One of my favorite things about our Craft Café & Supply Swap is how it always manages to surprise me. There’s something magical about the randomness of the swap table, like a mini thrift store curated entirely by fellow creatives. You never know what you’ll find.
This time, it was a slim little book with a black spine and some holiday crafts using a technique I didn't quite recognize on the cover: "Pergamano Christmas Decorations" by Martha Ospina.
I had never heard of Pergamano before. The illustrations were intricate, soft white patterns that looked like lace pressed into vellum. The projects had an almost frosted-glass effect, and every page felt like a peek into a craft I had absolutely no context for.
Naturally, I took the book home and promptly fell down a rabbit hole.
So… What Is Pergamano?
Pergamano is a style of parchment craft, a technique that uses translucent parchment paper and a combination of embossing, perforation, and coloring to create detailed, lacy designs. The name comes from "pergamena," the Italian word for parchment.
Think delicate borders, snowflake ornaments, elaborate gift tags, bookmarks, and keepsake cards that look like they belong in a Victorian paper goods shop.
The craft has roots in 15th-century Europe, when religious manuscripts were decorated with fine whitework on parchment. Over time, it evolved into a more decorative, secular art, particularly in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe.
Martha Ospina, whose book I stumbled upon, is actually one of the modern-day champions of the craft. She helped popularize Pergamano techniques in the late 20th century, creating a whole system of tools, templates, and patterns that allowed crafters to create professional-level pieces from home.
What Caught My Eye
There’s a quiet rhythm to parchment craft. You trace a pattern with white ink or pencil. Then you go over it, slowly and patiently, with a series of styluses, embossers, and perforating tools. Each mark presses into the paper just so... raising it, shaping it, texturizing it.
It’s like embroidery, but with paper. Lacework, but drawn. There’s something soothing and deeply meditative about it.
What also struck me was how few materials it really requires to get started:
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Vellum or parchment paper
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White gel pen or pencil for tracing
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Embossing stylus (or anything with a smooth rounded tip)
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Perforating tool (or even a fine sewing needle in a pinch)
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Patience. So much patience.
And of course, once I saw the patterns in Ospina’s book, I immediately started imagining how they’d look layered over upcycled paper, or stitched into a card made with reclaimed cardstock. Creative reuse meets old-school paper lace? Yes, please.
Why It Matters
I may not have discovered this craft if someone hadn’t dropped that little book off at the swap table. And that’s the beauty of shared creative spaces. They open doors you didn’t know existed.
Pergamano isn’t trendy. It’s not flooding my feed. It’s quiet. It’s slow. It’s a little old-fashioned.
And it’s exactly the kind of craft I love finding: one with history, intention, and endless room for personal twist.
P.S.
If you ever come across parchment craft tools or books, grab them. Or better yet, bring them to the next swap. You never know who you’ll inspire.
And if you’ve tried Pergamano or parchment work yourself, I’d love to see what you made (or hear how it went!).
Try-It-Yourself Resources:
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Pergamano Official Site (Craft With Pergamano) – now under the Groovi brand, with tools and patterns
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Martha Ospina Books on AbeBooks – for finding vintage guides
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YouTube: Pergamano Tutorials – search for embossing techniques, borders, and beginner guides
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Pinterest: Parchment Craft Inspiration – modern and traditional examples
