Parchment Craft with Lesley

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Parchment craft, also known as Pergamano, is the art of embellishing and decorating parchment paper (or vellum paper) using techniques such as embossing, perforating, stippling, cutting and colouring, which can be done in nearly every medium, including pencil, watercolour, acrylic and oil painting.

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The back bone of all parchment craft, is white work, consists of gently stretching the parchment turning it white and embossing it into intricate shapes. Needle tools are used to make lace work or grid work,  This work takes days as the parchment needs to rest between applications.

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Parchment craft is thought to have originated as an art form in Europe during the 15th century, principally in Catholic communities, where crafts persons created lace-like items such as devotional pictures and communion cards.

The craft has developed over time, with new techniques and refinements being added.