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.

Guide to Alternative Tools

As a beginner I have found that I have bought equipment required for a particular project only to find when I received the tools I already have a similar item by a different manufacturer. This is a guide to the tools that I have found to be similar but named differently.

PCA Pergamano
Sun tool = Star tool
Stamp edge = Split tool
Micro ball = Fine stylus
Micro shader = Shader 0.8mm
Mini shader = Shader 1.0mm
Fine scallop edge = Semi circle

A Parchment Envelope

Designed by Christine Coleman
I made this to give as a present with a token or money inside.

Perforating grids

There are quite a few grids available and I do not claim to be an expert. This is a beginners guide to grids, feel free to comment or correct me if I have got any information wrong.

There are three main manufacturers of grids : PCA, Pergamano and Siesta.

Traditional grids are mesh in a plastic frame, they come in regular and fine grade with a special perforating mat which fits in the frame. The grid enables you to produce accurate perforations. These are made by Pergamano and Siesta.

PCA
Steel flexi-duo grids seem to have advantages over the older mesh grids. You can emboss dots for example and the the holes are easy to see and line up. I prefer the A4 size and I love the way the perforations fix the parchment in place whilst you are working.

Pergamano
Pergamano also make steel grids, straight and diagonal, however they are not interchangeable with PCA grids. For example if a design specifies using a Pergamano diagonal grid a PCA diagonal grid will not work in the same way.

Siesta have a wide range of grids for specific borders and patterns and motifs.

Carla Larter Design

I made this card from the Carla Larter book, the oval borders are from a Siesta parchment pattern grid.

Parchment Craft by Carla Larter

This is an excellent book for a beginner, the instructions are very detailed and there are many step by step illustrations. The equipment required is described in a way that does not promote a particular manufacturer, however this can make it more difficult when you are searching for an item without a product number. She covers all aspects of parchmentcraft, detailed instructions on how to emboss, cutting crosses etc. Many painting and colouring techniques are covered making this a good reference book to keep on the shelf. I think that this is definitely a beginners book though, a parcher with some experience would find the instructions too detailed.