Vellum
- Vellum is a translucent paper that comes in several weights. The lightest weight is the most transparent and works well for overlays and with dye-based inks. A heavyweight vellum is best for embossing because it buckles the least when heated. If it does buckle, wait until the powder is cool and then place it under a heavy book to flatten. Many vellums are acid-free, but it's a good idea to always test your vellum with a pH pen, especially if you plan on using it in your scrapbooks.
- Handle vellums with care, they crease very easily and the crease will leave a white "scar" on your paper. Also, oils from your fingers can create smudges that will show through the vellum. When folding vellum, use the Scoring Blade for the Personal Paper Trimmers. They make a crisp crease in the vellum and make it easier to fold. Remember to handle the edges carefully because they can be sharp.
- Apply adhesives very sparingly, whether you're using Two-Way Glue Pens, Clear Mounting Stickers or Glue Sticks. With liquid adhesives, the vellum could buckle when it dries and streaks could show through. Try to keep the glue on just the corners and edges of the vellum. When gluing vellum to cardstock, apply glue to the cardstock and when it becomes tacky attach the vellum. If another material will be overlapping the vellum, you can place your adhesive behind the part that will be hidden. You can disguise any glue that happens to show through with strategically placed stickers, punched pieces, die-cuts or journaling. A great non-permanent attachment is to insert the corners of your vellum piece into Photo Corners, then glue the photo corners down. An easy way to attach vellum overlays is to tie the vellum to the cardstock with ribbons or raffia.
- Because of the smooth finish on vellums, even dye inks need a longer drying time. Dye inks dry by evaporation, so set aside to air dry or blot with blotter paper. Make sure the ink is dry before handling or you will smear it. Pigment ink will not dry and needs to be embossed. When stamping an outline image on vellum use permanent ink. Permanent ink dries quickly so there's less chance of smearing. While some inks fade on vellum, permanent ink retains its color. With a white vellum overlay, use bright and bold patterns and colors underneath. They will show up more clearly than pastel or dark colors. Avoid combining paper and vellum colors that are "opposites".
- Experiment with layering patterned vellum on top of patterned paper for a different look. Vellum is perfect for: snowflakes, ice cubes, stars, clouds, wings, balloons, kites, ghosts, magnifying glasses/eye glasses, windows, lamp shades, smoke, water, crystal vases, candle flames, inflatable rafts, holiday lights, leaves, crystal glasses, fire, rain, wedding veils, rays of sunshine, snow, bubbles - the list is endless. Vellum's stiff quality makes it great for gift boxes, bags, tags and envelopes. Vellum's transparent quality makes it perfect for tracing letters. Simply lay it over the letters and trace.
- Most vellum accepts computer ink, but it's best to test your vellum prior to use. Write on a test sample, if the ink forms droplets, the vellum isn't suitable for printing a photo onto it. Because a large amount of ink is necessary for printing a photo, the vellum may ripple slightly. To minimize this rippling, print your photo on a full sheet, away from the edges. Computer inks take a while to dry on vellum, so let dry overnight before handling, to prevent smearing. Because the ink takes a while to dry, if you work quickly, you may be able to emboss it.
