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Offset feature can be constrained to offset any area boundared by a sketch - you select the 2d sketch, no need to project. Offset has lots of permutations, select the solid surface to activate the tool, use Expand with the option Sketched Region - you don't say which release your on? See attached image
Text can be an issue in some tools as it is not seen as vectors, you may have to project the sketch or use the project curve tool in a 2nd sketch to 'vectorise' the font.