Want to learn how to create super fancy and old-fashioned wax seals? It’s easy! Here’s everything you need to learn how to use a wax seal.
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Touch of the Past
There is nothing quite as mysterious, dramatic, and impressive as a wax sealed envelope. It beckons you to open it and satiate your curiosity. Who knows what it could contain? The inheritance from a long lost relative in an old mansion? An acceptance letter to a magical school? Perhaps it contains a long lost secret that only you may know. Whether the inside contains a party invite or a letter from an old friend, a wax seal provides a bit of magic to an otherwise ordinary piece of paper. You can master this old-fashioned style with just a few supplies and no skill at all! Allow me to show you how to use a wax seal in this easy step-by-step guide.
Sealing Wax
First, you’ll need some sealing wax! Wax typically comes in three different options. Let me break them down for you so you know what to get.
Sealing Wax Sticks with Wicks
These are like tiny candlesticks, basically. They are columns of sealing wax with a wick in the middle. You light the wick, which melts the wax so you can use. Sticks are good for when you are using a single color.
- 【PACKAGE INCLUDE】Anezus sealing wax kit comes with 26pcs different colors sealing wax sticks with wicks, provide a great solution for wax stamp sealing
- 【SEALING WAX STICKS WITH WICKS】These sealing wax are in good looking antique fire manuscript appearance and in different colors with retro luster. The wick design brings great convenience to seal...
- 【EASY TO USE】The wax sticks are strong adhesion and hardness that make them easy to form sealing surface with glass objects. These wax seals melt easily and dry quick that are super easy to print,...
- 【COMMON SIZES & MULTICOLORS】These wax seals are in size 3 5/8 x 1/2 x 1/2”. They are in 26 different colors that provide you a good selection of colors to match your needs
Sealing Wax Beads
You can also opt for the wax bead route. These small beads of wax melt in a spoon for you to pour onto your envelope. This is a great overall option but is especially useful if you want to melt multiple colors together into the same seal.
- Package included: 600pcs octagon sealing wax beads in 24-grid Plastic Box, 2 pieces tea lights candles and a wax melting spoon. It is a complete wax sealing set and meets your needs.
- Wax seal spoon: the length is about 12cm/ 4.8 inches, made of stainless steel and Rosewood, sturdy and durable, its wooden handle can let you hold properly to avoid hurt your hand by high temperature;...
- Optional colors: This wax sealing set includes 24 colors, it nearly can match all your usage for different purpose like different kind of color of envelops, invitation, or make the combination colors...
- Easy to use: This Sealing Wax sets includes all parts except the wax stamp. Its Wax seal bead is shaped in Octagon, put 2 or 3 beads will be enough to seal the Envelops, wedding invitations, etc. This...
Sealing Wax Sticks without Wicks
Much like the aforementioned wax sticks with wicks, these simply have no wicks at all. That is because you can use them with a glue gun to melt a lot of wax quickly. Sticks like this are ideal for professional calligraphers that do a lot of wax seals for events like weddings. That’s not to say that you can’t use them if you aren’t a professional! This is an excellent option for anyone creating a lot of seals. But if you’re just starting, I wouldn’t recommend going with this method just yet.
- VIBRANT COLOR - Gold color is in trend! Antique Gold with beautiful metallic sheen, will add a mordern and elegant touch to your invitations.
- WIDELY USE - All sticks are made from a flexible wax, they will not break or crumble in the post. Ideal for decorating envelopes, post cards, invitations, thank you cards, snail mails, wine packaging,...
- EASY TO APPLY - Easily use together with a low-temp large standard 0.44" glue gun. Not designed for mini glue guns! If you plan to seal dozens of envelops, this is the most efficient method. To avoid...
- PACKAGE INCLUDE - Pack of 8 sticks. Each stick can approx. make 12-15 seals. One pack to make 100- 120 seals. Size: 0.43” diameter x 5.5” length.
Gather Your Other Wax Seal Materials
Besides the wax itself, you’ll need a handful of other supplies before you can jump into the fun.
- Sealing Copper Stamp Material: Brass head & Wooden Handle,natural, non-toxic and non-polluting .
- Sealing Copper Stamp Diameter: 2.5cm(approx.1inch); Sealing Copper Stamp Total Length: 9.0cm(3.54");Wax size: 9 x 1 x 1 cm/3.54"*0.39"*0.39"
- Removable Stamp - Easy to Change and Install.
- Wax Seal Stamp Kit is great for decorating envelopes, parcels, Christmas cards, birthday cards, postcards, wedding or party invitations, hobby or craft projects, scrapbook ,galas and other special...
Stamp Head
In order to create wax seals, you need a stamp. You can order a myriad of different stamp styles, like a Game of Thrones sigil, the Hogwarts coat of arms, your initial, or other various designs. You can even get a custom stamp head made for a reasonable price! That’s how I ended up getting my Little Coffee Fox logo as a wax seal. There are tons of options to choose from. Grab one or collect a few for different occasions!
Stamp Head Handle
Of course, you’re going to need a handle for your wax seal. You can usually purchase the head and handle in one package. If you’re wanting to get a few heads, you only need one handle. That makes storing your sealing wax kit much easier.
Wax Spoon
If you’re using wax beads (or cutting chunks out of your wax sticks), you’ll want a wax seal spoon. Make sure to grab one with something covering the handle like wood or plastic. A naked metal handle can get quite warm while you’re working.
Envelopes
While you are more than welcome to press wax seals into anything and everything you desire, envelopes are the go-to choice. You can use whatever envelopes you want, but I personally like ones with pointy flaps like the black envelopes I’m using here.
Tealight
If you are using wax beads and a spoon, you need something to heat your wax. A tealight (or any candle, really) is an excellent and cheap option.
Glue Gun
While I wouldn’t recommend getting started with a glue gun, who am I to hold you back? If you go with this option, make sure to either use a glue gun you’re not attached to or buy a gun just for sealing wax. The wax is messy and will leave a residue in your gun.
Lighter or Matches
You gotta light your flame somehow, so grab a lighter and keep it nearby.
How to Use a Wax Seal with Wax Sticks
Now that we’ve gone over all the materials you need, let’s dive right into the process of sealing with wax sticks!
Step 1: Prep
Once you light the wick on your wax stick, things will move quickly. So make sure you’re ready! Get your envelope in front of you, attach your seal head to the handle, and grab your lighter.
Step 2: Light
Hold the wax stick in your dominant hand and light the wick. It will begin melting quickly. Try to keep as much accumulated melted wax on the stick as long as possible before you let it drip.
Step 3: Drip
Hold the tip of the stick over the spot you want your seal to be. Allow the wax to drip onto that spot until you get a pool that is about the size of a nickel (a little smaller than an inch). Blow out the flame on the wax stick, allow the last few drops to fall onto the paper. Set aside.
Step 4: Stamp
Get your wax seal and check that the top of the design is oriented correctly. Push the seal into the pool of wax. Try to make sure there is excess wax all around the outside of the seal.
Step 5: Rest and Remove
Allow the wax to cool for at least 30-60 seconds. Then gently pull your stamp away, revealing the design left behind.
How to Use a Wax Seal with Wax Beads and a Spoon
Now that you’ve seen how sealing wax works with the wax sticks, let me show you this fun alternative.
Step 1: Prep
Just like before, you want to gather your materials.
Step 2: Light
Light your tealight or candle.
Step 3: Melt
Add three or four wax beads into your spoon and hold about an inch above the flame. Don’t put the spoon directly in the flame because you will get a black sooty residue on the underside of the spoon, which might end up in the wax. Hold the spoon over the flame for a minute or two until the beads have all melted.
Step 4: Pour
Pour the contents of your spoon over the lip of the envelope, getting as much onto the paper as possible. Set spoon aside (but mind that it’s still hot).
Step 5: Stamp
Check that your stamp is oriented correctly. Then push the stamp into the pool of wax, taking care to get wax excess all around the stamp.
Step 6: Rest and Remove
Allow the wax to cool for a minute or so, then gently pull the stamp away to reveal your wax seal.
Don’t Forget to Clean Up
If you want your materials to last, then you need to make sure to properly clean all of your tools. Cleaning a wax seal set can be a bit tricky, so make sure to check out how to clean a wax seal spoon.
Wax Seals Ain’t So Hard
This old-fashioned method of sealing envelopes might look extra fancy, but it’s not hard at all to pick up. With only a few materials, you can begin sending special letters in no time. Wax seals are perfect for weddings, baby showers, Halloween parties, or plain ol’ letters. You will delight your recipients when they pull your envelope out of their mailbox. Give this wax seal tutorial a try and see just how fun it can be!
Last update on 2020-09-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / Prices shown represent Amazon prices only, and do not represent the current price from any other source.
Mary says
If I may add a helpful tip?
If you find your seal sticking to the wax when lifting after the wax is cooled or if little bits of wax are stuck in your seal, this may be an indication that you need to *wet* your seal before stamping it into the wax.
A wet folded paper towel or wet sponge should do the trick. Just dab your seal onto the wet paper towel or sponge to get the metal damp, then stamp as usual. Or if you want a really interesting look, dab the seal into an ink stamping pad (metallic colors really pop!) before pressing the seal into the wax for a two-toned effect.
I had a seal with ornate filigree that needed wetting before stamping and it got “clogged” with the wax. I figured out how to clean it out and avoid the problem.
To remove the wax stuck in your seal, gently heating the seal (much like your tutorial on cleaning the melting spoon) should help remove the unwanted wax. Just be careful not to singe your fingers or have soot build up in the seal.
A wood toothpick can help remove the wax from the stubborn nooks and crannies while the wax is still fluid. The toothpick is tiny enough to get into detailed areas and is soft enough not to damage the metal. Any scratch made to the metal will become a permanent feature of all seals made afterward.
I hope this helps! I am so glad to see wax seals are making a comeback in the jouranling and crafting community. I love their antique look and mood. I can’t get enough of them. ^_^
Shelby Abrahamsen says
Ah, thank you so much for this incredible tip, Mary! I hope to see more people bringing this gorgeous craft back into the modern world!
Mete says
Thank you for this wonderful, informative post Shelby. I like how you share photos for every single step, very useful, thank you! 🙂
Shelby Abrahamsen says
Thanks so much, Mete! I’m thrilled that you enjoyed this post 😊