A few weeks ago on Instagram, I saw a video of a lady making a wax seal picture in a frame. It was the coolest thing! I can’t give credit for it because I didn’t save it and I can’t find it now!!!
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So, I found a rectangular frame wax seal stamp on Amazon and ordered it on June 4th. It finally came on July 3rd. If you’re not in a hurry, you can order it, too. If you’re in a hurry, I suggest ordering from another vendor. The stamp through the link above does not come with a handle, only a metal head.
Wax Seal Picture in a Frame
Supplies Needed:
Regular glue sticks are not crystal clear. While you can use these, the Adtech clear glue sticks are crystal clear and work best for this project. There’s a link below.
The Santa on the left is covered with crystal clear and the one on the right is covered with a regular glue stick.
The images I’ve used are from a Christmas pad of cardstock. You could also use images from cards.
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- Low Melt Glue Gun and Adtech Crystal Clear Glue Sticks
- Picture Frame Wax Stamp
- Images of Your Choice
- Paper Towels
- Paint Palette Knife
- Melting Spoon
- Sealing Wax Warmer
- Wood Spoon Holder
- Sealing Wax Beads
- Sealing Wax Candles
- Tweezers
- Metallic Pens
The items above, excluding the frame wax stamp head and handle, low melt glue gun and glue sticks, paper towels, palette knife, and graphics can be ordered in a sealing wax kit.
4 Steps for Making a Picture Frame Wax Seal with Wax Beads
1. Don’t Chill your Stamp for this step. The wax will harden too quickly. In fact, I’m thinking it would be good to heat up the metal head. The hot wax hardened so fast that I didn’t have time to remove much of the excess wax with the spatula. (I heated the head in boiling water for a few seconds, blotted the water off, and then poured the melted wax. It seemed to work better for me.)
2. Melt the Wax – Cover the lit candle with a wax seal warmer. Use tweezers to place 3 or 4 wax melts into the spoon. Use three or four wax melts to make the wax more fluid and easier to use. Wait for the wax to melt into liquid.
3. Pour the Melted Wax – Carefully pour the wax around the outside of the stamp into the recessed frame, avoiding the flat center, and your fingers! Quickly use a spatula to scrape off any wax on the flat center and level the top of the wax. I found that heating the spatula before scraping it over the frame makes it easier to do this.
4. Remove the cooled frame from the stamp head. Trying to take pictures of the process, I didn’t move quickly enough. Not to worry! If your frame ends up looking like the pictures below and you need to remove some of the excess wax, use a very sharp scissor to cut off the excess.
After you have the frame finished, set it aside.
Finishing the Wax Seal with a Glue Gun
1. Typically, you should chill your stamp head. I found it is not necessary for the clear glue sticks.
2. Place the image face up on top of parchment paper or marble or granite. The wax seal releases easily from parchment paper. Use a low-melt glue gun with a clear glue stick to pump glue onto the image.
3. Set the wax frame back in the stamp and press the stamp head with the wax frame on top of the clear glue. (I actually found that it is easier to lay the frame on top of the glue and center over the picture. Then, set the stamp on top of the wax frame and press. Unfortunately, the clear glue leaked onto the front of the frame. You can see the clear glue on the green frame. It is best to put the frame back into the stamp head.)
4. Remove the Stamp – After the wax is cool, gently pull upward. If it doesn’t release, wait for a few more seconds. It should release easily.
5. To use these on envelopes, just pour a blob of sealing wax onto the envelope, place the wax-stamped frame onto the wax, set the stamp on top of the frame, and press gently.
6. As an alternative, you can use double-sided wax seal stickers in place of the blob of sealing wax.
Here are some additional tips to complete the process:
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- If wax sticks on the stamp head or you have trouble removing the frame, hold the brass stamp head in a bowl of boiling water for a few seconds. I just microwaved a half cup of water in a small glass bowl. Clean off any leftover wax with a toothpick and paper towel. Then, blot dry and use just a drop of liquid hand soap on your finger to lightly cover the stamp head. It works like a charm. The frame releases very easily.
- If the wax is too hot, it tends to bubble. This is not particularly pretty.
- Trim any excess wax from the edges of the seal.
- Allow the seal to cool and harden completely before handling.
- Consider adding additional decorative elements, such as glitter or small embellishments, to the wax before it hardens for a more personalized touch.
- Experiment with different stamp designs and wax colors to create a variety of unique and eye-catching seals.
- Practice makes perfect. Practice your technique to achieve consistent and professional-looking results. I’m planning to add these to Christmas cards this year.
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- Keep a bottle of aloe vera on hand just in case you accidentally pour the wax onto your finger, not that I would know anything about that.
Ways to Use Your Beautiful Wax Seals
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- Use them to seal envelopes for wedding invitations, thank you cards, or other special events.
- Add a touch of elegance to your personal or professional correspondence.
- Use them to seal gift wraps or gift bags for an extra special touch.
- Incorporate them into your scrapbooking or journaling projects.
- Use them to seal bottles of wine or other beverages for a personalized touch at dinner parties or events.
- Add them to your home decor by using them to seal letters or notes on a bulletin board or framed display.
- Use them as decorative accents on handmade cards, invitations, or other paper crafts.
- Add a ribbon, a sprig of greenery, and a wax seal on top of a napkin ring.
- Add a vintage touch to your wedding invitations or save the dates.
- Use them to add a personal touch to your holiday cards to loved ones.
- Add a touch of luxury to your handmade soap or candle products by sealing them with wax.
- Use them to create unique and beautiful art pieces by sealing wax onto canvas or paper.
- Wrap ribbon around a gift box several times, add a sprig of greenery, and top with a wax seal.
More Wax Seal Ideas
There are so many ways to use your wax seals. Click on the links below to see more.
How To Decorate A Thanksgiving Wheat Bundle With A Beautiful Wax Seal
How To Wrap A Gift With Two Contrasting Papers
Who Won’t Love Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Mini Parfaits?
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