Vellum
July 28, 2008
4:59 pm
maria
Paper Crafts, Techniques and Mediums
- Humidity can warp this paper. If you live in an area with high humidity, store the vellum in airtight container. Vellum is more delicate than most papers so storing in a file or other protective organizer can help prevent curling, creased edges, and keep the vellum free of dust and dirt smudges. Store vellum flat.
- Use sharp scissors or blades when working with vellum. The heavy weight of this paper dulls blades quickly. Make sure to sharpen your punches too. Punching a piece of aluminum foil a few times will sharpen a punch’s cutting plate.
- Vellum loves to be dressed up with silk ribbons, fine glitters, sparkling embellishments, and gel inks. It can also get casual with raffia ribbon, buttons, or beads.
- Although vellum is not as easy to rip or tear as some papers, you can use this technique. It’s wise to practice ripping vellum so you can get a feel of the results. Vellums sold do vary in weight and body.
- Aging vellum is easy. Brush, dab, rub or splatter inks and chalks over the entire piece, random areas or around just the edges. Crumple the paper (a lot or a little) and then smooth it out by hand or with a low-temp iron.
- Vellum has a tendency to lighten or whiten when embossed so unless that is the look you are trying to achieve it is best to buy vellum that is already embossed.
- Some paper crafters love using a Xyron system when adhering vellum to a surface while others think this dulls the translucent quality of the vellum.
- Other glue alternatives are: 2-way or 2 in 1 glues and mounting sprays. A quick test is to use the glue to adhere vellum to a dark piece of paper. If the glue doesn’t show on dark paper it won’t show on most other colors.
- You can also hide glue by placing any glue where you know you’ll be placing an embellishment.
- Non-glue alternatives are brads, eyelets, nailheads, or needle and thread. If you opt to sew the vellum, it is best to pre-punch the holes rather than letting the needle cut through the vellum.
- Most vellums can be run through both ink jet and laser printers. It is best if you set the freshly printed vellum aside for at least 30 minutes to let the ink completely dry or to carefully heat set the ink with a heat tool or a blow dryer. Some vellums will crinkle the heat of the laser printer.
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