From: VSAUER@delphi.com  Virginia B. Sauer
Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation

Here is a very cheap and easy craft that can be used to create
beautiful and popular gifts, such as lampshades (which are
beautiful when the light shines through the holes).


                        PIERCED PAPER LACE

Pierced paper is an age-old technique for creating intricately-
decorated papers for lampshades, stationery, pictures, borders,
and trims.  It is particularly popular because it is very
inexpensive and uses only materials already found in most homes.
This is also an ideal craft for children, using dressmakers'
marking wheels or hole punches for those too young to work with
needles.

One of the most popular uses if for beautiful pierced paper
lampshades, made by making a pattern of a lampshade (i. e.,
place tissue paper over a lampshade, draw around it, and cut it
out) and copying this onto a firm, attractive paper such as
parchment or handmade paper.  Pierce as directed below.  Either
glue the edges or use as a lampshade, or slip this over an
existing lampshade to create a decorative accent that filters
the light from the holes.  Weeping willows, florals, and
nautical and seashell scenes are traditional for this.  They are
quite beautiful when the light shines through the tiny holes.

The pattern motifs can be used singly as monograms or repeated
to form bands of the pattern.  These can be used to edge
shelves, trim blinds, decorate stationery or greeting cards, or
frame and display on the wall (such as a paper quilt, monogram,
or floral design).  This technique can prove particularly
appealing on objects made with handmade paper.

To work the designs, the paper is simply placed on a padded
surface, covered with the chosen design, and pricked with a
needle or other sharp tool - varying the size of the holes to
emphasize certain areas of the design, and creating the illusion
of depth by pricking the paper from both sides to produce a
texture of smooth and raised holes.  (Although less traditional,
this can also be done with a sewing machine.)


MATERIALS NEEDED:

   -- Design motifs:       simple designs with clearly drawn
                           outlines, such as traditional lace
                           patterns, embroidery transfers, basic
                           floral designs, monograms, quilting
                           patterns, and coloring book images

   --  Paper:              To support the closely spaced holes,
                           this should be smooth and fairly
                           stiff - e.  g., matt paper, shiny
                           writing papers, art papers (such as
                           canson paper), and hand- made paper

   --  Pointed implements: Sewing or knitting needles,
                           dressmakers' marking wheels, awls,
                           bookbinding stabbers, hole punches,
                           et cetera - using different sized
                           needles for different sized holes

   --  Padding:            Smooth, even padding to cover the
                           work surface (so that the point
                           reaches the same depth each time it
                           pierces the paper) - e.  g.,
                           Polyester batting, thick felt, or old
                           blankets

   --  Light source:       If you do much of your own designing,
                           a light box (constructed by hand or
                           sold at most quilting supply
                           companies) will prove invaluable.
                           However, if one is not available, you
                           can either use a window on a sunny
                           day, or a glass-topped table with a
                           lighted lamp beneath it.

   --  Pencil

   --  Eraser

   --  Fine-point black felt-tipped pen

   --  Tracing paper

   --  Sharp scissors

   --  Masking tape

   --  Oven-bake clay (such as Sculpey, FIMO, or Cernit) or
       homemade Bread Dough / Bakers' Clay to create a tool to
       automate the process (see "Variations" for directions)


TRANSFERRING THE PATTERN:

   --  Trace the selected design as clearly as possible, leaving
       at least the width of a hole between each row to avoid
       splitting the paper.  Reinforce the outlines with a
       fine-point black felt-tipped pen.

   --  Tape the tracing to a window (when the sun is out) or
       place it over a light box or glass coffee table with a
       lamp lighted beneath it.

   --  Position the paper over the tracing paper and affix with
       masking tape to hold it in place.

   --  Using pencil, lightly trace the design.  (To repeat a
       motif, simply remove the top paper, reposition, and trace
       again.)

   --  Smooth and raised holes are achieved by poking the needle
       from both sides of the paper (e. g., running parallel to
       each other to make outlines, or arranged in contrasting
       groups).  To work holes as separate motifs within a
       design, trace the complete design onto both sides of the
       paper.


DECORATING (PIERCING) THE PAPER:

   (1)  BY HAND:

      --  Some designs alternate raised and smooth holes (e. g.,
          floral designs made by piercing raised hole flowers
          and picking out leaves with softly contrasting smooth
          holes).  Decide in advance whether or not your design
          will include raised holes - and, if so, where they are
          to appear.

      --  Decide whether you want a finely detailed pattern, a
          less formal effect, or a combination of textures.
          Choose the appropriate instrument for the respective
          areas (e. g., sharp points for finely detailed
          designs, or a combination of different point sizes to
          add subtle changes of texture).

      --  Place the paper right-side up on the padded work
          surface.

      --  Holes pierced from the right (top) side will have a
          smooth surface.  Decide which part of the design is to
          have this treatment.  Using light pressure and even
          wrist movements, pierce the rows of holes, spacing
          them evenly.

      --  To create raised holes, invert the paper.  Using the
          existing pin holes as a guide, pierce the respective
          areas of the paper from the wrong side.

   (2)  USING A SEWING MACHINE:

        The decorative stitches on a sewing machine can be used
        to create rows of small repeating designs.

        -- Practice stitching designs through several layers of
           typing paper.

        -- Use machine embroidery thread to create colored
        effects.

        -- Experiment with different-sized needles.

        -- Use twin needles to duplicate designs side by side.


VARIATIONS:

   (1)  Create inexpensive tools to expedite hand piercing:

        TOOL FOR PIERCING ROWS:

        -- Get some oven-bake clay (such as Sculpey, FIMO, or
           Cernit, all of which are available at most craft
           stores)

        -- Roll it into a log of the desired size (this will be
           your handle)

        -- Poke in the needles, pressing the holes into the
           clay, with the points facing upward.  Space them
           however far apart you'll want the holes to be.

        -- Bake as directed on the package of clay.

        Voila - you'll have a permanent gadget to poke holes as
        far apart as the needles are spaced, and as many at one
        time as there are needles.

        TOOL FOR REPEAT PATTERNS:

        -- Roll out the clay (maybe between 1/8 and 1/4-inch
           thick)

        -- Put it on a tile or cookie sheet (so it can go
           directly into the oven)

        -- Place the pattern over it

        -- Poke holes wherever you want holes to be

        -- Remove the paper

        -- Insert the needles (hole side down, points facing
           upward) into the holes

        -- Bake as directed on the package of clay

        Voila - you'll have a permanent gadget to poke that
        particular pattern into the paper.

   (2)  Fold the paper accordian-style so that the pattern will
        be repeated throughout the layers, alternating smooth
        and raised holes.  (Since the images will also be
        alternated, choose a design that can be reversed in this
        manner - such as a flower rather than a monogram.)  Make
        sure that each fold is at least slightly larger than the
        motif selected.