Ok, so I am a bit late on the whole wax seal bandwagon. I know it has been done for centuries as a way of insuring an unopened correspondence. Take a look at some of my favorite examples below. Up until VERY recently, I thought it was a little old fashioned. Then I tried it.
It's a little messy, but SO fun. The end result was worth all the trial and errors. Here are a few tips for using wax seals:
1. Test it out first. Get more wax then you think you'll need and make a few practice impressions to get a feel for it.
2. My wax seal was a round stamp with a fleur-de-lis. I had to mark the top of the stamp with a Sharpie to make sure the point of the fleur went straight up.
3. Try the wax that works somewhat like a candle (with a wick) but keep in mind this type tends to be more brittle and can pop off in the mail. Guaranteed to make you feel like a medieval queen sending an important missive.
4. Or try the kind of wax that goes though a glue-gun. This type is a bit more pliable and less likely to pop off.
5. If you are nervous about pouring hot wax on your beautiful invites, make each wax seal on wax paper. Let them cool. Then peel off the wax paper and adhere the stamp to your envelope with a drop of Aleene's Tacky Glue.
6. If you are nervous about sending through the mail, try using them for favors instead.
7. Remember, imperfection is beautiful!
If you like the look of the wax seals, but feel like it might be a bit challenging, another option is to have wax "stickers" made. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes, they look great, go through the mail without breaking, and can be customized to your hearts content. These "stickers" are actually a flexible plastic, made with a real metal stamp, but pliable enough to avoid breakage. Here is a custom Kathryn Murray Calligraphy one:
What do you think? Would you ever use a wax seal for your invitations or correspondence?
This is part three of a series called "Unexpected Lettering" showing unusual and unique ways to use hand lettered work. Have you seen any unique uses of calligraphy or lettering that you want to share? Email me here.