The Secret to Creating A Wax Seal Without Ruining Your Paper!

Wax seals are a beautiful way to add a touch of elegance to your letters, invitations, or other paper projects, however, creating a wax seal can be a bit tricky and it's easy to accidentally damage your envelope or paper.

In this blog post, we'll share some tips for creating a wax seal without destroying your envelope.

Preparing For Sealing Your Envelope

Choose the Right Wax: The first step to creating a successful wax seal is to choose the right wax. You'll want to choose a high-quality wax that is specifically designed for sealing. Beeswax is a traditional choice and gives a natural, organic appearance. However, you can also use other waxes such as sealing wax, which is more flexible & comes in a variety of colours.

Prepare Your Envelope Before you begin: Make sure your envelope or paper is dry and free of any moisture. If there is any moisture on the envelope, the wax will not adhere properly and may smear or slide off. Also, ensure that the envelope is completely sealed, with no flaps open, to prevent wax from leaking inside.

Apply The Wax

The key to creating a successful wax seal is to apply the wax in the right way. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Start with a small amount of wax: You only need a small amount of wax to create a seal. Too much wax can make it difficult to get a clean, even impression.
2. Melt the wax evenly: Use a heat source such as a candle, heat gun, or wax melting spoon to melt the wax evenly. Make sure you don't overheat the wax, as it can cause it to bubble or burn.
3. Apply the wax in the centre of the envelope: Start by applying the wax in the centre of the envelope or paper, where it is the strongest. Avoid the edges, as they may tear or curl when the wax is applied.
4. Hold the stamp in place: Press your stamp firmly into the wax and hold it in place for a few seconds to allow the wax to cool and harden. This will ensure that you get a clean, even impression.
5. Use a stamp with a deep impression: A stamp with a deep impression will create a more defined seal and prevent the wax from smudging or sliding off.
6. Be patient: Wait until the wax has completely hardened before handling or mailing your envelope. This will prevent the wax from smudging or rubbing off.

Bonus Tips: 

1. Non Stick Paper/ Silicone: My personal favourite way to create wax seals on envelopes is to actually not create them on the envelope at all!!! I use baking paper- or you can use a silicone baking/ craft mat. If you create the wax seal in this way, you can create a perfect wax seal and add it to the envelope later. To do this you can either add a very small amount of wax to the envelope- or simply melt the back of the wax seal a little (with a heat gun etc), and then place it on the envelope to seal it. This way you could even create multiple seals, and then they are ready when you want to use them!
2. Save waste by re-melting bad wax seals: The best part about creating wax seals this way is that if you do not like the way your seal looks, you can break it up and re-melt it so that it is not wasted! Simply peel it off your non stick surface, cut it up into small pieces and add it to your wax melting spoon and re-melt it!

Creating enchanting wax seals without destroying your envelope is possible with the right tools and techniques. Remember to choose the right wax, prepare your envelope properly, and apply the wax carefully and evenly. With a little patience and practice, you can create beautiful wax seals that add a special touch to your letters and invitations.