Make It: Two Ways to Seal Envelopes with Wax

With wedding season just around the corner, I started thinking about wax seals again. I have two techniques that work great for wax sealing. The first technique uses traditional wax sticks that are melted with a flame. The second, uses wax "hot glue" sticks. The sticks are not hot glue, they are a wax that melts in a glue gun.

These sticks are from Scribes Delight.

Make It: Sealing Envelopes with Wax Sticks

This is from the Global Shipping episode of Creative Juice

Materials:
coffee - cooled
sealing wax stick
metal seal
envelopes
paper
matches
optional: metallic stamp pad

Steps:

1. To create an antique look, wrinkle up an envelope and soak it in a coffee bath for a few seconds. Blot to remove excess moisture and set aside to dry.



2. Light the wax stick's wick and tilt the stick at a slight angle over the envelope, lit end facing down.


3. Holding the stick over the area for the seal, let the wax flow onto the envelope until there is enough wax for a seal (10 to 15 seconds of melting wax should produce enough wax for an average 1/4"-diameter seal). Be careful not to get soot in the wax.



4. Press the seal into the wax; remove by lifting straight up. If the wax won't let go of the seal, rest the seal on the wax until it's completely cool, then lift the seal off.


5. Highlight ink (from a metallic stamp pad) can be used on the seal before embossing to help the wax release the seal, as well as to create a dimensional look. Or you can add a little ink to a paintbrush and brush it into the seal.

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These sticks are from Save-on-Crafts

Make It: Sealing Envelopes with Wax Glue Sticks

Materials:

wax glue sticks
metal seal
low-temp glue gun (dedicated for this type of project)
paper
optional: metallic stamp pad

Steps:

1. Insert a wax stick into a standard-size low-temp glue gun (use a second wax stick in the gun to help advance the first stick). Bring the gun to the desired temperature and rest it on a piece of foil to help reduce drips or wax strings on the work area.


2. Use a few test pulls to get a feel for the quantity of wax to use with the seal. Two firm pulls of the trigger will produce a full seal for larger sealing coins. Waiting for 10-15 seconds before embossing the wax with a seal will create a better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the correct waiting period based on temperature conditions.


3. Emboss with a seal; remove by lifting straight up out of the wax. If the wax won't let go of the seal, rest the seal on the wax until it's completely cool, then lift the seal off. Highlighting ink (from a metallic stamp pad) can be used on the seal before embossing to help the wax release the seal, as well as creating a dimensional look on the seal.

Tips and Tricks: Alternating 1" plugs of different colors of glue-gun wax sticks can create a unique marbling effect. Glue plugs can be created by cutting the glue sticks into sections with craft scissors.

Make It: Shipping-Tag Scrapbook

Make It: Shipping-Tag Scrapbook

Create a mini brag book with shipping tags. This one was created with photos and postcards from my Honeymoon in Australia. Featured on the Global Shipping episode of Creative Juice.

Materials:
16 large shipping tags
grosgrain ribbon
1 yd. decorative ribbon
acid-free heavy-duty paper glue
photos of family and friends
scrapbook embellishments
rubber stamps
fun papers
pigment inkpad
funky fibers & yarns


Steps:

Rub the edges of the shipping tags along the inkpad to create an antiqued appearance.


Lay eight of the tags 1/2" apart on a work surface.


Using heavy-duty glue, adhere a strip of grosgrain ribbon across the center of all eight tags.



3. Glue the remaining eight tags on top of the tags already attached to the ribbon; this creates a surface with two sides to decorate.


Decorate each shipping tag to create a mini scrapbook page.


Tie fibers through the hole at the top of each tag to make a hang-tag.

Creative Juice Global Shipping

Creative Juice - Episode # 302 - Global Shipping

We are sending out a message. Get crafting! A shipping-tag scrapbook makes for a unique way to hold on to cherished vacation memories. A caddy decorated with vintage stamps and labels helps keep all your supplies organized and wax sealing techniques give your letters a little extra personality. In the lounge, we are recycling water bottles into mailing vessels.

shipping tag scrapbook

Supplies:
16 Large shipping tags
Grosgrains ribbon
Decorative ribbon – 1 yard
Heavy-duty paper glue – acid free
Family & Friends photos
Scrapbook Embellishments
Rubberstamps
Fun Papers
Pigment Inkpad
Funky Fibers (by Fiberscaps)

Steps:
1. Rub the edges of all the shipping tags along the inkpad to create an antiqued edge.

2. Lay out 8 of the tags on your work surface and separate them about 1/2 inch. Glue the strip of grosgrain ribbon across the center of all 8 tags using a heavy-duty glue.

3. Glue the remaining 8 tags on top of the 8 tags with the ribbon. This creates a platform for decorating on both sides.

4. Creating the pages: Make each shipping tag into it’s own mini scrapbook page.

5. Tie funky fibers through the hole at top of each tag.

Vintage Stamp Shipping Caddy

Supplies:
Vintage “Train case” suitcases
Large assortment of stamps
Mod Podge
Small Paint brush
Foam paintbrush
Large tag shaped punch
Medium stamp sized punch
Scrapbook paper
Letter Rubber Stamps
Ink Pad

Steps:

1. Stamps can be bought in bulk from online auctions for just a few dollars.

2. Apply the stamps: Use the paintbrush and Mod Podge to glue the stamps to the train case, be as neat as possible. Allow to dry.

3. Using the scrapbook paper, punch out the tag-shaped punches, as many as there are letters in your name.  Then punch out the same number of stamp punches.

4. Stamp each stamp-shape with a letter.  Next, decoupage the stamped-stamp to a tag stamp, until you’ve spelled out your name.

5. Apply each tag shape with decoupage medium to affix to the case.

6. Fill with shipping supplies: stamps, tape, markers, scissors, labels.

embellishing wax seals

Wax Sealing with Sealing Wax Candles

Supplies:

Sealing Wax Candle – by Seven Gypsies

Metal Seal – by Seven Gypsies

Envelopes

Paper

Matches

Optional: Metallic stamp pad

Steps:

1. For an antique look, wrinkle up your envelope, then let it soak in a coffee bath for a few seconds.  Give it a pat dry and set aside to dry.

2. Light the wick and hold the wax stick at a slight angle (lit end down).

3. Holding the stick over the area where you wish to make your seal, let the wax flow onto your project until you have enough wax to press your seal into - 10-15 seconds of melting the wax should produce enough for an average 1/4" diameter seal. Be careful not to get soot into the wax.

4. Emboss with your seal and lift straight up. If you find the wax won't let go of the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax is completely cool, then lift your seal off.

5. You can also use highlighting ink (a metallic stamp pad) on your seal prior to embossing to help the wax release the seal, as well as creating a dimensional look on your seal.

6. You should be able to make 10-14 seals from one stick of our sealing wax candles.

Wax Sealing with Wax Glue Sticks

(This is the Glue Gun Style)

Supplies:

Wax Glue Sticks

Metal seal

Low temp glue gun – dedicated for this project

Paper

Optional: Metallic stamp pad

Steps:

1. Insert your wax stick into standard sized low temp glue gun. Use a second wax stick in the gun to help advance the first. Bring the gun to temperature. Resting the gun on a piece of foil will help keep any drips or strings off of your work area.

2. Use a few test pulls to get a feel for the quantity of wax you would like to use with your seal. Two good pulls of the trigger will produce a full seal for the larger sealing coins.

3. Waiting for 10-15 seconds before you emboss the wax with you seal will create better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the correct waiting period for the conditions in your area.

4. Emboss with your seal and lift straight up. If you find the wax won't let go of the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax is completely cool, then lift your seal off.

5. You can also use highlighting ink (a metallic stamp pad) on your seal prior to embossing to help the wax release the seal, as well as creating a dimensional look on your seal.

6. Alternating 1" plugs of different colors of glue gun wax will create a unique marbling effect. You can create plugs by cutting the glue sticks with craft scissors.

message in a bottle mailers

Supplies:Plastic bottle with a secure screw top lid
Sticky address & return address labels
Letter
Ribbon curls and confetti
Postage

Steps:

1. Fill the bottle with confetti and ribbon curls or anything that is light and fun. (Glitter pom-pom balls, sequins and small toys are great)

2. Roll the letter into a tight roll.  Secure with a piece of ribbon (optional). Place in the bottle.

3. Secure the lid onto the bottle (use tape if necessary) and attach the address labels. Have the bottle weighed at the post office and attach the proper postage. Pop in the mail.