DIY Wednesday: Wax Seal

The world of IT has practically taken over America, but the art of snail mail can still be FUN! Sending mail via the U.S. Postal Service can even be more fun than sending an email or... dare I say it... Facebook message.. GASP! Although the internet is quick and easy, I must admit, finding a letter/card/invite in my mailbox is a pleasant and exciting surprise!

Now, for those of who you simply hate loathe licking envelope glue such as myself, I stumbled across this amazing tutorial, courtesy of Honestly...WTF, which is absolutely PERF for the upcoming holiday season! And yes boys and girls.. start preparing those greeting cards because the holidays will be here before you know it. You don't want to just send out another boring, old e-card and be like everyone else now do ya?! Or maybe you do, I dunno.

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

Directions:

 

 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. 

Directions for the glue gun method: 

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.

 

Photos courtesy of Honestly...WTF