Though we live in an age where life seems unfathomable without the existence of email (or internet – GASP), you must admit finding a letter or invite in your mailbox is always a momentous and welcoming occasion. Familiar with that sweet feeling that comes along with receiving a handwritten note, I’m making an early 2013 resolution to send more thank you’s, miss you’s, and just because’s through the postal service. I’ve also recently perfected the art of wax seals as part of this newfound effort! It’s all about the little details, right?
You’ll need:
- a brass seal (available here, here and here)
- Abraxas sealing wax or glue gun sealing wax
- a candle and lighter
- large glue gun (optional)
- envelope
Start by lighting a candle. Hold the stick of wax about half an inch above the flame. When melting wax, it’s very important not to touch the wax to the flame as it will start to burn and smoke. Allow the heat of the flame to melt the wax, not the flame itself. Watch the tip carefully as it starts to melt. As soon as it wants to drip, rotate the stick quickly – don’t worry if some wax drips into the candle. Just continue rotating for a full minute or until the end of the wax stick looks completely melted and soft.
Quickly apply the melted wax to the back of the envelope. Remove the stick and press the seal directly on top of the wax for a few seconds.
Carefully remove the seal and allow to dry completely before touching it. Tip: Traditional wax dries brittle. If you plan on mailing the letter, have it postmarked by hand at the post office and not run through a postmarking machine.
Glue gun sealing wax is a flexible wax and although it doesn’t have the same organic look to traditional sealing wax, it’s a much faster and mess-free way to seal. Simply insert the sealing wax tube into a large glue gun. Allow it to heat up completely and squeeze out a dollop of wax onto an envelope.
Press the seal directly on top of the wax for a few seconds. Remove it to reveal the seal! Tip: When using a glue gun, make sure it’s dedicated to only wax and not mixed with glue. This is a great type of wax to use if you’re sealing multiple envelopes.
It’s as easy and simple as that. Imagine how special your friends will feel when they receive a hand sealed envelope in the mail from yours truly!
(tutorial adapted from Castle In The Air; images by HonestlyWTF)
This is both completely useless and so pretty. I love it.
Elisa – Wandering Minds
ourwanderingminds.com
Love it!!!
Miami in http://cravingforbarneys.com
This DIY is perfect for upcoming holiday cards. U guys are the best!
xoxo
Candy
taylor & DEMOLISH
love it!!! I´ve always wanted to do that!! 🙂 xo, Alma
http://www.soulofashopper.com
I love it!!! this DIY is very original!!!
http://www.thestelstyle.com
Amazing. I would be especially pleased if I received a letter with a stamp like that on it.
This for this shoutout to wax seals! I love the look. I made my own wedding invites and used wax seals. The envelopes were chocolate brown with a rusty gold seal and it turned out beautifully. It was so simple, too!
http://awalkinthecloset.blogspot.com
I used wax seals for our wedding too! Love the little touch of class & history~*
http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/
Love it!! What a cute idea!!
xo Andrea
Wonderful and Marvelous
ooh i love the elephant one! they’re all so classy.
Love the Idea for invitation cards… Looks really cool!
http://fashionamimanera.blogspot.com/
wonderful! Love it!
elisa is right, this si so useless, but damn pretty! i really think its about the little things. love it!
http://www.violetfleur.com
Perfect for the Holidays!!! xo
beautiful DIY!!!
🙂
DIY and more:
http://diyearte.blogspot.com
Oooh this is so fun. That white wax seal on the black envelope is so gorgeous. Chic!
xoxo
http://www.thewrittenrunway.com
My mom has a wax seal kit in her secretary desk and she uses it whenever she corresponds with friends.; it’s such a classy attribute to a letter.
I do it with a glue gun… we did this for our Christmas cards last yr – so fun!
Nossa que legal, amei!!!
beeijos, Evylin
http://www.pitadadecriatividade.blogspot.com
Nice!
I’m posting accessories from Los Angeles on my blog!
Take a look!
http://www.thegavlaks.com
i’m all for slow or at the least slower living, and this could be part of it.
beautiful!
xoxo
agnes
http://iiiinspired.blogspot.com/
http://agnesszucs.blogspot.com/
These are lovely! Love the navy-colored wax!
For anyone out there that wants to try their hand at making their own seal, instead of buying one, I’ve got a tutorial on my blog: http://whollykao.com/2012/10/11/make-your-own-wax-seal/
Looks very cool;))))))
xoxo Iren
Visit my blog:
Living In A Kitten’s World
OMG! You Girls Always Rock Those DIY’s
Looks great! Definitely going to try it out for invitations next time!
Charlotte
http://www.deconstrut.blogspot.ca
Just tried this with a gold candle…very cool!
Please take a look at my latest drawing, inspired by a great photographer!:
http://aliceauxpaysenchantes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/a-sketch-from-vivian-maiers-photography.html
love wax seals…check out my tutorial http://primandpimp.blogspot.ca/2012/07/p-gets-married-diy-wax-seal.html
It’s so true! I get so excited upon receiving that rare piece of snail mail! It’s on my to do list to create some fun stationary so this’ll be the piece that brings it all together. Perfect for the coming holidays!
http://www.whenwewander.blogspot.com
LOVE THE IDEA SO AWESOME!!!!!
Those are gorgeous. I feel like letters are an elegant, simple, and heart-felt alternative to boring e-mails.
So glad to find this tutorial as I’ve renewed correspondence (with old fashioned real paper mail) recently. It’s interesting to see the hot sealing wax gun – wasn’t aware they existed. Nice invention. Great post.
I agree with you, receiving a letter is a wonderful thing. Seeing real handwriting, feeling real paper, the excitement of opening the envelope, even seeing the stamp someone chooses… all very charming.
such a lovely idea!beautiful the black envelope!http://msfashionstreet.blogspot.com/
I love wax seals!
http://lavieenliz.com
I am a little bit disappointed , in fact when i read DIY , i thaught : ” aw something awsome and hand made !!! ” but i can see that every ” needed ” thing is actually already made for that , and sold pretty much every where , but it’s nice to remember those little details that make every thing look so different 🙂 🙂
cool idea. 🙂
Irene Wibowo
Really pretty stuff 🙂 Was hoping that it’ll be something that I can improvise with what I already have at home without getting more supplies. Still, I am really tempted.
Beautiful! I want to do this for my Christmas card envelopes, http://www.facebook.com/SnapItUpJewelry
I have the same resolution myself. I want to teach my daughters the art of a well written letter. And sealing the deal with a wax stamping like this is perfect. Thanks for sharing.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
Was gifted a brass seal with the “tree of life” a few years ago and have used it as an excuse to be penpals with friends who have moved across the country. It’s so much fun and takes me back to a simpler time… though more often than not the news is old by the time they receive it. #totallyworthit
I love this!
Haha, this makes me want to write up some letters and make a cool wax seal!
.
check out my last fall-inspired outfit:
http://onceuponasprinkle.blogspot.com/2012/10/an-olive-autumn.html
.
check out my post on falls favorite trend: orange!
http://onceuponasprinkle.blogspot.com/2012/11/colors-of-autumn-orange.html
I love it! I’m associating this with Harry Potter haha 🙂
Xoxo
http://www.thisgirlneversleeps.blogspot.com
Love that seals… I have to note this on my list of to-diy stuff.
I live in Japan where we still have to use (non-wax) seals and stamps for everything. It really takes the fun out of it!
Love them! They are perfect and a funny way to customise one’s letters and papers!!!
9lla.it
fashion – beauty – DIYs
OH MY GOD, I love this sooo soo much! thanks for showing us how to do it! I cant wait to try, this is so exciting! haha, I have been anticipating to do this for so long!
yesss Monica Romensky^, this is fabulous!
Wow, what a great idea! I have to try this out! Where do I get the wax?
@Warren, you can beautiful traditional wax and glue gun wax here. Links are also above, in the supply list.
P.S.
Check out my blog please!!
and yes Shella, I knew you would love this!
Best DIY
cooool. this is a great idea for holiday cards, maybe ill do this for all my family holiday cards
Love it!
http://www.suspironews.blogspot.com
even though i don’t know how am i going to make them useful, this is very classy and cute! 🙂
Such a great idea for some chique dinner invitations for your best friends / family!
I’m so making a mural of these.
Amazing:)
http://www.ccchinachic.com/
Amazing:)
The DIY with the glue gun is interesting. But, the seal has been around forever.
This is absolutely gorgeous and classy. I always make my own Christmas cards and Thank you notes. It will definitely add a nice finishing touch to them. Thanks for reminding us of this wonderful technique!
Side note for fellow sealers…
First initial if it is a love letter or to other family members.
Last initital if it is a business letter.
Both (if you can find a seal with both first and last) for all other documents.
Happy Sealing!
This is probably the coolest thing I’ve ever stumbled upon! : ) It seems like everyone’s suddenly forgotten the art of the human hand. I recently asked one of the kids in Grade 4 and asked him “what are hands for” and he replied “computers!” Good heavens. LOL. Will definitely send out more letters. Good excuse to get off the computer for once. : )
I have to ask. Now that it has been a little bit of time since this DIY have been written. Do you have any updates or suggestions or experience tips to add to this post?
I love this so much ! will definitely try it out.
Hope I wasn’t the only one reminded of Harry Potter !
I am 80 yo now but 50 years ago when I opened my first Gallery/Studio for my designs I sent out invitations hand written on parchment folded over and sealed with shocking pink wax stamped with my initials ! Every one loved it and were quite surprised but complimented me on reusing such a charming old custom.
I wish i had one of HOGWARTS
This really isn’t a DIY. A DIY would give you tips and instructions on making your own wax seal, instead of just buying one. A DIY would give you ideas for using materials other than expensive sealing wax.
This really isn’t anything more than an advertisement for the linked stamps and wax.
Sorry, but finding this post in a search for DIY WAX is disappointing & annoying. This is not a DIY project.
thought you might be interested in this lovely pendant I found, a solid silver wax seal pendant in the UK
http://www.mypersonaljewellery.co.uk/wax-seal-pendants/
Jackie
Hii! I love your post! I’ve been wax sealing with a candle, and my flame isn’t hot enough because it sort of just sits in a pool of melted candle wax and is constantly on the verge of going out. My candle is brand new–from the dollar store. Is this a problem for you as well, or should I invest in a better candle? (Sidenote: Are there even particularities to finding the right sort of candle for melting sealing wax? It shouldn’t be this complicated, right?)
I LOVE this tutorial – thanks! I have had the wax stick and seal for a long time but because I was constantly burning the wax, I put it away ages ago. Time to pull it out again. Word of caution, though, if you plan on mailing instead of hand-delivering these beauties, my USPS rep told me that they charge extra for hand-cancelling.
How is this a D.I.Y. project? These are all store bought materials from the Michaels wedding section, that come with instructions. Why wouldn’t you give a tutorial on making our own coloured wax (melting crayons?), or how to punch our own initial/crest stamp out of aluminum or carved wood? Wouldn’t that be more helpful to the folks on a budget or further away from fancy supply stores? Just a thought.
So the questions are what shop should we look from. Rochester is the
third largest city in New York State today, but it was the construction of the Erie
Canal that turned Rochesterville into an American boom town. Once
you’ve competed this, you can move onto the harder difficult step of listing your variable expenses
— like entertainment, recreation, and clothing.
I believe that is one of the such a lot important information for me.
And i am satisfied studying your article. However should statement on few normal
issues, The site style is perfect, the articles is in point of fact excellent : D.
Excellent process, cheers
Dear manager,
Nice day!
From your website I know your company deal in sealing wax product .We’re a candle manufacturer from China and sealing wax product is our mainly product.
If you have any need,pls contact me without hesitate.Best price and Sample all can provide for you.
(kindly pls transfer this letter to purchase manager,thanks in advance!)
Awaiting for your news.
Yours Sincerely,
Lucy
—
Shijiazhuang Tabo candles sales Co.,Ltd
Add:Youyi street,shijiazhuang,hebei province
Tel:86 311-67909825
Fax:86 311-67909064
e-mail:lucy@tbcandle.com
Skype anna19911433
Whatsapp 15833921497
web:www.wax-candle.com
Hi sir,
This is nancy. we are stamp and blank wax seal manufacturer in China.
for new products, pls check our website: http://www.dhgate.com/store/20130019#st-navigation-storehome thank you.
http://jinyuanyz.en.alibaba.com/
Best Regards
Nancy
JIN YUAN SEALING CO.,LTD
Tel: 86-13921529600
Skype: LHYxy58
whatsnap: +8613921529600
I absolutely love the color of the wax you used. Thank you for showing me Abraxas wax. Also digging the square seal, very tasteful.
all the the links lead to the same website.. and nothing?
I love it!!
Absolutely adore the wax seal stamps you have used here, and the slightly organic shape of the wax seals is perfection!