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Can you use a glue gun for sealing wax?
Insert the 7mm wax sticks into the mini glue gun. Set the temperature to low and allow a couple of minutes for the glue gun to heat up. Rest the glue gun on a mat or sheet of foil to protect surfaces from dripping wax. Two pulls of the glue gun trigger should produce a good amount of wax for our 25mm seal stamps.
What kind of wax can you use for seals?
You can use candle sealing wax, glue gun sealing wax, and wax beads with this method. (Just remove any wicks from the melted wax). Faux wax is not recommended for use in melting pots. Useful for both large and small projects.
Can you use regular wax for seals?
You can use regular candle wax to seal an envelope, however it may fall off easily and leave oily marks on your letter. There are other waxes created especially for sealing that function much better.
Can I use a crayon as a sealing wax?
To make a wax seal with a crayon, you first need to select one or more wax crayons for your project. Next, chop small pieces off the crayons you wish to use for your seal and place them on a metal spoon. The next step is to melt the wax on the spoon which you can do over a candle or lit gas stove.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
You may be wondering why anyone would want to make an artificial wax seal. Well, if you want to create a seal but don’t have sealing wax handy, then you need an alternative.
In this blog post, we share three ways you can make a beautiful faux wax seal that you and your recipient will love.
How to make a wax seal with a colored pencil
To make a crayon wax seal, you must first select one or more crayons for your project.
Next, chop small pieces from the crayons you want to use for your seal and place them on a metal spoon.
The next step is to melt the wax on the spoon, which you can do over a candle or a burning gas stove. Alternatively, you can hold a crayon directly over a flame over your envelope and let it drip.
If using a spoon, allow the wax to cool slightly and slowly pour onto your envelope. Then use the handle of the spoon to stir the wax to get the desired size, shape and thickness.
If the wax is still very liquid, let it work for a few more seconds and then press your stamp into the wax with a little pressure. Leave the stamp in place for 10 seconds and then remove it.
Chalk wax seals are as vibrant as traditional sealing wax seals, so you’ll no doubt be amazed at the result.
How to make a wax seal with a glue gun
Another method of creating a “wax” seal is with glue. While clear glue is the most popular type, glue gun glue is also available in a wide variety of colors.
Choose your glue and then heat a piece of it in your glue gun for a few minutes.
When it’s done, use it to create a small circle of glue on a craft mat – and then fill in the circle with glue as well. When creating the circle, pay attention to the size of your stamp.
Your circle will look messy on the mat, but don’t worry; The result will be unique, and that’s what wax seals are all about.
Press your stamp into the center of your circle of glue and hold for about five seconds. Then remove the seal.
If the glue sticks to the sealant, wait for it to set completely and peel it off – it won’t break.
You could now add some color to your seal with acrylic paints, food coloring, or permanent markers if you used clear glue.
Finally, you can stick your seal on your envelope or other project.
How to make a wax seal with clay
A seal can also be made out of clay if you don’t have wax available – or you might prefer to make one out of clay.
To make a clay wax seal, you need to roll a conditioned ball of polymer clay and then smooth it out with an acrylic block, piece of glass, or something similar.
Once your clay is about 5mm thick, lightly spray water onto your stamp and press firmly into the center of the clay circle.
Carefully remove the stamp and then place the seal in the oven at 135°C for 45-60 minutes.
Let your seal cool, then stick it onto your envelope or project and it’s done.
Have you tried any of the wax sealing methods above? Let us know how it went in the comments!
Can I use beeswax as sealing wax?
Sealing waxes made from paraffin wax or other synthetic ingredients and dyes are bad for the environment, but sealing waxes made from shellac, beeswax and other natural ingredients are better for the environment.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
Have you ever seen someone close an envelope, package or document and then seal it with a fancy stamp?
This fancy stamp is made of sealing wax, which serves both to verify the sender’s identity and as security to show whether the letter has been tampered with or not.
Sealing wax comes in many different colors, and interestingly, different colored waxes are meant to express different feelings, for example:
Red for business
Black for obituaries/mourning
White for weddings
There’s no denying that sealing your letters and documents with sealing wax can add beauty, personalization and a vintage touch.
But despite all the great things about sealing wax, how does it impact the environment before and after use?
This question is difficult to answer as it depends on the type of sealing wax and the ingredients used to make it.
To better determine whether or not sealing wax is bad for the environment, in this article we’ll explore several questions about how it’s made and how you can dispose of it to determine its overall environmental credentials.
What is sealing wax made of?
When sealing wax was first used in the Middle Ages, it consisted of beeswax, turpentine and natural color pigments.
Today there are actually two different types of sealing wax – traditional and flexible.
Traditional sealing wax is generally made from shellac or paraffin wax and color pigments, while flexible sealing wax is made from the same ingredients with the addition of resin.
Shellac is preferred because it cures into an effective seal without leaving a greasy and oily residue.
The problem with traditional sealing wax is that while it hardens more than flexible wax, it’s no longer as practical for actually mailing letters.
Resin was added to the mixture to make flexible sealing wax, which has more practical uses. However, synthetic ingredients affect the environmental friendliness of the wax.
Is sealing wax environmentally friendly?
There isn’t really a simple answer here. Whether or not sealing wax is eco-friendly depends only on the brand and the ingredients used to make it.
The good news is that most types of wax are generally eco-friendly as they come from plant or animal sources.
Paraffin wax – a by-product of crude oil – is really the only type of wax that isn’t environmentally friendly.
While some sealing waxes are made from paraffin, there are also many that are made with more natural ingredients, meaning they are more environmentally friendly.
The key questions to ask about the environmental friendliness of the ingredients used to make sealing wax are:
Is it made of synthetic ingredients?
What kind of dye was used to pigment?
For example, the aforementioned flexible wax usually has resin mixed in with it. Most resins are not environmentally friendly.
And since sealing wax is partly used for decorative purposes, nobody wants it to be monochromatic and colorless, so coloring is usually added.
The source of the dye also determines its environmental friendliness, as some dyes can be made with synthetic ingredients while others are made with natural ingredients.
Unfortunately, one can’t really generalize about the type of wax and dye that make up most sealing waxes, as they vary by brand.
The best thing you can do to determine if a particular type of sealing wax is eco-friendly is to check the ingredients list or look for an eco-label on the packaging.
Is sealing wax a natural product?
One of the main ingredients in most modern sealing waxes is shellac, a resin produced by the varnish beetle.
Living mainly in India and Thailand, sea bugs excrete this resin onto the branches of trees where it is collected to be used in various products.
The natural form of this resin is known simply as varnish. The term shellac actually refers to the processed lacquer resin.
Keep in mind that some types of sealing wax are made of synthetic materials in addition to shellac.
Even synthetic materials are derived from natural products. For example, paraffin wax comes from crude oil, which occurs naturally.
So you could say that sealing wax is made up of ingredients of natural origin, but overall sealing wax may not be 100% natural.
It just depends on the amount of synthetic ingredients it contains.
Is sealing wax the same as candle wax?
Sealing wax and candle wax are not the same.
Candle wax refers to any type of wax that can be used to make candles, including paraffin, soy, palm, and beeswax.
However, shellac is not typically used in candle making because it hardens more and can become brittle.
In addition, candle wax and sealing wax have different purposes, so the ingredients and properties of each are different to effectively fulfill these purposes.
Is sealing wax biodegradable?
The original medieval versions of sealing wax would have been biodegradable, being made entirely from natural products.
But whether modern sealing wax is biodegradable or not depends on what it’s made of and what brand you buy.
If it’s just shellac and natural dyes, it’s biodegradable. But if it’s made from paraffin wax or contains anything synthetic, then it won’t biodegrade (or it will take years for it to).
We can’t say if all sealing wax is biodegradable or not as it just depends on how a particular brand makes it.
However, most companies indicate on the packaging whether or not their products are biodegradable.
Therefore, unless it is specifically stated that a particular sealing wax is all-natural and biodegradable, it is best to assume that it is not.
Is sealing wax compostable?
Here, too, it only depends on the respective brand of sealing wax.
If something is biodegradable, it tends to be compostable too, while something that isn’t biodegradable is definitely not compostable either.
So pay close attention to the ingredients and whether the packaging says it is safely biodegradable.
Is sealing wax recyclable?
Wax products of any kind are not recyclable, including sealing wax.
Although sealing wax normally hardens, it still needs to be melted down in order to be recycled.
Molten wax tends to have a sticky consistency, so recycling wax of any kind can gum up the machinery needed for proper recycling.
But while you can’t recycle wax seals, many sealing waxes can be remelted and reused at home.
Is sealing wax toxic?
This is an interesting question because although medieval versions of sealing wax were made entirely from natural ingredients, they may have been considered poisonous as they contained turpentine.
In case you didn’t know, turpentine is a natural resin typically derived from pine trees. Today it is used to thin and remove paint and also has industrial uses.
But no matter what it is used for, it is on the list of dangerous substances because it can cause irritation to various parts of the body if overexposure.
It just goes to show that not all natural products are non-toxic.
The good news is that modern sealing wax no longer contains turpentine and there is no evidence that it is toxic to humans.
But of course you should be careful when sealing wax contains synthetic ingredients as these ingredients could potentially be harmful to the environment.
What is sealing wax used for?
The original use of sealing wax was to seal letters and other documents in a way that showed whether or not they had been tampered with.
We mentioned earlier that the different colored seals can also convey different messages and have a level of personalization so the recipient knows who the sender is.
Today, sealing wax is still used to seal letters and documents – especially wedding invitations – although some people use it for any type of personal letter.
Rather than being reserved for specific types of correspondence, the wax color is usually chosen to match the theme of the wedding or the sender’s favorite color.
But the creation of the postal system and the sometimes careless handling of the mail required changes in the composition of the sealing wax.
Since invitations and letters are now mostly sent through the mail, original and more traditional versions of sealing wax tend to be too brittle and don’t hold up well in mail.
For this reason, synthetic materials have been added to make the seal more durable and flexible, ensuring it stays intact during the postage of the letter.
Is sealing wax vegan?
If sealing wax is made from shellac then it is not vegan as shellac is made from beetles.
Although the beetles themselves are not harmed by collecting the lacquer resin, shellac-based sealing wax is still partly an animal product.
There may be sealing wax options that are vegan — made from paraffin wax, for example — but they may not be eco-friendly.
Which is the most sustainable sealing wax?
As long as sealing wax is shellac, it’s pretty sustainable.
But sealing wax made from paraffin or other synthetic ingredients lowers the sustainability of sealing wax.
Another very sustainable type of wax is beeswax.
While beeswax was the original wax source for making sealing wax, today there aren’t many companies that sell beeswax-based sealing wax. Most beeswax sealing wax is homemade.
This means you can buy beeswax and make your own at home too!
A quick internet search will give you many recipes to try to make a sustainable sealing wax that you can customize to suit your color preferences.
Conclusion
Bottom line, whether sealing wax is good or bad for the environment depends on what it’s made of.
Sealing waxes made from paraffin wax or other synthetic ingredients and dyes are bad for the environment, but sealing waxes made from shellac, beeswax and other natural ingredients are better for the environment.
If you use sealing wax and want to make sure you’re helping the environment too, check the ingredients and packaging of the wax you’re about to buy to make sure it’s made with natural ingredients and is biodegradable.
Old products that have been used for centuries can always be made better, and even sealing wax is not immune from being reformulated to make it a more environmentally friendly and sustainable product.
Who makes the best sealing wax?
La Societe Herbin, Maitre Cirier a Paris, was established in 1670. Generations of remarkable people, from Louis XIV to Coco Chanel, have used this traditional sealing wax, and it is well known around the world as one of the highest quality sealing waxes ever made.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
Generations of notable people from Louis XIV to Coco Chanel have used this traditional sealing wax and it is known around the world as one of the highest quality sealing waxes ever made.
M. Herbin was a sailor and from his many trips to India he brought back to Paris formulas for making sealing wax. His special lacquer formula improved the quality of the seals in terms of adhesion and cleanliness, earning him fame throughout the kingdom.
Then as now, sealing wax was used for documents and correspondence, but also for decoration and bottling. From the beginning, Herbin has supplied Chanel with wax, which is used for the finishing touches on their perfume bottles.
What does green sealing wax mean?
1 : a seal of green wax attesting a document formerly issued from the exchequer to a sheriff. 2a : a document attested by green wax. b : the fines or amercements collected by virtue of such a document.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
: the fines or amercements levied on the basis of such a document
b : the fines or amercements levied on the basis of such a document
: a green wax seal certifying a document formerly issued by the treasury to a sheriff
: a green wax seal certifying a document formerly issued by the treasury to a sheriff
1 : a green wax seal certifying a document previously issued by the treasury to a sheriff
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Can you use candle wax to seal a bottle?
Yes, even the candle melter. The combination of the wax and the glue sticks allows the wax to seal and stick to the item, yet release without crumbling completely apart.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
Small jars of my hot sauce recipe, sealed and stamped with bottle wax using a sisal rope to make it easier to remove the wax when opening.
Many years ago I wanted to find sealing wax for invitations to a murder mystery party I was planning. I wanted to seal the envelopes with wax and a stamp to create this unique effect that matched the theme of the event. I went to every available store to find this product. This was long before online shopping for buying anything you could imagine became widespread. I didn’t give up on my idea and as Michaels stores weren’t yet widely available in Canada I went to the library and found a book that said letter wax was originally made from beeswax and then mineral pigments were eventually added for the colour. I had beeswax candles of various colors that I melted and this worked pretty well with my seal stamp I found among Nanny MacDougall’s crafty belongings.
At one point I got the idea of sealing my jars of homemade vinegar, spices and wine bottles by dipping them in the wax. Beeswax didn’t quite work the way I wanted it to. It was too crumbly and difficult to remove. After much mixing and messing, trying everything from colored beeswax candles, cheesewax, and paraffin wax, I remembered trying to clean up the big round balls of melted glue stick that were dripping onto Mr. Handy’s grandmother’s craft table . I used a small saucepan to melt the glue sticks. After testing a few batches with each combination of glue and wax, I came up with this recipe. A glue stick style wax, which is a flexible sealing wax for shipping through today’s postal systems, can now be purchased at specialty craft stores.
Fast forward 20 years later and I’m still using the same recipe. It never fails me. Now that it’s available in specialty stores and online, why not just buy wax now? In my opinion this type of wax does not lend itself very well to dipping and capping bottles and is expensive to use for this type of project. The only place I have been able to find bottle dip wax online for this type of product is Mexico and the cost plus shipping is expensive. I had all my ingredients at home, but if you don’t, you can find everything you need at most dollar stores. Yes, even the candle melter.
The combination of wax and glue sticks allows the wax to seal and adhere to the item, yet come loose without completely crumbling apart. I’ve used this for projects like sealing envelopes, decorating gift bags, sealing pirate treasure maps, sealing gift ribbons, letters made from parchment paper, wedding invitations, decorative bottle sealing wax on hot sauce bottles, homemade ketchup, homemade vanilla soap and lotions, and if I bottle homemade wine. I love the look it gives to my homemade gifts and so do the recipients. First I showed bottle diving in detail followed by a few pictures of how to use it as a sealing wax for envelopes etc.
Materials needed:
15 colored pencils (45 grams)
30 low temperature glue sticks (90 grams)
small old pot (1/3 full with water), electric candle burner (temperature 140-240°) or glue stick melting pot (does not need a mason jar)
small, heat-resistant, wide-mouth mason jar (250 ml)
Disposable wooden stirrers (popsicles)
Utility knife (x-acto with new blade)
oven mitts
wax stamp
Place the pot of water over low heat to bring the water to a simmer. Don’t set your heat too high as this could result in splashing or too much heat for the glass which could cause it to crack.
A small glue stick and a small crayon weigh about 5 grams each. I weigh them out sometimes when making a large batch for dipping in wine bottles, for example. Use the utility knife to trim the length of the crayon to remove the label. Trust me, this is easier than trying to peel them without slicing them first. All labels are removed. I use a cutting mat/board and the utility knife to cut the glue sticks and the crayons into 1/2-1″ pieces.
Place the glue stick pieces in the small mason jar and then in the pot of simmering water. You can see here that I am working on two colors of sealing wax at the same time. Do not
I find it easier to slowly melt the glue stick pieces first, stirring every few minutes to aid in the melting.
Once mostly melted, add about 1/4 of the crayon pieces and stir to melt them into the melted glue stick.
Repeat until all of the crayon is added as it will fit into the jar as it melts. Stir gently every few minutes until completely melted. The melting wax is now ready to use. I like to either leave the jar in the gently simmering pot of water, or use oven mitts to remove the jar from the pot and set it on the electric candle burner so the wax doesn’t harden during use. Use a small spoon and gently pour the wax where you want it and press the metal stamp in and quickly release.
How to use wax to decoratively seal bottles
Materials needed:
Homemade bottle wax
A bottle with a lid or a corked wine bottle (link to the 4 ounce bottle I use)
Optional: Shrink bands to cover the lid
Heat gun or hair dryer
filament tape
Sisal rope or 1/4″ or smaller ribbon
scissors
wax stamp
This is optional, but I prefer to shrink my lids onto my bottles of homemade hot sauce or vanilla
I then cut 12″ strips of jute twine
Wrap and tie the string around the neck of the jar. Cut a small piece of tape (filament tape) 1/4″ wide. Pull both strands of jute rope over the top of the jar cover. Glue the rope as shown
Place another small strip on the other side of the lid to keep the string close to the lid. When the bottling wax is ready and flowing in a thick, smooth ribbon, slowly dip your jar into the wax. Press the jar into the melted wax until it bottoms the lid, and then slowly remove the jar from the wax. Be careful, this wax is hot. Plus, it cools down quickly, so have your stamp ready. Quickly place the jar on a counter and gently press the stamp into the top of the wax, wait 10 seconds, then pull the stamp out of the wax. Set aside and let cool. Finished. To open the jar now, just pull the strings to break the wax and it should be able to remove it in two.
*Always be careful when using candles or heater. Never leave unattended. Never leave Melts near a burning candle without intended immediate use. Depending on the melter or candle size, the wax may be hot. please be careful
Application as sealing wax:
This recipe makes 5 to 6 wax seals. Adjust the recipe for the amount you want. I like to make additional stamps on sheets of parchment. Store in containers after drying. They can be hot glued wherever you want to use them. Or you can skip the hassle of stamping, just let the blobs harden and reuse at a later date.
All the materials needed were purchased at the dollar store except for the wax stamp.
2 small low temperature glue sticks
1 colored pencil (you can use other brands but the pigments are not always the best)
candle melter
Tea light or votive candle
lighter
spoon
wooden stick
Wax stamp (buy cheap online, etsy, amazon etc)
Cut glue sticks into small pieces to melt in a warmer. Scissors or a sharp knife will work just fine.
Use the equivalent of a colored pencil. You can use any blend of the crayon to make other colors. ie: I’m doing pine green color here. A half white and half pink crayon makes gum pink.
Poor video quality but you get the drift.
Almost ready. Just wait another minute and it will become smoother. Use the spoon to pour a small, dime-sized amount onto desired area. I like to use glitter to brighten up special items like these Christmas cards, but it’s optional.
Clean the candle melter and spoon easily. Let cool and peel off the wax. These pieces I add to the leftover pieces I keep for each color. They melt as well. A magic eraser removes any remaining residue.
What can I use instead of a wax seal stamp?
You can use plain hot glue sticks or colored hot glue sticks. Keep in mind that you can always paint your seal when you are done. Some arts and crafts stores also sell special wax sticks meant for hot glue guns and making wax seals; you can use one of those instead.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
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<\/p><\/div>“} 1 Roll some polymer clay into a tube about the size of your thumb. If you want, you can taper it towards the center for a better grip.
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License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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<\/p><\/div>“} 3 Carve a design into the bottom of the tube. Many clay editing tools are too big to carve such intricate designs. Fortunately, you can use almost anything to carve your design, B .: Pen, knitting needle, toothpick, pen, or paperclip. You can also “stamp” a design into the clay. Just find a fancy coat button or charm and press it into the tone. Gently pull away button or charm. The indentation is your design.
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License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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<\/p><\/div>“} 4 Bake the clay pieces according to the package directions. Preheat your oven to the temperature listed on the package, usually around 135ºC. Once the oven is hot, plug in Place the piece in the oven and wait the time indicated on the package, usually 20 to 30 minutes depending on the thickness of the piece.
{“smallUrl”:”https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Make-a-Seal-Step-10.jpg\/v4-460px-Make- a-Seal-Step-10.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Make-a-Seal-Step-10.jpg\/aid151377-v4-728px-Make -a-Seal-Step-10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”
License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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<\/p><\/div>“} 5 Allow the stamp to cool. If you wish, you can gently sand the bottom of the stamp to make it perfectly smooth. To do this, lay a sheet of fine-grit sandpaper on a flat surface surface and then rub back and forth with the bottom of the stamp. This should not affect your design as it is etched into the stamp. Rinse the stamp when finished and then part dry.
{“smallUrl”:”https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/de\/Make-a-Seal-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Make- a-Seal-Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”\/images\/thumb\/d\/en\/Make-a-Seal-Step-11.jpg\/aid151377-v4-728px-Make -a-Seal-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”
License: Creative Commons<\/a>
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<\/p><\/div>“} 6 Use the stamp. First, lightly wet your stamp with oil or water, then press it into a puddle of melted wax or hot glue. Wait a few seconds and drag then stamp away See Making Methods for more detailed instructions. You can also make a seal out of clay. Just roll a bit of polymer clay into a ball and then flatten it. Rub some oil or water on the stamp and then press in. Gently pull the stamp away, then bake the clay piece according to package directions.[5] First lightly dampen your stamp with oil or water, then press into a puddle of melted wax or hot glue.Wait a few seconds, and draw Then remove the stamp See the methods for making wax seals and hot glue seals for more detailed instructions
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How long do wax seals last?
The wax keeps water from leaking as it passes from the toilet to the drain pipe. It also seals against foul sewer gas odors. A wax seal will often last the life of the toilet, 20 or 30 years, without needing to be changed.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
When did wax seals stop being used?
By the mid-to-late 19th century, with the proliferation of pre-gummed envelopes, wax seals fell out of common use.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
In the centuries before the self-inking notary’s stamp, US government employees and secretaries used brightly colored silk ribbons, wax seals, and embossed paper seals affixed with wafers to verify the security of important documents.
Close-up of seals paired with famous signatures on the Treaty of Paris, 9/3/1783. (National Archives Identifier 299805)
Tapes were used to bind important documents together, but they also served as a security feature against tampering. The clerk cut slits in the paper or parchment, wove the ribbon through it, and then the signers or government officials attached their wax seal, attached an embossed paper seal with sealing wax or a wafer, or embossed the paper themselves.
Sealing wax was used for a variety of reasons: to verify that a document has not been opened, to verify a person’s identity, and for decorative purposes. As the name suggests, sealing wax consists mainly of beeswax. In the 16th century, to help the wax harden, manufacturers began adding shellac, a resin secreted by an insect found in India and Thailand. To this mixture were added rosin, chalk, and a pigment, often vermillion (made from mercury) or lead. The mixture was heated and poured into a metal mold where it hardened into batons, similar to the plastic batons sold today.
Seals were difficult to duplicate, and attempting to remove the stuck-on sandwich of tape, glue, and paper from the document for nefarious purposes would damage it and provide some evidence against tampering. This 1804 treaty with the Delawares used both ribbon and wax seals to keep it secure.
Parchment has a smoother, harder surface than paper, and it is difficult to adhere sealing wax to its surface or emboss it clearly. In the case of the Delaware treaty, which was on vellum, the wide ribbon woven through the paper helps hold the seals to the document.
This 1842 contract with the Wyandots, which is on paper, used two different types of ribbons. The pink is a linen ribbon holding one sheet of the document together, while the green is a silk ribbon beneath an embossed paper seal, attached to the paper with a large red seal tag.
Ratification of the treaty with the Wyandots, 10/5/1842. (National Archives Identifier 175192424)
The seals on the 1815 treaty with the Tetons, also on paper, show the sandwich consisting of ribbon, waffle, and paper next to the X made by each Native American signer.
Ratified treaty with the Tetons, made at Portage des Sioux, 7/19/1815. (National Archives Identifier 77820750)
Treaties between the US government and Native American tribes also show a mixture of both cultural traditions by including wampum cords with the ribbons attached to the documents.
Ratified treaty with the Winnebagoes, signed at Prairie du Chien, Michigan Territory, with wampum cord on top, 8/1/1829. (National Archives Identifier 170281492)
While treaties of the 18th and early 19th centuries made heavy use of traditional materials such as parchment and large wax seals, these materials were phased out by the mid-19th century for reasons of convenience and cost. This wax seal, used at the Second Hague Conference in 1907, is a later surviving example.
Seal for wax used at the Second Hague Conference in 1907. (National Archives Identifier 128214338)
Sealing wax was also used to seal letters. Prior to the early 19th century, postage was calculated in part by the number of sheets of paper a letter contained, and paper itself was expensive, making envelopes or covers an expensive obligation for a sender. Writers folded the letter and sealed it with either wax or a wafer seal.
After the change in postal rates and the invention of machine-made paper, the envelope became widespread in the 1840s. Gummed envelopes were invented in the 1850s. People could seal the envelope with glue, glue, or a waffle, but some people continued to use wax, especially those in official positions, as they do today.
This 1860 envelope from the Episcopal Bishop of California to Rose Greenhow (who became a Confederate spy during the American Civil War) features a beautiful wax seal securing the letter.
Envelope addressed to Rose Greenhow, ca. 1860. (National Archives Identifier 634066)
By the mid to late 19th century, with the proliferation of pre-gummed envelopes, wax seals fell out of common use. Today, seals and ribbons are not often used for document security, but for decorative purposes on special occasions such as wedding invitations.
Next time we’ll take a look at staples, eyelets and bureaucracy.
Can I use a regular spoon to melt wax?
You can use a spoon, a glue pot, or a heating tool to re-melt the scrap wax. You cannot “waste” sealing wax. By mixing different color wax bits and pieces you can produce unique and beautiful “marbled” seals. To make a wax seal, press in the stamp straight (vertically) into the molten wax gently but firmly.
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
Although a seal can be made right on the spot, we strongly recommend, especially if you are making a lot of seals, that you make them on a baking sheet, aluminum foil, or wax paper first. The seals can then be easily removed and glued in the desired places with standard glue.
That way you don’t ruin your envelope if the seal doesn’t come out to your satisfaction. This also allows you to make the sigils in advance and makes it easy to add ribbons or other embellishments to the final location under the sigil. With wax seals, practice makes perfect! Don’t worry if you ruin a seal or waste some wax. Unsatisfactory seals or wax residue can be re-melted again and again until you get a perfect seal. You can use a spoon, glue pot, or heating tool to remelt the waste wax. You cannot “waste” sealing wax. By mixing different colored wax parts and chunks, you can create unique and beautiful “marbled” seals.
To make a wax seal, gently but firmly press the stamp straight (vertically) into the melted wax. Wait about 30 to 45 seconds for the wax to set, then gently rock the stamp back and forth and pull up. Phoenician brass seals do not need to be oiled before being pressed into the molten wax. Other manufacturers’ seals may need to be oiled. Simply smear the surface of the seal (stamp) with some oil. You can also apply colored or metallic ink to the stamp surface for a beautiful and decorative look. Simply tap the seal lightly on an ink pad before pressing into the hot wax. The ink is automatically transferred to the wax seal. The heat tool mentioned in some techniques is also referred to as an embossing tool. It is available at any craft or stamp store. It looks like a hair dryer or a heat gun. Be extremely careful when crafting seals. Melted wax, flame, hot glue gun, hot glue pot, heating tool can cause burns.
WAX CANDLES
To create a seal with sealing wax candles, light the end of the candle and drip the wax onto the paper, creating a wax puddle of the desired size. push in the seal. When dripping the melted wax, it’s important to hold the candle at an angle with the flame end lower than the other end, but not so much that the melted wax flows onto the flame and snuffs it out. Also keep turning the candle so that the candle melts evenly. But don’t turn too fast or too abruptly; otherwise the flame will go out. This is a little tricky and may require some experimentation and practice. Alternative methods are: USE A SPOON: Hold the candle in the bowl of a spoon held over a heat source (make sure the spoon is heat safe and not used for food). Melt enough wax in the spoon and pour it on the desired spot. push in the seal.
WITH A BUTANE LIGHTER
Candles or sticks can also be melted by holding the flame of a butane lighter in the flame and dripping the wax onto the desired area. push in the seal. HOW TO USE A HEAT TOOL: Hold the candle in one hand at an angle and point downwards. Using a heat gun, blow hot air on the bottom end. When melted wax forms a puddle of the desired size, press the seal in.
GLUE POT METHOD
Candles, sticks, medallions, scraps of broken candles, sticks, medallions, etc. can be melted in a glue pot (available at most craft stores). When the wax has melted, grease two spoons with vegetable oil. Use one spoon to scoop up desired amount of melted wax and use the other spoon to scrape off desired area. push in the seal. Teflon-coated glue pots work best for this purpose.
WAX UTILIZATION WITH THE HEATING TOOL
Gather scraps of wax in a pile, just enough to make a seal. Apply heat with a heater, being careful not to let the puff of air blow the wax pieces off. To control the flying wax you can use a rubber O-ring or some sort of appropriately sized barrier around the pile. You can also tilt the weapon and use the air blast to control it. Push the stamp in when the wax melts. Mix different colored waxes to create a “marbled” seal.
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN
Are wax seals allowed in the mail?
Yes, you can mail letters with wax seals through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The post office says wax can be used to seal parcels as long as the seal is “sufficient to allow detection of tampering.”
Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
https://pe.usps.com/IMM_Archive/HTML/IMM_Archive_20080512/imm/immc2_018.htm
Are wax seals damaged in shipping?
The problem is that wax isn’t exactly strong and durable. After changing hands, going through different service bands, clenching at the bottom of stacks of mail and packages, and general rough handling of the delivery, the wax can be disfigured.
The best way to mail a wax letter is counterintuitive in terms of aesthetic presentation, but it’s still necessary. If you are sending a letter that has been sealed with wax, you should put it in a larger envelope, preferably one that has bubble wrap on the inside.
Delivery services often offer a “hand” delivery service (AKA Hand-Cancelled Mail, see below) for an additional fee, which means they are not pushed through machines or otherwise treated with any degree of carelessness. It’s still a risky proposition, as you’re entrusting a wax seal to a series of faces you’ll never see and never know.
If you feel this is the way to go you can always give it a try, perhaps with a test letter to see how it’s handled and whether it’s worth paying the extra fee or not. Otherwise, it’s probably best to put it in a box or protected envelope before sending it on its way.
Cost of sending a wax seal
On Twitter, the U.S. Postal Service is aware that wax seals may require additional postage. This is because wax used to seal envelopes weighs more than regular envelope glue. If an envelope weighs more than 1 ounce, you need to pay $0.20 for each additional 1 ounce.
What is hand stamped mail?
Most letters that go through the postal service go through automated sorting machines. However, due to the nature of the sorting machine, non-standard envelopes can be damaged. USPS offers a workaround for this issue that allows the mail to be sorted by hand. They call this hand cancelable or non-workable surcharges. The current fee for this service is $0.30 more.
More sealing wax coverage
How To Use Wax Seals – Wax Seal Tutorial Using A Glue Gun
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Glue Gun Sealing Wax- fast, easy and mailable.
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Sealing Wax Sticks for 7mm Glue Gun
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Sealing Wax Gun for sale – eBay
Set of 10 Wax Seal Sticks 11mm Glue Gun Sealing Wax Variety of Wax colours. £12.00. Click & Collect. £3.00 postage. 5 watching …
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How to Use Sealing Wax Sticks with a Glue Gun or Spoon
Traditional wax seals give wedding invitations a beautiful and individual touch and make every stationery unique. At The Paperbox we offer a wide range of sealing wax sticks in a variety of shades and colors – perfect for accenting a belly band or for sealing your envelopes.
If you’ve never used sealing wax before, we’ve put together this quick guide on how to use it on your stationery. You can choose between two application methods: a glue gun and a traditional melting spoon.
Using a glue gun
Our 7mm sealing wax sticks are compatible with temperature controlled mini hot melt glue guns on low heat and work like regular glue sticks. Follow the steps below to get started:
Insert the 7mm wax sticks into the mini glue gun. Set the heat to low and let the glue gun heat up for a few minutes. Place the glue gun on a mat or foil to protect surfaces from dripping wax. Pulling the hot glue gun trigger twice should produce a good amount of wax for our 25mm sealing stamps. If this is your first time using glue gun wax, you should first do a test run on a piece of scrap paper or card to find your own rhythm and get a feel for the consistency of the wax and the way it stamps. This way you can also check the color fastness of the wax. Stamp the wax with the stamp and let the stamp sit for a few seconds before gently peeling it off. Allow stamp to cool between each sealing. After a few seals, the melted wax will heat the brass plate causing it to get too hot and stick to the wax. We recommend cooling the stamp down with cold water, ice or an ice pack. Be careful when using ice packs as the hot stamp can melt the plastic. Dry the stamp on a towel. Repeat the process.
Order crayons and stamps from The Paperbox
Pros and cons of using a glue gun
This method is ideal for DIY projects that require a large number of gaskets.
Glue guns are straightforward and do not require an open flame, making them safer. You have more control over how much wax you use – just “point and shoot”.
However, changing colors can be difficult. It may take a few pulls on the trigger to remove wax residue. Here’s what you can do to speed up the process. Use a glue stick between colors to flush out the previous color. That way only a few pumps of the following color are wasted going from glue to wax. Going directly from one color to the next often wastes an entire sealing wax stick. Alternatively, you can use this transition to create fun blended colors if you plan in advance which shades you want to use!
With a melting spoon
A more traditional method of applying wax to paper uses our wax melting spoon which is designed to melt wax to create one or two seals. It also has a lip for easy pouring. Since you’re probably leaving a little more wax than necessary with a spoon, you can create a more organic border on your seal after stamping.
Get your own wax melting spoon at The Paperbox!
Cut off a small part of the wax stick and place it in the melting spoon. Hold it over a burner or candle, but not too close to the flame as this can leave a deposit of soot on the underside of the spoon. Once the wax has melted it’s time to pour. If the wax is bubbling or very runny, keep it away from the flame and let it cool for a few moments. You want your wax to be a thick syrupy consistency before pouring it onto paper. As with the glue gun method, be sure to let your stamp cool between each seal. Dry the stamp on a towel. Repeat the process.
Pros and cons of using a melting spoon
Melting spoons come in handy when you just need to make a few wax seals. However, this method is simply too slow for larger projects.
They’re just cool to use. There is something about making seals for your invitations the traditional way that makes the experience more memorable.
Also, combining colors to create a marbled effect with your seals is easier with a spoon. You can see the colors coming together before you pour the wax.
Working with an open flame means paying more attention to safety.
Whatever method you use, making wax seals for your wedding stationery is fun and makes your cards and invitations stand out. For all your personalized wedding stationery needs, The Paperbox has you covered. Discover our collection of greeting card supplies, paper, card blanks, envelopes and supplies and get free UK shipping on all orders over £3.50.
How to Use Sealing Waxes | LetterSeals
Home Application of Sealing Wax & Tools
Dealing with sealing wax & tools
For someone new to wax sealing, many questions can arise – we get it!
The concept for wax sealing is:
Place hot wax in the area you want to seal
Pressing a decorative surface into the hot wax
Let these two pieces rest together long enough for the impression to soak into the wax.
Melting the wax can be done in many different ways:
Drain from a wicking sealing wax stick.
Melt a wickless stick of sealing wax over a flame and “smear” the wax onto your project
Pre-melt wax and apply with a spoon
and our favorite – with a glue gun to “point and shoot” your wax right where you need it.
We have listed our different methods of melting and applying wax below in the hope that the explanations will be clear and the process will be a fun exercise without any confusion.
Light the wick of the stick and hold it like a candle (vertically) until you see the wax around the base of the wick begin to melt. The melting wax provides the fuel to keep the flame lit. Slowly tilt and hold the wax stick at a slight 20 degree angle (lighted end down). Hold the wand squarely on and over the area where you wish to place your sigil and allow the melting wax to draw onto the project, creating a pool large enough for the sigil coin. If you find the wax getting solid while you are still melting the wax, move the candle around the area to mix hot wax with the cooler wax. Dab your seal in our Seal Non-Stick (or Highlighting Ink for a dimensional look) to prevent the seal from sticking to the sealing wax. Emboss with your seal and lift straight up. If you’re not using a non-stick product and find that the wax won’t separate from the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax has completely cooled, then lift off your seal. For strong waxes, we recommend putting your sealer on ice before embossing the hot wax – this will set the wax quickly and make the sealer easy to remove.
Notes on sealing wax with wick:
Sealing waxes with an included wick are ideal for creating seals on demand
– You can easily select any color in your collection with no melters required.
One can easily use this type of wax on the go.
Available in a wide range of beautiful colors.
Can be slow for large projects unless you melt the sticks.
Contamination with wick weed is possible.
We also use candle style sealing wax with our melting pot which allows us to melt the wax with no soot contamination, re-melt and reuse our mistakes and mix colors for a custom look.
Insert your wax stick into your mini or standard size glue gun. Bring the gun up to temperature. Placing the gun on a piece of foil will keep any drips or strings away from your work area. Do a few sample draws to get a feel for the amount of wax you want to use for your seal. A 3/4 pull of the trigger should produce enough wax for a .75 inch diameter stamp. Two pulls of the trigger create a full seal for the larger 2″ seal coins. Wait 10-15 seconds before stamping the wax with your seal to get better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the right wait time for the conditions in your area. Dab your seal in our Seal Non-Stick or Highlighting Ink for a dimensional look to prevent the seal from sticking to the sealing wax – or place your stamp on an ice pack to chill it. Emboss with your seal and lift straight up.
If you’re not using a non-stick product and find that the wax won’t separate from the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax has completely cooled, then lift off your seal.
For strong waxes, we recommend putting your sealer on ice (we use a freezer pack) before embossing the hot wax – this will set the wax quickly and make the sealer easy to remove.
This method of sealing wax is useful for projects large or small.
Hot glue wax is very economical to use.
Alternating 1″ slugs of different colors of glue gun wax create a unique marbling effect.
Changing wax colors with a glue gun requires a little bit of wax.
The wax melts in a plenum inside the gun and new colors mix with the old until enough new wax can flow through to clear the color.
until enough new wax has run through to clear the color.
This can create some fun combinations when planning your colors!
If it’s important that colors don’t mix, consider the following:
– Cut pieces of less used colors to melt them in ours
– Using the Glue Gun Wax as a wickless sealing wax and melting it near a flame. – Match a color to a glue gun. – Cut pieces of lesser used colors to melt them in our melting spoon. – Use the glue gun wax as a wickless sealing wax and melt it near a flame.
We also use glue gun sealing wax sticks with our melting pot which allows us to reuse our mistakes as well as change and mix colors.
Insert your Faux Wax Stick into a standard sized glue gun. Use a second stick in the gun to propel the first one. Bring the gun up to temperature. Resting the gun on a piece of foil or a glue gun pad will keep any drips or strings away from your work area. Do a few sample draws to get a feel for the amount of wax you want to use for your seal. A 3/4 squeeze of the trigger creates enough wax for a standard 3/4 inch seal. A full pull of the trigger creates a full seal for the larger seal coins (1.1″). Wait 10-15 seconds before stamping the wax with your seal to get better definition in the wax. Experiment to get the find the correct wait time for the conditions in your area Emboss with your seal and lift it straight up.
Does not use any animal products in its production and is considered vegan.
Artificial wax is very economical to use.
A glue gun is the best application method.
Fake wax handles the shipping process better than real waxes.
Synthetic wax adheres to almost any surface without fail.
Faux Wax is a plastic polymer that creates a bright and shiny look.
We use Faux Sealing Wax Sticks with our Seal Non-Stick + Freezer Cold Packs
Alternating 1″ slugs of different colors of glue gun wax create a unique marbling effect.
Changing wax colors with a glue gun can be challenging.
The wax melts in a plenum inside the gun and new colors mix with the old until enough new wax can flow through to clear the color.
until enough new wax has run through to clear the color.
This can create some fun combinations when planning your colors!
If it’s important that colors don’t mix, consider the following:
– Assignment of a glue gun to a color.
– Cut pieces of lesser used colors to melt them in our melting spoon
– Using the Glue Gun Wax as a wickless sealing wax and melting it near a flame.
Standard size glue gun
synthetic wax
Have a heat source available, such as B. our soy candle .
Place 3 or more sealing wax beads (or a piece of wax stick) in a melting spoon and hold over the flame, our wax melter, or a heat gun until the wax is almost completely melted. The melted wax should resemble cold honey.
Pour the melted wax onto your project and emboss with your favorite wax seal stamp. Wait a few moments before embossing to get better definition of the wax and prevent wax thinning.
Experiment to find the right wait time for the conditions in your area.
Dab your seal in our Seal Non-Stick (or Highlighting Ink for a dimensional look) to prevent the seal from sticking to the sealing wax.
(or highlighting ink for a dimensional look) to prevent the seal from sticking to the sealing wax. If you’re not using a non-stick product and find that the wax won’t separate from the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax has completely cooled, then lift off your seal. For strong waxes, we recommend putting your sealer on ice before embossing the hot wax – this will set the wax quickly and make the sealer easy to remove. Notes on Pearl Sealing Wax:
Useful for big or small projects.
Pearl wax is the most economical of our waxes.
It’s easy to practice sealing on aluminum foil, parchment paper, or a silicone baking mat and re-melt the wax in the melting spoon to use again.
Create new colors and marbling effects by blending colors together.
We use both the Pearl Wax and Melting Spoon in conjunction with our Crucible, Soy Candle and Wax Melter – allowing us to reuse our bugs as well as change colors and mix. Seal non-stick
melting spoon n
soy candle
Take your time and hold the wax over the flame of a candle, but not close enough to burn (about 1 inch); a burned wax forms a streaky seal and is difficult to handle.
When a marble-sized amount of wax has gradually softened but is not dripping, apply to the area to be sealed in a circular motion, rubbing around and down until you have a circle of the right size and thickness, and pull then straight up and apply the seal. The result should be a clear impression.
If you want a little more control, cut or break your stick into pieces, place in a melting spoon and hold over a flame. (sootless soy candle or gas stove).
Allow the wax to almost completely melt and stir from the flame with a toothpick until all of the wax has melted. This creates a thicker viscosity. If you hold the spoon over the flame until the wax is completely melted, the wax may become too thin when pouring. If this happens, allow the wax to cool until it thickens, then pour it out.
Emboss with your seal.
Bring the crucible up to temperature by plugging it in and waiting a few minutes. Add as many wax beads or wax sticks as you like. Once the wax has melted, use a toothpick to remove any wicks in the wax. You can always add more wax.
Add as many wax beads or wax sticks as you like. Once the wax has melted, use a toothpick to remove any wicks in the wax. Using a melting spoon or other scoop, scoop out your wax and pour onto your project. A full melting spoon is enough to create a complete seal.
A full melting spoon is enough to create a complete seal. Wait 10-15 seconds before embossing your wax for better seal definition.
Dab your seal in our Seal Non-Stick (or Highlighting Ink for a dimensional look) to prevent the seal from sticking to the sealing wax.
Emboss with your seal and lift straight up.
If you’re not using a non-stick product and find that the wax won’t separate from the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax has completely cooled, then lift off your seal. For strong waxes, we recommend putting your sealer on ice before embossing the hot wax – this will set the wax quickly and make the sealer easy to remove.
Notes on our melting pot:
You can use candle sealing wax, glue gun sealing wax, and wax beads with this method. (Just remove any wicks from the melted wax). Synthetic wax is not recommended for use in crucibles.
Synthetic wax is not recommended for use in crucibles. Useful for large and small projects.
You can practice on a non-stick silicone pad or parchment paper and keep re-melting the wax and re-using your mistakes.
You can mix wax colors in the pot.
Requires electricity.
crucible
melting/pouring spoon
Silicone non-stick pad
Ink highlighting
When creating your seal, you can use our highlighting ink to highlight the embossed areas of the wax simply by rubbing the ink onto your seal coin.
Melt your wax and prepare it with your seal.
Using even pressure, dab/brush your dry seal onto/over the ink pad.
Spread the ink on your seal by gently stroking the surface of the ink pad to remove any mottled appearance of excess ink.
Using even and gentle pressure, press your seal into the wax, allow the wax to set for a moment and lift the seal straight up to loosen it.
Then clean your seal with a damp cloth.
Using highlighting ink will help rid your seal coin of any wax and will help reduce production times on large projects. Our usage estimate is that around 40 seals can be highlighted per ink pad.
You may notice the ink beginning to dry or pool on the face of the coin. This is not a problem, but we recommend making sure this residue does not build up in the engraved area of your seal and that the residue is removed before using a different color of ink or before embossing wax that you do not wish to highlight on which to appear target.
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Can You Use Candle Wax To Seal An Envelope? – Pens Guide
You can use regular candle wax to seal an envelope, but it can fall off easily and leave oily stains on your letter. There are other waxes specifically designed for sealing that work much better.
This article explains how to use candle wax to seal envelopes and offers some alternatives if you want to improve your sealing method.
Can you use candle wax to seal an envelope?
If you must, yes, you can use regular candle wax to seal a letter if you don’t have sealing wax on hand or don’t feel like buying supplies.
Keep in mind that it probably won’t turn out as pretty as if you were to use one of the many other sealing wax variants. You may find it leaves a greasy residue on your envelope, falls off in the mail, or breaks into a hundred little pieces when you try to remove it.
Candles used to be made primarily of beeswax, which is why they acted as a better sealant than today’s candles. Candle wax has several ingredients designed to increase burn time and enhance fragrance.
These additives work well for their intended purposes, but are not ideal for caulking. The fragrance oils counteract the sealing properties by being slippery and non-sticky.
How is candle wax different from sealing wax?
It varies from candle to candle, but wax typically contains a blend of paraffin wax or an alternative wax and fragrance oils. These oils prevent the wax from sticking well, making candle wax a less than desirable option. Modern sealing wax consists of shellac, resin and paraffin wax. It sticks well and breaks off cleanly.
You can also buy sealing wax in different forms according to your personal preferences. There are evil and wickless candlesticks, pellets and glue guns. There are complete kits that contain all the essentials.
However, if you want to use candle wax, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to get started.
deliveries
candle wax
heat source
seal
envelope
instructions
In a spoon, pour a small amount of wax over a lit candle. The wax in the spoon should begin to melt after a few seconds. Hold the spoon over the flame without touching it. If you hold the spoon directly into the flame, soot will stick to your spoon and likely drip into your wax. Pour some wax on the envelope. Aim for a nickel or quarter sized cast. It may take a few tries to get this part right, so practice on a blank piece of paper first! Place your stamp on the puddle of wax and let it sit for about a minute. Make sure you check placement and that your stamp isn’t sideways or upside down. Chill your stamp first with an ice pack or in the freezer to cool it down faster. Let the envelope sit for a few minutes before moving it. You should make sure it is completely dry before touching it to avoid deforming your seal. During the process, keep in mind that your supplies will be hot. It may seem obvious, but be careful not to burn yourself or your workstation.
Will wax seals melt in the mail?
It’s rare for wax seals to melt in the mail unless they’re made out of regular candle wax. Again, modern candles can be made from soy, coconut, or other natural waxes that can melt in the heat of a van or truck. If you’re worried about mailing, there’s a greater chance of wear and tear damaging your seal than heat to melt it.
Assuming you’re mailing your letters rather than delivering them personally, there are a few precautions you can take. The first is to put your sealed letter or envelope inside a larger envelope or cello bag for protection. The extra layer protects it from hazards during the sorting process. Another option is to hand stamp your envelopes so your letters don’t have to go through a sorting machine, where most damage occurs.
Where can I buy wax seal supplies?
You can find wax seal supplies at any craft store and even online. Handy wax seal kits are available on Amazon, but you can also buy everything individually if you don’t need a lot of extra materials. You can buy a premade seal or personalize one with your initials or a symbol of your choice.
Of course, if you use candle wax, you only need a sealant and a heat source in addition to the candle. You can use a candle holder to drip onto the envelope or use the instructions above with wax from a regular jar candle.
How to decorate a wax seal
Let’s say you’ve successfully sealed your envelopes with candle wax, but they look a bit dull for your liking. You can spice up your seals in a number of ways.
Use a shiny metallic marker or permanent marker to add some sparkle to your design.
Use flowers or dried plants underneath your wax. This gives your letters a special touch, but you must protect them by putting them in a second, larger envelope. You can also sprinkle dried flowers or herbs into the wax mixture itself. This way the colors are embedded and don’t risk breaking off.
Use two or more colors to give your seal a marbled look. This gets harder if you’re using candle wax, but try wax from two different colored candles!
Add gold flakes to your wax mixture to add some sparkle. Make sure the pieces are small enough and don’t stick out.
Use an open edge sealing method. Just use less wax than usual and your seals will be irregular in shape.
If you were wondering if you can use candle wax to seal an envelope, hopefully this article has answered your questions. Although you can, it is not recommended due to the incompatibility of modern candle wax and sealant.
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