Project Description: These Vellum feathers are lovely and light, while the gold tips provide chic sophistication. Here are three ideas for crafting with them.

Supply Tips:

1. Vellum is a semi-sheer specialty paper. Traditionally, it’s often used for wedding invitations, but there are many more crafting possibilities.
2. Vellum has a smooth, non-porous surface, so it can be tricky to find an ink that adheres properly. Many standard inks will bead up when used on Vellum. However, Sakura makes several products that work beautifully on Vellum. I’ll be using a Pen-touch® metallic paint marker to gild the tips of my feathers, as well as a Gelly Roll® Gold Shadow™ pen for journaling.
3. Shake the Pen-touch® before using and then start the ink flow by pressing the nib on a piece of scrap paper.

Steps to Make This:

Creating the Feathers

1. Begin by cutting a feather shape out of Vellum. This is essentially an elongated raindrop with a stem as the quill.
2. Once your feather is cut, fold the drop-shaped portion in half lengthwise. Do not fold the quill portion. Crease sharply, as this will create a visible white line on the fold.
3. Now we can color the edge of the feather using the gold Pen-touch® marker. Place the feather on a piece of scrap paper and trace around the outer edge of the feather, on both the front and the back. Allow the ink to set for a minute. (It won’t smear, but the ink is a tad bit sticky for a minute or so.)
4. Starting at the tip of the feather, cut at a downward angle, stopping close to the crease line. Continue making slits down the length of the feather. Repeat on the opposite side.
5. Our feathers will look more realistic if they aren’t perfect. So now make some random snips, shortening some of the feather pieces, and making others narrower. You really can’t do this wrong, so just play with it until it looks natural.
6. Don’t worry if your feathers are different shapes and sizes, it will make your project look more organic and natural.
7. You can gently twist the feather to give it shape and dimension. Vellum is easy to bend and fold and holds its shape well.

These pretty feathers are quick to make, so craft a bunch, because you’ll want to use them on all your projects! All of the following projects were created using a single sheet of Vellum paper.

You’re An Angel Card

1. Cut a piece of card stock to 8 ½ by 5 ½ inches. Fold in half.
2. Cut three rectangles from patterned paper. Round the corners, if desired, then adhere one rectangle horizontally, covering the bottom third of the card. Add the other two rectangles to the upper portion of the card.
3. Round the corners of the card base.
4. Apply a glue stick to the quills of two feathers, and adhere at an angle with the quills crossed.
5. Cut out a journaling frame and adhere to the blank space above the feathers. I’m using a shimmery Gelly Roll® Gold Shadow™ pen, also made by Sakura. Write “You’re An Angel” in the frame. Gelly Roll® Gold Shadow™ pens are really unique because the ink actually separates into two colors as you write. When you write with this particular pen, the letters are gold with a thin black outline.
6. Rub the edge of the card with the tip of a gold Pen-touch® marker.

Feather Place Cards

1. Adhere the quills of two feathers using a glue stick.
2. Tie a piece of twine in a bow around the quills.
3. Use a Gelly Roll® Gold Shadow™ pen to write your guest’s name on one of the feathers.
4. Place in a store-bought bird’s nest. (These are available at almost any craft store.)

Feathered Bunting

1. I’m using mini clothespins for this project. You can find these at craft stores for a couple of dollars a bag.
2. Clip a mini clothespin to a piece of twine, and then slide the quill of a feather into the clothespin.
3. This bunting is so lightweight that you can hang it with Scotch tape, so it’s a perfect project for renters!