Parchment Craft (Country Crafts) [Paperback]

Janet Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995 | Series: Country Crafts

Parchment craft, the art of piercing and embossing translucent parchment paper to create delicate, lace-like designs, originated in the cloisters of Spain in the 15th century. This book shows, in colour step-by-step sequences, how to trace, perforate, emboss, cut and tint the parchment paper to create greeting cards and bookmark designs. There are 22 projects shown in colour, together with full-size patterns and easy-to-follow instructions for each one. Readers can mix and match the motifs and borders, including butterflies, flowers, fans, a carnival mask and an exotic bird.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Janet Wilson is an expert in a wide range of paper skills, including parchment craft, quilling, paper cutting, embossing, paper pricking, casting and sculpting. She is the author of the bestselling books The Art of Parchment Craft and The Craft of Quilling.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Search Press (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0855327960
• ISBN-13: 978-0855327965
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Parchment Craft- re-create a 15th century craft...., April 15, 2000

By 

Linda Tallman (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parchment Craft (Country Crafts) (Paperback)

This is my favorite book on parchment craft. The patterns are just beautiful and can be done by a parchcrafter of any skill level. Janet Wilson's directions are clear and easy to follow.. The photos of her completed projects are inspiring. I use this more than any other book I own on parchcrafting....I was recently asked to teach classes in parchment crafting and this is the book I asked to be put on the student's supply list.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful art form!, November 26, 2000

By 

Omega Murphy "Mega" (Upland, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Parchment Craft (Country Crafts) (Paperback)

Like the previous reviewer, I found the instructions in Janet Wilson's book to be very clear--much more so than other books I have on the subject. She guides the reader step-by-step and tells what supplies are needed and how to use the tools. This craft was completely new to me, but within a short practice period, I was able to complete most of the projects in the book with very beautiful results. I've sent birthday greetings with my hand-made parchment cards and received effusive compliments and thanks for them. This is my favorite instruction book for working on parchment.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the book to get started with parchment, June 23, 2005

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Parchment Craft (Country Crafts) (Paperback)

Of all of my parchment craft books and kits, Janet Wilson has written the one I turn to most often. I've created three cards (two valentines and a sympathy card) following her directions and designs, and she is by far the easiest author to understand. (Incidentally the directions included with the Pergamano parchment craft kit were the most difficult to follow. Go figure.)

In the first chapter of "Parchment Craft," the author describes and shows photographs of the materials and equipment you will need to get started in this fifteenth-century art form. She does not actually list suppliers, but they are easily discovered out on the internet. (One of my favorites is "willascommodities.com".) You really don't need much to start with, just the correct type of paper (which is not really parchment), scissors with short curved blades and fine points (very much like manicure scissors), a pen and white ink for tracing, a couple of pads to place underneath the paper while embossing and perforating, embossing tools (basically knob-ended sticks to use for drawing & rubbing), and needle tools for perforating the paper into fancy patterns.

The author suggests tracing all designs on to the parchment with a mapping pen and white ink. I tried that and found that I was more comfortable with a white Prismacolor pencil, although the resulting lines are not quite as fine. Embossing is done from the back of the paper, so don't do what I did the first time and also trace onto the back of the paper. My niece Chelsea's name came out as 'aeslehC.'

Many of the directions are illustrated by step-by-step color photographs, especially when the author is demonstrating a new method such as applying color with oil pastels, or using the four-needle tool to make lace.

There are many patterns that can be used interchangeably--for instance I copied part of the design from an Easter card for my sympathy card. However, some of the patterns are not full-sized and you will have to enlarge them on a photocopier before using them. I wish this step could have been avoided by publishing only full-size patterns, since I no longer have easy access to a copier. However, this is a minor fault in a very nice book.