Such a good question! I have a glue gun that tends to overheat, even on the low setting, and I just switch it on and off every once in a while. If it’s flowing well, I turn it off before it gets hot and then when it feels a little hard to push, I turn it back on for the next stamp. If you’re using a spoon, set the spoon aside for a count of 5-10 seconds (depending on if you see bubbles or not) before you pour it on your envelope-that will allow it to cool a bit.
Im very happy I found your channel. I want to try wax seals. Now I will. It will make me write to everyone in my family...lol. Time to binge watch you too.
Thank yoh for showing and explaining. Ive been sending care packages to my old boss who is very old and she loves these so I wanted to write her a letter with a wax seal on it but I’ve never done it before. And I wanted to make these for my friends for their birthdays
@@katrinacrouch thank you. I know it will definitely stand out and be a fun surprise for my friends when they get them. A lot of them like Harry Potter and know what houses they are in so I got a set of all the house seals so when i write to them they’ll have their house seal on it
@@katrinacrouch the stamps i have 2.5cm. I’ve started to realize it sometimes takes more wax up to six beads but sometimes the wax wont spread out after I press the seal. I used the same amount of wax beads, and make sure all of the wax melts but that is a problem I seem to have every now and then. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong please?
I used wax seals years ago. When I was in my local craft store and discovered it can now be done like hot glue, I wanted to know more. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am excited to start using wax seals again.
Aren’t they fun?! Yes, the hot glue method is by far the easiest and cleanest way to do it (though I love the historical vibe of using a spoon from time to time!)
Magic! Making wax seals has become popular with the greeting card making crowd, and there are helpful videos, but they don’t go into the details you do, and the highly sought after, top secret ice-in-a-bag + towel technique isn’t mentioned. (Shhh.) 😉Thank you again.
QUESTIONS? My next wax seal video will feature demos answering YOUR questions! I can’t wait - leave your questions in reply to this and I’ll add you to the video 💕
I use Artisaire’s stickers. I think other companies make them but the first ones I tried were from this brand, and they work super well so I have stuck with them: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack/?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Thank you so much. I have a friend I need to reach out to and I want to make my letters extra special so he knows that it's not an obligation to reach out to him and I want to use these for Holiday card envelopes as well. This is really helpful.
After watching your SHORT with the marbled wax & the Vintage Peony stamp, I am totally smitten. Ordered the stamp for myself & my twin sister AND the wax beads. Can’t wait to try it…so incredibly beautiful. Love, love, love your artistry 💕
I use and trust these: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074 I have found them to be super strong and have even gotten one stuck in the wrong place by accident and couldn’t get them off 😅
Just amazing! I didn't know where I was going wrong. Thank you for your help, I had no idea about the ice in a bag trick. Mine wasn't getting crisp lines or even sticking to the wax if doing a few in a row! Fab will try this now! X
Michaels craft store now sells kits with a glue gun and 3 sticks of wax for making wax seals. They were priced $9.99 when I bought mine 3 weeks ago. They sell several colors of wax sticks for the glue gun for $5.99 for 3 sticks. I've been practicing both with the glue gun and a spoon over a candle. I think I prefer th spoon. And the ice trick was a game-changer. Thank you.
Hi! This was a lovely video! Im in process of making my own brass stamps but confused about the ideal engraving depth of the design into the brass? Any pointers will help! Thank you 🤗
I don’t actually know! I don’t work on that end of the creation process-just the design side. I’m sure it’s a trial and error method on the engraving side too. I do know that you want to be decently deep or the design might not show up
I painted it! And gearing up for another mural soon (wallpaper is on the dream list though! Glad you like it!!) m.ua-cam.com/video/rgkHPmclol8/v-deo.html
Very easy! For a quick clean just wipe with a tissue while warm (carefully!) and for a deep clean you can use a gentle abrasive. More details here: m.ua-cam.com/video/iQcgfY8Dh3k/v-deo.html
I believe it is! You can still find jewelers who create wax seal pieces on Etsy, though it’s not as common as it once was. I believe they use the “lost wax” technique when creating their designs
With using the double sidded tape, is there a brand you recomend? I am using them for wedding invitations and I want to make sure they stay on through the mail. Follow up question, instead of using tape could I simply put a little wax on the envelope and then press the pre-made seal on top?
You CAN do the hot wax “glue” technique but you risk melting the design. Some stamps (3D) work better than others. This is the EXACT brand and type that I used when I was working in weddings and I never had a problem with them: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Very helpful video. Thank you! Can you recommend a brand of stamps that are Christmas Themed? I'm very new to this and don't know what to look for in choosing stamps.
Oh dear! I would scrape as much off as you can with your nail or a butter knife. Then I would take a rag or paper towel and place that over the wax build up and take a warm iron (like for clothes) and CAREFULLY warm up the wax and dab at it to remove. Obviously you want to be extremely careful not to catch the paper towel on fire or burn yourself. Repeat and dab until wax is gone
Heat the seal itself up either (carefully!) with a flame or a hairdryer and dab out the wax. It’s a slow process but works like a charm! I also find that a toothpick does a good job without damaging the seal itself
I place down a little bit of “holder” wax and stamp it down to hold everything and then place the final wax pour and stamp that. This video shows a demo at 5:27 m.ua-cam.com/video/WCWlThQTJs0/v-deo.html
Lovely video. I feel like i learned so much. I did have a question. Is it possible to reseal a seal to an opened letter? Like if someone found a way to read a letter that wasn't for them, could they theoretically find a way to reseal the letter without anyone knowing?
Not unless you removed the entire stamp, got a new envelope, addressed it in the same handwriting (during the period discussed) and remelted and sealed the wax with the same exact, custom design as the original sender. Now, not such a hard thing to do… but when seals were originally used, it was a pretty successful method (especially when the “envelopes” were made out of the letters themselves
You can look up Edwardian paper folding techniques if you’re interested in the subject. It’s actually pretty fascinating the lengths that people would go to to keep their correspondence private
Honestly, I’m not sure. I would think that it would stay for a while-especially depending on how hard or soft the leather is, but I would think they eventually it might take a layer of the leather off. But again, I don’t actually know, and I’m sure the quality of the leather plays a part in it too!
The hardest part about the mat is that it gets warm, so it takes longer for the wax seal to cool after you’ve been using it for a while. But for one or two wax seals, it’s not an issue
Melt the wax in the well of the spoon over a small flame (not touching the flame) until it has almost the consistency of honey. To clean the spoon, reheat the remaining wax and carefully wipe it with soft disposable paper such as paper towel or toilet paper. Repeat until clean
I have some stick style wax, not able to fit in a glue gun, I need to melt it with a flame, my question is, should I cut it in chunks to melt in a spoon?
I love this gold: bit.ly/3uStrcy and this one has more of an antique look: bit.ly/3z9a29W I don’t love their reds and greens for Christmas… they discontinued their true “holiday” colors a few years ago and I’m still trying to use leftover wax. I’ll look around at some other brands…
I love this video, thank you *** I learned a lot. Can these really be put on a letter and mailed? they won't fall off ? or the post office won't send it back? thanks deezie
You can try glue if you want but I haven’t tested it. You would have to use something pretty strong to stick to the smooth wax… Hot glue will remelt the wax and could mess with the design, so I don’t recommend going that route.
It depends on the brand and the size of the seal that you are making, but I find that I can make about 5 stamps per stick (don’t forget that you need 2 sticks to use one whole stick because you need the second one to push it through the hot glue gun!)
I actually don’t know what the wax that I use is made of! I should do a little more research. If so, always make sure that you’re working in a well ventilated area.
I do not. I have not heard of any reason to use them while working with wax seals and will definitely update the channel if I hear of any credible reason to use precautions ❤️
Yes! It is much harder to get smooth. Place your glue gun very close to the surface you are pumping on. I demo this technique in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html&pp=gAQBiAQB
It’s probably the wax you are using-some wax just had a harder hold than others and can be more difficult to take off the stamper, but this isn’t exactly a bad thing. If you’re talking about pieces of wax breaking off and sticking to your stamper, then I would guess that you’re wax is not good quality.
Very new to this and started practicing a few days ago. The issue I am having is that wheen im poaring the wax runs in a direction which effects the final stamp. I think its because im overheating it by putting it to close to the flame? (No bubbles though) but compared to yours it seems quite thin which is making it run? thoughts?
You’re probably right-It’s probably the wax itself that is the problem. You could wait a little longer before you pour for the wax to thicken slightly, or try mixing a little bit of hot wax so that it isn’t as thin.
No. Not unless you want it to break down. That kind of wax is literally designed to melt and break down easily. If you create a wax seal with it, the seal will break down in your hand
@@katrinacrouch I used wax beads. I have it so far away from the flame to the point that it takes forever to melt, and still get bubbles. I am not sure if maybe that’s an issue with cheaper waxes.
@@MySwatchOrama Hmm, well it sounds like you’re doing everything correctly! I would guess that the bubbles are a result of the quality of the wax as you have already guessed. Is it just one or lots of bubbles? Sometimes one bubble will happen regardless of the temperature of your wax and I just try to pop it quickly
Just getting started with the wax seals! I love how you explain everything! Where did you get the adhesive seals? Also would love to see you do a demo with the wax sticks that you light. Do you just let it drip on your silicone mat?
To be honest, I don’t even own any of the wicked wax sticks anymore! I found them a little tedious when I was stamping 100+ envelopes! Haha But I can pick one up for a demo soon! But yes, you just allow the wax to drip carefully in the location where you wish to stamp-be that envelope or silicone mat, etc.
Is it normal for the wax seal to stick to the paper and like rip it off a bit when removing? I personally like pouring too little wax so one or two edges actually go a bit missing. I feel like I'm probably the only one lol
Yes! The original intent of wax seals -many years ago-was to seal an envelope shut. In order to do that, it has to adhere to the paper pretty well. If you want to make wax seals to use later, you can use a wax baking sheet, silicone mat, marble surface or I have used the back of a small antique sterling silver plate. As long as the surface is cool and smooth (not porous )
I also was just starting to love this craft!unfortunately on my trial session I accidentally pulled the stamp while it's 80% done, leaving some wax on my stamp head (and it's a very beautiful and complicated one!) Anyone have tips to clean stamp heads?
You can reheat the stamp itself and carefully wipe the wax out, use a toothpick, pen or knife to carefully pry the wax out, stamp the old wax on top of new hot wax (allowing it to cool before lifting) or use a wool wire brush. I’m sure there are other ways but one of these should do the trick!
Love the clarity of the info, thank you so much!! I haven't seen your other videos yet, but have you covered the best way to have a seal placed over a small olive branch while having the seal's design clearly visible and not distorted?
In this video, I demo how I like to place a wax seal over a longer object, such as a branch or a feather (which is specifically used). There’s no guarantee that what you place under your wax stamper will not show through, but I find that this technique (starting at 2:01) helps: m.ua-cam.com/video/YZp1SKroV8A/v-deo.html
Love the video. Have a problem I haven't figured out the answer to. I use a spoon with wooden handle to melt my wax that's heated with a "furnace" put over a tea light. The background of the stamp should be clear but it has swirls in it which make the design hard to see. I thought is the wax too cold, is it too hot, tried it both ways and still the same thing. Thought maybe it was my stampers? Nope, tried it with a glue gun with glue gun glue and the background was clearer. What do you think is the problem, is it the glue beads maybe? So frustrated, jumped in with both feet and bought 19 bags (100 beads each) all different colors and 6 different stampers :-( ......Mirsades
Without seeing/watching your technique, it’s hard to say for sure. But I would guess that it is your pouring technique. If you move the wax around as you place it, there are often lines left behind. If you send me a picture, I might have more insight: katrina(at)blusheddesign(dot)com
I'm probably here for slightly less wholesome reasons than everyone else, since I'm trying to make purity seals from Warhammer 40K, but honestly this video has been useful for pointing out everything I'm doing wrong.
Your video is so addicting! I am definitely purchasing my own kit. Curious question for pre-making your wax stamps... if you dont have a silicone mat, will wax paper work fine?
Wax paper works! Though I actually have better luck with the back of a porcelain or old silver plate or marble countertop! Make a small test first to make sure it isn’t difficult to remove but there are lots of options for pre-making your wax seals. Have fun!! You’ll love it ❤️
This was UH-MAZE-ING! Thank you! I'll go with the glue gun method and pre-making the wax seals. I don't have the patience for the other stuff. Thank you!
Hello, I have been trying different color wax beads and when I first started, the was would be very hard when dried, but, today, I was testing out a new seal I just got and the wax seems very soft after drying. Is it because the heater got too hot, or, not hot enough, or is it the wax? Prior to melting the wax beads, I would test how hard each bead was by trying to press my thumnail into the bead and it seemed very hard, but now, after melting it and pressing a seal into it, after drying, it is very soft. I even waited an hour or so for drying. How do I avoid ending up with a soft wax seal? I use these in the mail on the outside of the envelope and would like it survive the postal service and still be easy to tell what is on the seal? Any tips and ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Definitely has to do with the quality of wax you are using! Slightly FLEXIBLE wax is fine, but the wax should not remain soft after it is cooled and I don’t recommend using soft or mushy wax in the post. It wouldn’t last, unfortunately
This video is a year or more old but I have a question I would like to ask you Katrina. I have been playing with wax seals but I have a lot ofdifficultywith the seal slipping on the wax so that one side of the finished seal has no lip. Will freezing the stamp help with this do you think or maybe using a cold ceramic tile to pour the wax on? Your video was very thorough and I’ll watch it again to check . I also think my candle flame is too close to the wax spoon. Thanks for all the info 🇦🇺
It sounds like you need to use a tiny bit more wax to me! The slipping is likely just an unsteady hand or imperfect placement (not unusual) and having a liiiiiittle extra wax will help make this “problem” a non-issue. I talk more about that in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html
It has to do with your pouring method, but I promise that it shouldn’t effect your overall performance! The back of the seal is allowed to be less than perfect 😊 but if you hold your hot glue nozzle really low, the wax won’t cool as you pour (which is creating those ripples). Same goes for a spoon. Hold it low and pour quickly and the wax won’t start to cool before it’s all ready to be pressed
Try using a little more wax and not pressing down as hard-but it’s likely the quality of your wax rather than your technique. Wax that is pour quality is prone to breaking, unfortunately
That’s from trapped air under the seal (from my understanding talking to Artisaire and other wax seal users). I have found that using a “heal toe” stamping technique helps to minimize this. Also, metallic waxes are less likely to have that problem ❤️
I'm new to wax seals and this video was so helpful, thank you! Can envelopes sealed in this way take regular postage and be sent through the mail in the usual way? Or do they require extra postage and/or special handling and a trip to the post office?
I prefer to use an outer envelope just to be safe, but I have sent MANY wax seals through the mail and most are just fine 😊 I talk through the process more in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/uZjkwfCTjjI/v-deo.html
I got my first kit plus the stamp with the Dove and the Olive Leaf I actually wanted, today! I know you said all waxes are not equal common. But I still wanted to tread a few with my sense. Wax, that was already melted in the warmer. I see what you mean, but it would make a decent spare if I was out of the other. I've got a friend with a 50th birthday coming up, and I definitely want to do one for my card for her. This is actually my second video. I'm watching about the candlewax ceiling, and the first lady said something about the ice too. So I remembered a few pieces of ice that had fallen out of their bucket and I don't want to use for drinks, so I threw them in a little ziploc bag. Apparently, I could use a place to put the little hot spoon when I'm not ready to put it back on the candle light yet. I placed it on the ziploc bag con. And all it did was sizzle and start to melt the bag. Next option? Lol
Oh too funny about the hot spoon! Happens to the best of us Wax quality is tricky! It took me a few tries before I realized that the problem was the wax and not me. Such a bummer because bad wax is REALLY BAD, hah
Great idea! I have used marble before and it works pretty well, though I still prefer the ice for speed of chill time. But maybe I’m just impatient! Hah
@@katrinacrouchsomewhere between 22 and 26 degrees which I thought would be warm enough. In the end I added a little more wax and warmed the stamp and finally got a decent wax seal. Great video and thank you for replying.
A long-time paper crafter, mainly card-maker, I am just beginning to experiment with wax seals. Your video has me so inspired to jump in! Thank you
You will love them! So fun to experiment with
Just started getting obsessed with wax seals so these are definitely useful tips. I can't stop my wax from overheating tho. Any tips?
Such a good question!
I have a glue gun that tends to overheat, even on the low setting, and I just switch it on and off every once in a while. If it’s flowing well, I turn it off before it gets hot and then when it feels a little hard to push, I turn it back on for the next stamp.
If you’re using a spoon, set the spoon aside for a count of 5-10 seconds (depending on if you see bubbles or not) before you pour it on your envelope-that will allow it to cool a bit.
Thanks I’m a newbie this video helps a lot 🎉
Cut the wick down and it won’t heat up quite as fast.
Beautifully done and very thorough! Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive video!
So glad you found it helpful, Neenah! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and encourage me!
Im very happy I found your channel. I want to try wax seals. Now I will. It will make me write to everyone in my family...lol. Time to binge watch you too.
Haha, my son and I were just talking about writing letters to family so we could use more wax seals 😆 it’s addicting in the best way
Just started getting into wax seals for the holidays! Thank you so much for sharing! I’m so excited to try my first seal. ❤
It’s so addicting! You ll love it-let me know if you have any Qs ❤️
I remember my father using a red stamp seal. I loved watching him stamp the envelope.
It’s so satisfying! Love that you have this memory with your father 😊
I love that you included some history, what seals represent, and how it's still important. Thank you for that!
Oh good! Sometimes I can’t help but nerd out a bit once in a while! I find the history so interesting - glad you enjoyed it ❤️
@katrinacrouch yes! History makes us love our craft even more. Keep sharing!
thank you! Just got a custom stamp and gun wax kit for xmas from my hubby. I'm going to be a stamping Queen and help bring back this lovely art form.
Can’t wait to see how it turns out!! Let me know if you have any questions ❤️
Hello! Do you mind sharing what company you use to customize your stamps?
@@kendrac.4120 sure: Artisaire
Thank yoh for showing and explaining. Ive been sending care packages to my old boss who is very old and she loves these so I wanted to write her a letter with a wax seal on it but I’ve never done it before. And I wanted to make these for my friends for their birthdays
Wonderful! Wax seals are the perfect way to elevate everyday snail mail and make it extra special ❤️ you’re such a thoughtful friend
@@katrinacrouch thank you. I know it will definitely stand out and be a fun surprise for my friends when they get them. A lot of them like Harry Potter and know what houses they are in so I got a set of all the house seals so when i write to them they’ll have their house seal on it
@@katrinacrouch the stamps i have 2.5cm. I’ve started to realize it sometimes takes more wax up to six beads but sometimes the wax wont spread out after I press the seal. I used the same amount of wax beads, and make sure all of the wax melts but that is a problem I seem to have every now and then. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong please?
Thanks for this video! I’ve recently been super intrigued by the artistry of wax seals, so this was very interesting to watch
So glad it was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions!
I used wax seals years ago. When I was in my local craft store and discovered it can now be done like hot glue, I wanted to know more. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am excited to start using wax seals again.
Aren’t they fun?! Yes, the hot glue method is by far the easiest and cleanest way to do it (though I love the historical vibe of using a spoon from time to time!)
Michaels craft store now has a wax seals section. They sell a starter kit with glue gun and 3 wax sticks under the Recollections brand.
Magic! Making wax seals has become popular with the greeting card making crowd, and there are helpful videos, but they don’t go into the details you do, and the highly sought after, top secret ice-in-a-bag + towel technique isn’t mentioned. (Shhh.) 😉Thank you again.
Oh I’m so glad it was helpful!! I had trouble when I was starting out with wax seals, so I try to share as many tips as I can!
QUESTIONS?
My next wax seal video will feature demos answering YOUR questions! I can’t wait - leave your questions in reply to this and I’ll add you to the video 💕
Awesome video, very comprehensive. Question - were do you buy the double sided stickers for the stamps? Thanks.
I use Artisaire’s stickers. I think other companies make them but the first ones I tried were from this brand, and they work super well so I have stuck with them: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack/?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Amazing video! It was a delight to watch and listen to.
Oh I’m so glad! I was a little worried it was too long or boring, hah
Thank you so much. I have a friend I need to reach out to and I want to make my letters extra special so he knows that it's not an obligation to reach out to him and I want to use these for Holiday card envelopes as well. This is really helpful.
Such a great idea! Wax seals are a great way to show how much you care
did my first wax seal today and it came out great! thanks for the tips
Wonderful! I’m so glad!! ❤️❤️❤️
Great tutorial thank you for taking the time to make this video
So glad it was helpful!!
After watching your SHORT with the marbled wax & the Vintage Peony stamp, I am totally smitten. Ordered the stamp for myself & my twin sister AND the wax beads. Can’t wait to try it…so incredibly beautiful. Love, love, love your artistry 💕
Oh you will love it!! Let me know if you have any questions-it takes a little practice but it’s super fun and addicting, hah
Oh cool, there are shorts too? Too bad I have to disconnect my phone from my tv in order to watch them, but that will be fun to watch. 😊
I like the idea of the double sided stickers. I’ve been searching but found that some don’t stick well, do you have any suggestions?
I use and trust these: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
I have found them to be super strong and have even gotten one stuck in the wrong place by accident and couldn’t get them off 😅
Just amazing! I didn't know where I was going wrong. Thank you for your help, I had no idea about the ice in a bag trick. Mine wasn't getting crisp lines or even sticking to the wax if doing a few in a row! Fab will try this now! X
Yay!! So glad it was helpful
Michaels craft store now sells kits with a glue gun and 3 sticks of wax for making wax seals. They were priced $9.99 when I bought mine 3 weeks ago. They sell several colors of wax sticks for the glue gun for $5.99 for 3 sticks. I've been practicing both with the glue gun and a spoon over a candle. I think I prefer th spoon. And the ice trick was a game-changer. Thank you.
Great! Thank you for the tip-I will have to check that kit out ❤️
The bloopers at the end are always my favorite “go to bed frufoo!”
Between the dogs and the saw, it was a frustrating day of filming! Hahaha
Hi! This was a lovely video! Im in process of making my own brass stamps but confused about the ideal engraving depth of the design into the brass? Any pointers will help! Thank you 🤗
I don’t actually know! I don’t work on that end of the creation process-just the design side. I’m sure it’s a trial and error method on the engraving side too.
I do know that you want to be decently deep or the design might not show up
Beautifully present. Learned a lot. 💕
That’s wonderful! So glad you enjoyed it
Great video thanks for sharing 💕 ( nice wall paper in the back ground)
Thanks so much 😊 it’s a hand painted mural that I did a few years ago! So fun
The wall behind you is lovely! Is it painted or is that a wallpaper?
I painted it! And gearing up for another mural soon (wallpaper is on the dream list though! Glad you like it!!) m.ua-cam.com/video/rgkHPmclol8/v-deo.html
Hi from Australia. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed it
I don't know why but I like to imagine you baking 1 cookie at a time on that tiny silicone sheet and it IS cute. 😂
Hahahaha! I love this
Thanks for this wonderful video! Any tips for cleaning the spoon?
Very easy! For a quick clean just wipe with a tissue while warm (carefully!) and for a deep clean you can use a gentle abrasive. More details here: m.ua-cam.com/video/iQcgfY8Dh3k/v-deo.html
How do you get it more of an even round? Mine bleeds more on one side and it’s not very consistent at all.
It takes some practice but I go into great detail in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html
Just curious about the wax stamps that were jewelry back in the day. Is that still a practice for today?
I believe it is! You can still find jewelers who create wax seal pieces on Etsy, though it’s not as common as it once was. I believe they use the “lost wax” technique when creating their designs
thank you from manhattan
So glad it was a helpful video ❤️
Thank you so very much ❤
My pleasure-I’m so glad it was helpful!
With using the double sidded tape, is there a brand you recomend? I am using them for wedding invitations and I want to make sure they stay on through the mail. Follow up question, instead of using tape could I simply put a little wax on the envelope and then press the pre-made seal on top?
You CAN do the hot wax “glue” technique but you risk melting the design. Some stamps (3D) work better than others.
This is the EXACT brand and type that I used when I was working in weddings and I never had a problem with them: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Very helpful video. Thank you! Can you recommend a brand of stamps that are Christmas Themed? I'm very new to this and don't know what to look for in choosing stamps.
Artisaire has a holiday collection out now: artisaire.com/?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Great Tutorial. Recommendations on where I can get custom self adhesive ones made?
I use Artisaire’s services most often! Nostalgic is also good but the wax isn’t my favorite
Love the process of wax stamping. Got distracted and drip wax on my pants. Wondered if you had tips on getting wax off clothing?
Oh dear!
I would scrape as much off as you can with your nail or a butter knife. Then I would take a rag or paper towel and place that over the wax build up and take a warm iron (like for clothes) and CAREFULLY warm up the wax and dab at it to remove.
Obviously you want to be extremely careful not to catch the paper towel on fire or burn yourself.
Repeat and dab until wax is gone
Help! My wax is stuck in the grooves of my seal due to overheating. How to remedy?
Heat the seal itself up either (carefully!) with a flame or a hairdryer and dab out the wax. It’s a slow process but works like a charm! I also find that a toothpick does a good job without damaging the seal itself
Thank you so much. The toothpicl got most out. It's this cumbersome spot. Utlity knife worked well too.
Also any recs on using wax seals to secure ribbon around wedding invite/details card? Hard to get the wax to lay flat on the bumpy surface!
I place down a little bit of “holder” wax and stamp it down to hold everything and then place the final wax pour and stamp that. This video shows a demo at 5:27
m.ua-cam.com/video/WCWlThQTJs0/v-deo.html
I have a ton of old eyeshadow that shouldn't be used for makeup, I wondered if I can add them to my wax seals if so how much
You will have to experiment! I would suggest that less is more so that you don’t compromise the consistency of the wax
Lovely video. I feel like i learned so much. I did have a question. Is it possible to reseal a seal to an opened letter? Like if someone found a way to read a letter that wasn't for them, could they theoretically find a way to reseal the letter without anyone knowing?
Not unless you removed the entire stamp, got a new envelope, addressed it in the same handwriting (during the period discussed) and remelted and sealed the wax with the same exact, custom design as the original sender.
Now, not such a hard thing to do… but when seals were originally used, it was a pretty successful method (especially when the “envelopes” were made out of the letters themselves
You can look up Edwardian paper folding techniques if you’re interested in the subject. It’s actually pretty fascinating the lengths that people would go to to keep their correspondence private
I have a Traveler's Notbook that I want to put a seal on. Will wax stick to leather?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I would think that it would stay for a while-especially depending on how hard or soft the leather is, but I would think they eventually it might take a layer of the leather off. But again, I don’t actually know, and I’m sure the quality of the leather plays a part in it too!
So it’s not “cheating” if you use the presticker/premade seals for clients’ requests?
Of course not! Haha
In fact I highly recommend it ❤️
Doesn’t work very well over ribbon or string but great for envelopes or flaps !
Can you bring the wax seal up closer to the camera so we can see the finished effect? Thanks
Great idea-I’ll do my best in the next video ❤️
Do you wet your stamp before stamping or is the ice all you need?
Just ice! I often will dab my stamper off on a towel if I suspect condensation has built up. Water droplets could cause a dent in the design.
Is the US Postal Service able to handle wax seals? They are so beautiful I would hate for them to arrive cracked!
I send all of mine through the USPS 😊 I share specifics in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/uZjkwfCTjjI/v-deo.html
Brilliant many thanks 😊
So glad it was helpful!!
Do you have a tutorial using a silicone wax pad
Not a tutorial, but I use the mat in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html
The hardest part about the mat is that it gets warm, so it takes longer for the wax seal to cool after you’ve been using it for a while. But for one or two wax seals, it’s not an issue
What glue gun are you using in your video? The link you give is for a different one.
I have several, some from Amazon or the local craft store but most of mine are actually the brand that I have linked ☺️
@@katrinacrouch ok thank you so much! Love your content
How do you clean the spoon, where do you melt the wax? Thank you..!!!!!!!!!
Melt the wax in the well of the spoon over a small flame (not touching the flame) until it has almost the consistency of honey. To clean the spoon, reheat the remaining wax and carefully wipe it with soft disposable paper such as paper towel or toilet paper. Repeat until clean
I have some stick style wax, not able to fit in a glue gun, I need to melt it with a flame, my question is, should I cut it in chunks to melt in a spoon?
You can carefully use sharp scissors. I’ve done it many times with embroidery scissors
Where should I buy it because I want to take the candle version and I want it under 20€ but I don’t think that’s possible
What are you looking for? Melting spoon? Wax? Stamp?
Can you also recommend a brand of wax for festive holidays red, green and gold? Thank you!
I love this gold: bit.ly/3uStrcy and this one has more of an antique look: bit.ly/3z9a29W
I don’t love their reds and greens for Christmas… they discontinued their true “holiday” colors a few years ago and I’m still trying to use leftover wax. I’ll look around at some other brands…
I love this video, thank you *** I learned a lot. Can these really be put on a letter and mailed? they won't fall off ? or the post office won't send it back?
thanks
deezie
Yes, you can! I have mailed envelopes with wax seals so many times-I share more info in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/uZjkwfCTjjI/v-deo.html
Where can you get the double sided stickers for the wax? Enjoyed your video.
So glad you enjoyed the video! Here’s a link to the stickers I use: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Hi great video, do you have to use the stickers or could you use glue
You can try glue if you want but I haven’t tested it. You would have to use something pretty strong to stick to the smooth wax… Hot glue will remelt the wax and could mess with the design, so I don’t recommend going that route.
If I use glue gun technique, how many seals can one melting wax stick create? I want to seal invitations, but not sure how many sticks I should buy
It depends on the brand and the size of the seal that you are making, but I find that I can make about 5 stamps per stick (don’t forget that you need 2 sticks to use one whole stick because you need the second one to push it through the hot glue gun!)
Thank you for the answer! Your video is very helpful. I can't wait to try it ❤
do you know wax sticks and beads are made from wax+resin and resin is toxic when being heated？ is there a solution to it?
I actually don’t know what the wax that I use is made of! I should do a little more research.
If so, always make sure that you’re working in a well ventilated area.
@@katrinacrouch yea ventilation for sure! And go for the higher quality wax. Love your craft work!
I’m looking to get into wax seals, but I’ve heard that masks/PPE are recommended… do you use anything like that?
I do not.
I have not heard of any reason to use them while working with wax seals and will definitely update the channel if I hear of any credible reason to use precautions ❤️
@@katrinacrouchOkay, thank you for the information! I didn’t think folks were correct in saying that, but I thought asking an expert would be wise
Is there a trick when using iridescent wax? I feel like it is not smooth and you can see the pumps of the hot glue gun?
Yes! It is much harder to get smooth. Place your glue gun very close to the surface you are pumping on. I demo this technique in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html&pp=gAQBiAQB
My stamp sticks to the wax. What am I doing wrong?
It’s probably the wax you are using-some wax just had a harder hold than others and can be more difficult to take off the stamper, but this isn’t exactly a bad thing.
If you’re talking about pieces of wax breaking off and sticking to your stamper, then I would guess that you’re wax is not good quality.
Where do you get the double-sided stickers from?
I use these: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Very new to this and started practicing a few days ago. The issue I am having is that wheen im poaring the wax runs in a direction which effects the final stamp. I think its because im overheating it by putting it to close to the flame? (No bubbles though) but compared to yours it seems quite thin which is making it run? thoughts?
You’re probably right-It’s probably the wax itself that is the problem. You could wait a little longer before you pour for the wax to thicken slightly, or try mixing a little bit of hot wax so that it isn’t as thin.
Can we use scented wax pods or the scented wax from the candle you are burning ?
No. Not unless you want it to break down. That kind of wax is literally designed to melt and break down easily. If you create a wax seal with it, the seal will break down in your hand
@@katrinacrouch thank you so much for your quick response.
thanks .........
My pleasure ☺️
What stationary do you use?😃
Cards and Pockets is great for a non-wholesale location. Also check Etsy for handmade paper envelopes (with the textured edges)
WOw❤ awesome
So glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you for the encouragement ❤️
I had to cover the mess by gluing a dried pansy on top. 😢
Great idea to save the “wax” seal!
💜💜💜🌹🌹🌹🌹💜💜💜
So glad you are enjoying these tutorials!
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Thank you for the love ❤️❤️❤️
Candle wax is after all the fuel used by the fire to burn.
Exactly!
No matter what I do I get bubbles in my wax 😢😢
Did you turn your glue gun off for a short time? You can also take a toothpick and try to very quickly pop any bubbles before you place the stamper
@@katrinacrouch I used wax beads. I have it so far away from the flame to the point that it takes forever to melt, and still get bubbles. I am not sure if maybe that’s an issue with cheaper waxes.
@@MySwatchOrama Hmm, well it sounds like you’re doing everything correctly! I would guess that the bubbles are a result of the quality of the wax as you have already guessed. Is it just one or lots of bubbles? Sometimes one bubble will happen regardless of the temperature of your wax and I just try to pop it quickly
Thank you for the reassurance, must be the wax. It’s not one or two bubbles, it’s the entire seal covered. I’ll research more on better brands.
Yours were too thick and not super cute
Agree to disagree ☺️
Just getting started with the wax seals! I love how you explain everything! Where did you get the adhesive seals? Also would love to see you do a demo with the wax sticks that you light. Do you just let it drip on your silicone mat?
To be honest, I don’t even own any of the wicked wax sticks anymore! I found them a little tedious when I was stamping 100+ envelopes! Haha But I can pick one up for a demo soon!
But yes, you just allow the wax to drip carefully in the location where you wish to stamp-be that envelope or silicone mat, etc.
These are the stickers I use: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
How to customise the wax stamp
Wicked wax seal tutorial: ua-cam.com/video/4osGlf0Qvmw/v-deo.html
Is it normal for the wax seal to stick to the paper and like rip it off a bit when removing?
I personally like pouring too little wax so one or two edges actually go a bit missing. I feel like I'm probably the only one lol
Yes! The original intent of wax seals -many years ago-was to seal an envelope shut. In order to do that, it has to adhere to the paper pretty well.
If you want to make wax seals to use later, you can use a wax baking sheet, silicone mat, marble surface or I have used the back of a small antique sterling silver plate.
As long as the surface is cool and smooth (not porous )
I also was just starting to love this craft!unfortunately on my trial session I accidentally pulled the stamp while it's 80% done, leaving some wax on my stamp head (and it's a very beautiful and complicated one!) Anyone have tips to clean stamp heads?
You can reheat the stamp itself and carefully wipe the wax out, use a toothpick, pen or knife to carefully pry the wax out, stamp the old wax on top of new hot wax (allowing it to cool before lifting) or use a wool wire brush.
I’m sure there are other ways but one of these should do the trick!
I did that. I held the metal head on its side over the candle. The wax melted right out. It's good as new.
Love the clarity of the info, thank you so much!! I haven't seen your other videos yet, but have you covered the best way to have a seal placed over a small olive branch while having the seal's design clearly visible and not distorted?
In this video, I demo how I like to place a wax seal over a longer object, such as a branch or a feather (which is specifically used). There’s no guarantee that what you place under your wax stamper will not show through, but I find that this technique (starting at 2:01) helps: m.ua-cam.com/video/YZp1SKroV8A/v-deo.html
@@katrinacrouch You're amazing Katrina thank you so much
Thanks for sharing! I’d love to see the crayon with glue sticks!😊
I thought after I said that “oh no, I’m probably going to have to make time to try that now” hahaha
It will be a fun experiment 👍🏼
@@katrinacrouch Thanks! I bought a box of crayons just to try myself, but I’ll watch the pro first! 😃
Whoa! $58 for melting spoon…..oh honey I am not at all in your league…apparently in level of skill and certainly not financially ….I don’t think so
I saved up for it over several years. I do lots of videos like this so it is worth it for me, but definitely not for everyone. 😊
Wow! Very helpful tutorial. Thank you! ❤
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Love the video. Have a problem I haven't figured out the answer to. I use a spoon with wooden handle to melt my wax that's heated with a "furnace" put over a tea light. The background of the stamp should be clear but it has swirls in it which make the design hard to see. I thought is the wax too cold, is it too hot, tried it both ways and still the same thing. Thought maybe it was my stampers? Nope, tried it with a glue gun with glue gun glue and the background was clearer. What do you think is the problem, is it the glue beads maybe? So frustrated, jumped in with both feet and bought 19 bags (100 beads each) all different colors and 6 different stampers :-( ......Mirsades
Without seeing/watching your technique, it’s hard to say for sure. But I would guess that it is your pouring technique. If you move the wax around as you place it, there are often lines left behind.
If you send me a picture, I might have more insight: katrina(at)blusheddesign(dot)com
I'm probably here for slightly less wholesome reasons than everyone else, since I'm trying to make purity seals from Warhammer 40K, but honestly this video has been useful for pointing out everything I'm doing wrong.
Sounds fun! So glad you found the video helpful-let me know if you have any other questions ❤️
Your video is so addicting! I am definitely purchasing my own kit. Curious question for pre-making your wax stamps... if you dont have a silicone mat, will wax paper work fine?
Wax paper works! Though I actually have better luck with the back of a porcelain or old silver plate or marble countertop! Make a small test first to make sure it isn’t difficult to remove but there are lots of options for pre-making your wax seals. Have fun!! You’ll love it ❤️
This was UH-MAZE-ING! Thank you! I'll go with the glue gun method and pre-making the wax seals. I don't have the patience for the other stuff. Thank you!
So glad it was helpful! I tend to go for the faster techniques myself-even as an enthusiast, hah
I have NO problem with that “messy (organic) pour.” 😂 But yeah, I’m here to learn how to make actual round ones.
Haha, I understand completely! 😄This video might help with specifics about ROUND wax seals: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html
As a person who never touched wax seals and wanted to start this was SOOO helpful, thank you so much
Oh I’m so glad!! Thank you for letting me know - and feel free to reach out if you have any questions ❤️
Hello, I have been trying different color wax beads and when I first started, the was would be very hard when dried, but, today, I was testing out a new seal I just got and the wax seems very soft after drying. Is it because the heater got too hot, or, not hot enough, or is it the wax? Prior to melting the wax beads, I would test how hard each bead was by trying to press my thumnail into the bead and it seemed very hard, but now, after melting it and pressing a seal into it, after drying, it is very soft. I even waited an hour or so for drying. How do I avoid ending up with a soft wax seal? I use these in the mail on the outside of the envelope and would like it survive the postal service and still be easy to tell what is on the seal? Any tips and ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Definitely has to do with the quality of wax you are using! Slightly FLEXIBLE wax is fine, but the wax should not remain soft after it is cooled and I don’t recommend using soft or mushy wax in the post. It wouldn’t last, unfortunately
This video is a year or more old but I have a question I would like to ask you Katrina. I have been playing with wax seals but I have a lot ofdifficultywith the seal slipping on the wax so that one side of the finished seal has no lip. Will freezing the stamp help with this do you think or maybe using a cold ceramic tile to pour the wax on? Your video was very thorough and I’ll watch it again to check . I also think my candle flame is too close to the wax spoon. Thanks for all the info 🇦🇺
It sounds like you need to use a tiny bit more wax to me! The slipping is likely just an unsteady hand or imperfect placement (not unusual) and having a liiiiiittle extra wax will help make this “problem” a non-issue.
I talk more about that in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/rxhPl7-IZlo/v-deo.html
I am having issues with the background of the seal not being smooth. There are lines and/or shiny spots that are visible. Any tips?!
It has to do with your pouring method, but I promise that it shouldn’t effect your overall performance! The back of the seal is allowed to be less than perfect 😊 but if you hold your hot glue nozzle really low, the wax won’t cool as you pour (which is creating those ripples). Same goes for a spoon. Hold it low and pour quickly and the wax won’t start to cool before it’s all ready to be pressed
Thank You so much! Where i can find the stickers for the back of the seal that You show in the final example?
You can find them here! artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
Beautiful seals great tips.
Thank you so much, Debbie! So glad you like them!
ive tried to use the ice to cool the stamper but now the wax isnt coming off the stamp without tearing
Try using a little more wax and not pressing down as hard-but it’s likely the quality of your wax rather than your technique. Wax that is pour quality is prone to breaking, unfortunately
Но у нас здесь магазин нет как непонимаю спасибо огромными ❤❤❤🎉🎉
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Could you please tell me why am I still comes out sweaty looking where it’s Supposed to be smooth?
That’s from trapped air under the seal (from my understanding talking to Artisaire and other wax seal users). I have found that using a “heal toe” stamping technique helps to minimize this. Also, metallic waxes are less likely to have that problem ❤️
I'm new to wax seals and this video was so helpful, thank you! Can envelopes sealed in this way take regular postage and be sent through the mail in the usual way? Or do they require extra postage and/or special handling and a trip to the post office?
I prefer to use an outer envelope just to be safe, but I have sent MANY wax seals through the mail and most are just fine 😊 I talk through the process more in this video: m.ua-cam.com/video/uZjkwfCTjjI/v-deo.html
@@katrinacrouch Thank you!!
I got my first kit plus the stamp with the Dove and the Olive Leaf I actually wanted, today! I know you said all waxes are not equal common. But I still wanted to tread a few with my sense. Wax, that was already melted in the warmer. I see what you mean, but it would make a decent spare if I was out of the other. I've got a friend with a 50th birthday coming up, and I definitely want to do one for my card for her.
This is actually my second video. I'm watching about the candlewax ceiling, and the first lady said something about the ice too. So I remembered a few pieces of ice that had fallen out of their bucket and I don't want to use for drinks, so I threw them in a little ziploc bag. Apparently, I could use a place to put the little hot spoon when I'm not ready to put it back on the candle light yet. I placed it on the ziploc bag con. And all it did was sizzle and start to melt the bag. Next option? Lol
Oh too funny about the hot spoon! Happens to the best of us
Wax quality is tricky! It took me a few tries before I realized that the problem was the wax and not me. Such a bummer because bad wax is REALLY BAD, hah
Good Video !
Thank you! So glad you found it helpful ❤️
Alternative....Try adding a small slab of stone/ marble instead of using the ice. It disperses heat just as well
Great idea! I have used marble before and it works pretty well, though I still prefer the ice for speed of chill time. But maybe I’m just impatient! Hah
@@katrinacrouch maybe combine both methods to keep the marble really cold
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Thank you, Mary! 🥰❤️🥰❤️
Is there an ideal ambient temperature? My wax seems to be setting too quickly.
Is the room or surface cold? That will effect the speed of the dry down
@@katrinacrouchsomewhere between 22 and 26 degrees which I thought would be warm enough. In the end I added a little more wax and warmed the stamp and finally got a decent wax seal. Great video and thank you for replying.