Lesson 8: Using Stencils with Paper
Using Parchment or Vellum
Parchment craft uses vellum paper which is sheer enough that you can see through it. This eliminates the need for a light table - and, if you have an old mouse pad or other sturdy foam piece lying around the house, you may not even need a stencil. Just take the design that you want to emboss and place it under the vellum and on top of the mouse pad or foam. Now take your small stylus to mark the outlines of the design, and use the larger end to emboss the larger surfaces.
The nice thing about working this way is that you can double-emboss. Where an object like a bottle would be raised in most areas, but should be impressed at the opening, you can simply flip your vellum and emboss that opening that you want to have a concave appearance on the other side.
Embossing on vellum leaves white lines wherever you have traced with your fine stylus, and a cloudy effect where the larger stylus has been used, so you get a natural shaded effect as you work. You can enhance this by using white opaque ink to trace the white lines. You can also use your pastel chalks to softly color the side of the paper that is intended as the reverse side of the finished project. Or leave it uncolored and place a piece of colored paper beneath it for a sophisticated but simple effect.
If you really like this effect (and white on white embossing can be absolutely breathtaking) you may want to take a look at parchment crafting technique known as Pergamano.
