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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 09/09/2005 Posts: 4,043
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Forget listening to the P brand, imho the quality isnt all it could be and if you buy everything they say you need kiss goodbye to £100s
Budget Parchment List,
Parchment paper (there's some free in the Parchexpress mag)
Pattern, lots free online
Mapping Pen to trace, essential if you want to get the best results but you can use a white gel pen, white pencil (emboss from back after) or a needle tool (will teach you a soft touch)
Embossing tools, a "dead" biro will work as a fine tool, paperclips and the rounded ends of knitting needles/crochet hooks will work quite well.
Perforating tools,
A standard sewing needle shoved into a cork will work as a single needle.
A mouse mat will work as an embossing & Perforating pad.
Colours,
Inks, any acrylic dipping ink will work, not just the P brand ones
Dorsos are basically oil pastels, the P brand felts can be substituted by cheap water based felt tips, and pencils either normal or water are fine insead of liners. You can also paint with normal acrylic paints (P brand red is truest I've found, shame it's so expensive), inks & even take colour from your stamping pads with a small brush.
Sharp curved manicure scissors are ok to start the cutting with.
If you like the craft then I'd add
Centagraphs black embosing mat, IMHO the best available and one of the cheapest.
PCA single, double & 4 needle tools, forget all the other needle tools, they just save a few minutes
Snips for cutting, Centagraph do a decent enough pair, or P brand ones.
Couple of PCA shaders as & when required
And finally a PCA grid as a luxury item, more expensive but worth it. Sueplayingwithpaper
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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 16/03/2007 Posts: 220
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Interesting and useful post Sue.
I too have used many of the above 'alternatives' to great effect.
We artists and crafters are thrifty (many of us are on strict budgets!) and I'm sure you and I are not the only ones to look at a product and ask ourselves - 'can I use something else cheaper without scimping on the quality of the results?'. It's nice to try out a technique without too much financial outlay, to see if you like it and committed to spending more money on it.
I initially used a length of thick garden wire, bent with pliers to form a curved end, to shade with then found using metal crochet hooks as shader tools instead of the 'hockey stick' a good substitute, a craft 'pokey tool' or sewing needles can with practice give you varying hole sizes, and spare mats from See Ds stamp kits (if you are also a stamper) are pretty good pricking mats to start out with.
As I'm an artist, I have various art medium in my art room such as oil pastels and inks that work just as well as the parchment products, so I've no need to spend on extra 'specialist' products. They're not all expensive either. I have some pretty cheap oil pastels and chalks from The Works which are very good.
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Rank: Site Member  Joined: 30/12/2006 Posts: 1
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When i began to teach Parchment craft at the college a few years ago there wasn't the exposure it had now on C&C.
I used all of the above stuff to demonstrate that you don't have to spend a fortune on Pergamano to get the results!
Some people do not have the funds to buy equipment and this was a way to introduce them to parchment without the cost?
Some of the things you have said DO work excellently.
However, can i pass on another tip that i found extremely useful and novel with tools for parchment? The packs of 20 or so assorted drill bits from £1 stores are SO useful for making little border markings which can be so pretty using these tips? There is several sizes of star tips similar to the Estrilina tool used in parchment. These often come with a handle, wash/wipe the slither of grease from them first before using though?
Also you can get larger metal edged tracing tools ( a spiked roller to make perforation marks) from facbric shops for as little as £1. I found that putting a round curtain closed hook into a piece of dowel worked brilliantly as a shading tool and many students used these to good effect.
I also made perforation tools from pins and fimo for my students to use which worked absolutely fine. The use of a piece of Funky foam was better for embossing than a mouse mat as it has more give in it. Use a piece of fleece fabric for when doing the lace work pricking also.
Hugs Poppy ScarlettPoppy
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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 28/06/2007 Posts: 5,873
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ALSO i bought some tracing paper from my local au naturale shop & found it was even better quality than velum or actual parchment paper. Found it gives a lovely rounded crease when folded instead of splitting or giving a sharp edge. It was only 75p for 20 sheets so I went back & bought the last 7 packets.
Bought myself a parchment book from the charity shop for 50p yesterday so I'll have a look through that for ideas.
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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 05/05/2005 Posts: 620
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hi sue.. I just wanted to say good for you for posting this. I do parchment, and I know Lindy who makes the PCA tools in Australia. Her tools are way way superior and much longer lasting than the P brand.. lol..
... oh and I agree with other things too! Jo Austin - Docrafts Designer and Demonstrator
South Yorkshire. My blog is here... http://www.joaustin.co.uk Follow me on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/joaustin22
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 09/09/2005 Posts: 4,043
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Jo, I havent spoke to Lindy for several years now. Great to see how much easier it is to get her tools over here. My first tool of hers is years old and still going strong.
I managed to get one of the new flexigrids at the NEC and tried it last night. WOW, fantastic grid, all the holes are perfectly shaped and it's so easy to see through the paper. Makes a huge difference, specially when you compare it to the perg grids that have never been truly square. Sueplayingwithpaper
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Rank: Site Member  Joined: 17/09/2007 Posts: 2
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wow thanks 4 the help lilhappyhun
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Rank: Site Member
Joined: 03/04/2006
Posts: 3
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I second the vote of thanks. I've been dying to try Parchment craft for some time, but have been put off by the prices of everything I'm told I "need". Now I know otherwise, thanks for the great ideas.
KatyLou. KatyLou
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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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I too am grateful for this. Am definitely going to give it a go so fingers crossed!! Alison  If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat  I was having such a great day.... then I got up!!  Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place  R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping for someone on card talk Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Site Member  Joined: 16/05/2007 Posts: 3
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Sue
Many thanks there are lots of usefull tips. As far as the mapping pen is concerned I brought a propeling pencil from craft central with white refils this Saturday but although I have tried numerous times I cannot refil it. Can you suggest a good place to replace it.
I am so looking forward to getting started its very relaxing and you can get wonderful results.
Regards
Jackie lovetocraft
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 09/09/2005 Posts: 4,043
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Here you go, just dont blame me if you buy more than a few pencil leads ;)
http://www.centagraph.co...Pencil___Leads_164.html
http://www.parchmentexpress.co.uk/
Both places sell the black rubber embossing pads which is easily worth ten times the price. Sueplayingwithpaper
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Busy Member  Joined: 28/10/2006 Posts: 644
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Thanks everyone, for great reads.
An interesting thread for someone who has only ever tried parchment once with 'borrowed' basics.
Now I feel the urge to go and raid my sewing box and hubbys toolbox, and who knows, I might be joining all of you experts with some parchment in my gallery soon. LOL.
Angy x Share the laughter, savour the warmth. cherish the moments.
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Rank: Site Member
Joined: 08/10/2005
Posts: 2
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Thank you Sue. I have just bought a book in order to learn how to do parchment craft and have read about all the equipment I need (according to them!) Your mail came at just the right time for me. ladyrawlie
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping for Alyson Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Site Member  Joined: 09/08/2005 Posts: 7
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Thanks Alison, its great! x Alyson
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping again!! Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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Rank: Busy Member Joined: 25/07/2005 Posts: 5,372
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bumping for Jules Alison If you want the best seat in the house, move the cat I was having such a great day.... then I got up!! Have faith in yourself; believe that anything can be done;
do not let other people put you off; never give up.
Some people in our lives are like Angels; their very presence makes our world a brighter place R.I.P Sandra; gone but not forgotten xxxx
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