A huge selection of tools are used in parchment craft, some of which are essentials and you will struggle to get by without them while others are really just to make life a little easier.
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
PARCHMENT PAPER.
You’re really not going to get very far with parchment craft if you don’t have the correct parchment paper to begin with. This is not actually a ‘paper’ at all, but a highly plasticized cotton substance known as vellum that turns white when stretched. Parchment vellum is easy to come by, sold by all good crafting stores and numerous online shops.
FINE LINER PENS.
You can use a nib and ink if you like to trace your pattern, but this is a bit out of fashion nowadays as fine liners are cheaper to come by and easier to use.
To begin with you are probably going to just need to basic black and white; as these are the most common colours used. Gold and silver are also common but often take longer to dry so need a bit more care in application. If you want a really nice gold fine liner then we advise that you get yourself a Sakura Gold touch pen, these are expensive as far as pens go but the quality of the gold is second to none.
SCRIBER.
The smallest of the ball tools, the end is a fraction of a millimeter across. Scribers are great for making the outline of your design really stand out and for creating lines and finer details.
MEDIUM AND LARGE BALL TOOLS.
The medium is used to create ‘flicks’ (see shading) while the large can be used for smooth shading.
4 TOOL.
Set of four little pins used to make the holes for crosses.
Many parchment craft designs incorporate crosses and when you have hundreds to punch you don’t want to be stabbing each little hole individually. So though this one is theoretically a ‘make your life easier’ it’s also an essential.
2 TOOL.
Two litt
le pins close enough together so that when they are used to outline something the design is easy to pop out, a bit like the old perforated stamps.
SNIPS.
These are special little parchment craft scissors with an especially fine tip that can be used to cut out the middle part of a 4hole punch to create a cross. They are available in two different styles either a cross over variety used like a pair of tweezers which are good for people with dexterity problems, or the regulars which are more like a pair of scissors.
EMBOSSING/PRICKING MAT AND MESH.
These can usually be purchased either together or separately. The mat is a thick piece of rubbery foam that is used for all your embossing and is deep enough for pricking as well. The mesh fits neatly over the mat and is used for lace work, ensuring your little holes are all lined up neatly.
FINE 1 TOOL.
A single pin that is fine enough to be used with the mesh for your lace work. Some 1 tools are too fat and so will not pierce through the mesh, this one is just the right size. You can’t really do any lace work without one.
These are the tools you are going to need when you get your hobby started.
If you just want a taster of course you don’t need all of them. Just some parchment vellum, a white fineliner, a medium ball tool and a soft mouse mat can keep you going until you are sure this is the hobby for you. Once you’ve made your mind up then you can start collecting the rest of the equipment as and when they are required.