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Post by Restless Spirit on Jan 31, 2024 18:54:37 GMT
I’m looking for anyone who might have some tips or tricks on making wax seals (Usually used to seal envelopes, but I want to use the seals for paper crafting purposes.)
My sister bought me a wax seal starter kit for Christmas. It contained a wax seal stamp, wax beads, a spoon and candle. Years ago when I was a teenager, I had a wax seal and I used the sticks that you light to melt the wax.
I had never used the wax beads before, but making the wax seal was a lot of fun. I’m thinking about buying some more wax seals. I’m trying to see if anyone has any experience using beads or do you use the wax sticks? I do remember using the wax sticks that you lit, and sometimes I would get smoke carbon on the finished seal. Today when I used the little spoon to melt the beads, I found it to be very tricky to get the right amount of beads, plus I then had soot on the back of the spoon from the candle. I also found the spoon system hard to clean. Maybe I’m just missing something.
If anyone has any ideas or thoughts or would care to share your experiences and would like to point me to the best sources to learn about how to make wax seals and perhaps good places to purchase supplies, I would appreciate it.
TIA
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Post by lanena on Jan 31, 2024 19:29:06 GMT
I’m looking for anyone who might have some tips or tricks on making wax seals (Usually used to seal envelopes, but I want to use the seals for paper crafting purposes.) My sister bought me a wax seal starter kit for Christmas. It contained a wax seal stamp, wax beads, a spoon and candle. Years ago when I was a teenager, I had a wax seal and I used the sticks that you light to melt the wax. I had never used the wax beads before, but making the wax seal was a lot of fun. I’m thinking about buying some more wax seals. I’m trying to see if anyone has any experience using beads or do you use the wax sticks? I do remember using the wax sticks that you lit, and sometimes I would get smoke carbon on the finished seal. Today when I used the little spoon to melt the beads, I found it to be very tricky to get the right amount of beads, plus I then had soot on the back of the spoon from the candle. I also found the spoon system hard to clean. Maybe I’m just missing something. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts or would care to share your experiences and would like to point me to the best sources to learn about how to make wax seals and perhaps good places to purchase supplies, I would appreciate it. TIA I don't have any experience, but I'm intrigued because Cocoa Daisy has just introduced a wax seal kit this month. You may want to check out the Cocoa Daisy You Tube channel at some point to see what Christine does with it. |
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,486
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Jan 31, 2024 19:33:07 GMT
Check out these YT's from Yana S and Nicole S. They have lots of good tips that helped me. |
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Post by joblackford on Jan 31, 2024 19:46:11 GMT
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Post by Restless Spirit on Jan 31, 2024 19:53:46 GMT
Thank you! I knew the Peas would be a good resource. Googling was very random and a big rabbit hole to go down. Thanks for getting me started in the right direction.  |
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Post by hop2 on Jan 31, 2024 21:25:51 GMT
Yes, wax seals are making a comeback.
They were featured in the recent class from spellbinders for their new better press as part of the cards made with the better press. ( I got the better press for Christmas, I missed out on the WR press era and I have been looking for 3 years but jumped on the better press when it came out. )
I’m not a wax seal in my scrapbook kinda girl but I do like them on cards.
Does your kit have the stick wax or the little buttons?
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,500 
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Post by blemon on Jan 31, 2024 21:43:53 GMT
My daughter is a pro. You will eventually know how many beads you will need for each size seal you have so there will be no waste.
Beads are much cheaper on Aliexpress. MUCH cheaper, like 1/3 of the price.
She doesn't like the sticks because of the smoke.
She also got something that looks like a can of sterno but is just an empty thing you put the tea candle in and you can rest the spoon on it. Super convenient. It was $4 on aliexpress.
Your spoon will get black. Just wipe it off with a wet paper towel.
The best wax seal person on instagram is Strictly Rita. Her stuff is amazing and she is a good teacher with difficult techniques.
If you have specific questions, let me know and I'll ask the kid. Some peas who have done my swaps have been recipients of her work so they can speak to it. It's trial and error at first like anything but she loves it.
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Post by kiera on Jan 31, 2024 21:46:26 GMT
I much prefer the wax beads over sticks. I use 3 beads per seal, and yes the spoon will get black but it cleans easily. I wipe mine with a paper towel when it's still warm but not hot, so that I'm not trying to scrape out hardened wax.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Jan 31, 2024 21:48:22 GMT
Yes, wax seals are making a comeback. They were featured in the recent class from spellbinders for their new better press as part of the cards made with the better press. ( I got the better press for Christmas, I missed out on the WR press era and I have been looking for 3 years but jumped on the better press when it came out. ) I’m not a wax seal in my scrapbook kinda girl but I do like them on cards. Does your kit have the stick wax or the little buttons? My kit has 2 little glass bottles of bead like wax. Looking on Amazon, it looks like one could purchase a small electric warming device to place the spoon to warm and melt the wax, avoiding getting the soot on the back of the spoon. Yet another option! I’m more of a general card maker/junk journal/paper crafter. I’d like to add the wax seals to pages of journals just for fun and to learn a new technique. I got my wax seal and stick wax over 50 years ago. (Yes, I’m old. Ha). Wish I could find the seal. Funny how everything old becomes new again with enough passage of time. |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Jan 31, 2024 21:54:45 GMT
Oh - and she also got me a Silicone Wax Seal Mold with 6? (I think) different shapes. Anyone have any experience with the molds? They take a lot of beads to fill up.
I’ve not ordered from AliExpress, but did order once from Shein. I’ll definitely check AliExpress out. Thanks!
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Post by hop2 on Jan 31, 2024 21:57:32 GMT
The spell binders ones are beads that are about 3/8” octagon x1/4” tall and for those it takes about 4 beads to make 1 seal, maybe 5 beads if the seal is a bit larger.
I’m new to it myself but that’s what I’ve come up with to make the right size for the seals.
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,500
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Post by blemon on Jan 31, 2024 23:00:38 GMT
Oh - and she also got me a Silicone Wax Seal Mold with 6? (I think) different shapes. Anyone have any experience with the molds? They take a lot of beads to fill up. I have one in my aliexpress cart! I thought it looked cool as one was a cat (or cat-like creature). Let me know how it works. I bought her a circle that you put the wax in and then it makes the seal a perfect circle. She doesn't like it as much because she prefers the imperfect look. The coolest thing is the picture frame wax seal. You cut out the middle and stick any image inside. It's very cool. |
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,680
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Post by Elsabelle on Feb 1, 2024 0:46:56 GMT
Here's a tip for practicing. Once I use up a sheet of postage stamps I keep the sheet that they come on and practice seals on it. If it didn't turn out great you can take it off the sheet easily. Then cut it up and melt it again and try again. If you're happy with it you can melt some extra wax and pour a little where you want it on a layout and quickly adhere the seal to it.
Don't try that on letters that you intend to mail, though. It would probably pop off during the sorting process at the post office.
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Post by kiera on Feb 1, 2024 5:45:34 GMT
Parchment paper is good to practice on, too! The seals will peel right off of it after cooling, so you could either melt that wax again reuse it, or save the seal to use later on.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 1, 2024 14:21:51 GMT
Another question! blemon , how does your DD store the finished and cooled wax seals? I’d like to make some ahead, so I have them ready to go on a journal page. Will they stick together if you put them in a container or a baggie of some type? I have some containers with some dividers, so I could sort them by color. I’m not sure how moisture sensitive they are and if they will become sticky and stick together. What about the metal wax seal heads? Most of the seals I’m finding are removable from the handle. Does anyone have any clever ways to store these, too? Or do you just dump them in a box. Ha. |
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,680
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Post by Elsabelle on Feb 1, 2024 16:59:56 GMT
I store my stamp heads in a divided container that had wax beads in it. It’s pretty much just like a bead organizer.
I have some old seals and they store well and don’t stick together. Also in a different wax bead container.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,418
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 1, 2024 17:06:10 GMT
It’s been a long time, but I recently bought a wax seal kit with the sticks, not the beads. I think the sticks are easy and fast to use. With the beads, you can presumably get a multicolored seal, but I haven’t used them.
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,500
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Post by blemon on Feb 1, 2024 17:49:00 GMT
blemon , how does your DD store the finished and cooled wax seals? I’d like to make some ahead, so I have them ready to go on a journal page. Will they stick together if you put them in a container or a baggie of some type? I have some containers with some dividers, so I could sort them by color. I’m not sure how moisture sensitive they are and if they will become sticky and stick together. What about the metal wax seal heads? Most of the seals I’m finding are removable from the handle. Does anyone have any clever ways to store these, too? Or do you just dump them in a box. Ha. Ha! Yes, the heads are just dumped in a box. We have everything organized nicely in one box. We got something for Christmas and it came in a box that had a very nice divider inside. It was just luck that we could use the packaging to fit in the bin we store the wax seals in. So it's much neater than before. She colors her seals with special markers and we've not had any problem with them sticking together or with the color coming off. If you have a Michaels near you they have little kits right now that come with tiny little red hearts to put inside the seals. So cute. I don't think the seals will stick to the outside of an envelope you're planning to actually mail unless you seal directly on the envelope. We have yet to find a good adhesive. But foam tape works well to use them as an embellishment. Did you have time to look at Aliexpress yet? So many good colors of wax and some great seals too. |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 2, 2024 13:54:53 GMT
Oh bother.  . AliExpress does not like my iPad and won’t let me search. I’ll need to grab my MacBook Pro and go look around. I did get impatient and order a few thinks from Amazon. Those items are arriving today. My DH took me to Michael’s and Hobby Lobby after dinner last night. I was pleasantly surprised to see a little wall section at Michael’s. It was pretty picked over, but I was able to find a silicone mold for making round wax seals, plus I bought a 2 pack of metal stamps. Oh, and I found the little mini kits in the Valentine section. $12.99 a set but on sale with 40% off. I purchased the set with the envelope imprint. So cute! Thanks for the heads up” location for those. I never would have thought of looking in that section. HL didn’t have much, but I did buy 1 metal stamp for $4.49. I thought that was reasonable. I’m learning a lot from the YouTuber recommendations here, so thank you! I now want to purchase the plain flat round and square stamps I saw at Michaels. We stood in the store confused about why and how anyone would use those. LOL. Low and be hold. I found a video where they placed items in the warm wax before stamping with the plain metal stamps. One person used metallic foil flakes. It looks so pretty. And I have a whole stash of those from my scrapbooking days. Thanks to everyone for the help and guidance. |
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Post by kiera on Feb 2, 2024 14:08:32 GMT
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Post by hop2 on Feb 2, 2024 15:09:31 GMT
Another question! blemon , how does your DD store the finished and cooled wax seals? I’d like to make some ahead, so I have them ready to go on a journal page. Will they stick together if you put them in a container or a baggie of some type? I have some containers with some dividers, so I could sort them by color. I’m not sure how moisture sensitive they are and if they will become sticky and stick together. What about the metal wax seal heads? Most of the seals I’m finding are removable from the handle. Does anyone have any clever ways to store these, too? Or do you just dump them in a box. Ha. Right now I only have 4 seals and they are in the mess on my desk. They are slated to go into a drawer in my ikea Helmer with the wax beads. They just fit standing up perfectly in that drawer. I did practice a bit last weekend when I did my class I have the ‘keepers’ in a 5x7 photo box which will also go in that drawer. The remelters are on my desk in a pile but I have a jar in the dishwasher that those will go in until I remelt them, that jar also fits in the Helmer drawer. Has anyone invested in a good electric melter they like? I’m not a fan of the tea light melter. It works fine, it makes me nervous with the flame |
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Post by joblackford on Feb 2, 2024 17:38:35 GMT
I’m not a fan of the tea light melter. It works fine, it makes me nervous with the flame Sorry, I can't help but this reminded me of the latest ezeekat YT video where he's trying wax seals on his junk journal for the first time and freaks out about lighting the tea light and then can't figure out how to put it out safely and freaks out again. (the link starts during the wax seal pouring) |
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Post by Restless Spirit on Feb 2, 2024 19:26:05 GMT
I ordered this electric wax bead melter from Amazon. It just arrived, so I haven't tried it yet. It was a good price point and "Amazon's Choice". wax melter
UPDATE: Well it worked. I think it took a wee bit longer to melt the beads than using a candle. Also, I as an absolute beginner, I managed to spill some wax in the melter and got some of the bottom of the spoon. I wiped out the well of the melter while still hot with a paper towel. The spoon was a whole different experience. A youtube I saw said wipe off while hot, then when cool, clean the spoon with bar keepers friend. The spoon is currently a bit of a mess. I need to reheat it to get off more of the wax and try cleaning it again. I have read cheap spoons can be a pain. I'm thinking about investing in a "furnace" wax melter to hold the spoon over a candle. And a better spoon or two! |
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Post by hop2 on Feb 2, 2024 23:24:18 GMT
I’m not a fan of the tea light melter. It works fine, it makes me nervous with the flame Sorry, I can't help but this reminded me of the latest ezeekat YT video where he's trying wax seals on his junk journal for the first time and freaks out about lighting the tea light and then can't figure out how to put it out safely and freaks out again. (the link starts during the wax seal pouring) I have no issue lighting it or putting it out I’m just wary that I’ll accidentally get a corner of of paper that slips in there |
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Post by caspad on Feb 3, 2024 21:38:17 GMT
I remember when the wax seal was a thing for cardmakers in the 90s. Very Somerset Studio Magazine.
Instead of wax seals, we used wood mounted stamps inked with pigment ink.
An alternative to wax was to use colored hot glue because it wasn't as fragile and didn't crack when mailed.
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scrappermcg
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by scrappermcg on Feb 4, 2024 0:16:35 GMT
I buy adhesive from letterseals.com. They're pricy but the adhesive sticks good. I also like the mini glue wax sticks. I don't mail in the summer because the wax seeps on the envelope (I do live in the desert where temperatures are in the 100's). For me it's mostly a winter craft or hand delivered.
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Post by marg on Feb 5, 2024 1:25:58 GMT
Oh - and she also got me a Silicone Wax Seal Mold with 6? (I think) different shapes. Anyone have any experience with the molds? They take a lot of beads to fill up. I have one in my aliexpress cart! I thought it looked cool as one was a cat (or cat-like creature). Let me know how it works. I bought her a circle that you put the wax in and then it makes the seal a perfect circle. She doesn't like it as much because she prefers the imperfect look. The coolest thing is the picture frame wax seal. You cut out the middle and stick any image inside. It's very cool. The picture frame wax seal stamp is so cool! Thanks for pointing it out! |
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Post by hop2 on Feb 5, 2024 19:21:29 GMT
I buy adhesive from letterseals.com. They're pricy but the adhesive sticks good. I also like the mini glue wax sticks. I don't mail in the summer because the wax seeps on the envelope (I do live in the desert where temperatures are in the 100's). For me it's mostly a winter craft or hand delivered. I am glad you mentioned this. The one I used from the kit I have the wax seal already detached. It’s stuck well on the card but the wax seal has already slipped off it’s only 2 weeks ago I made the card, it’s still sitting in my desk. The back of the seal is pretty slick though as I made it on a silicone mat that came in the kit if that purpose. |
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Post by hop2 on Feb 21, 2024 3:39:22 GMT
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blemon
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,500
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Post by blemon on Feb 21, 2024 12:51:03 GMT
Oh wow, this reel is an interesting technique. That's very cool. I'll share with the kid. Also: do not use your good palette knives with the wax. Buy a separate one or it will be ruined. Learn from my experience. I have a favorite one for stencil paste that I let her borrow. Eventually I got it clean but I had to scrape it with an xacto knife. |
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. AliExpress does not like my iPad and won’t let me search. I’ll need to grab my MacBook Pro and go look around. 
