is plenty of work suitable for beginners and more experienced crafters. The designs are exquisite. The grids and tools used are Pergamano as you would expect from a Pergamano book! However if you try to use a PCA grid you will not get the same look as the illustrations.