Adding a Touch of Elegance: Using Wax Seals and Infinity Dies on a Floral Handmade Card

June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 Karen BrownLeave a comment

Adding wax seal elements to your cardmaking.

If you’re looking to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your handmade cards, incorporating wax seals and infinity dies can elevate your designs to new heights. In this post, we’ll explore how to use these tools to create a stunning floral handmade card.

Today, Spellbinders released a wonderful new collection called Sealed 3D Botanical and I chose Scallop Labels and Tags Infinity Dies and the Forest Mushroom Wax Seal. Infinity Dies are definitely one of my most used craftroom essentials and wax seals are so interesting and fun!

Adding texture to your cardmaking with Mushroom Forest Wax Seals, Scallop Labels and Tags Infinity Dies and embossing folders.

Spellbinders 3D Botanical Collection

I knew I wanted to make a shaped floral card with a wax seal medallion on my vase. Here are step-by-step directions for this card:

I started by making a bunch of wax seals, which I really enjoy. If you’d like more details, I have a blog post titled 18 Tips and Tricks for Making Wax Seals that you can read HERE. I decided to use two Royal Blue seals and I planned my color scheme around the two seals. Spellbinders Wax Seal Kit is such a fun addition to any craftroom and I have really enjoyed playing with my kit this year.
Using my silver Deco Color Paint Pen, I added highlights to the wax mushrooms and foliage. Interestingly, the color looks a little more gold in the photographs, but it is silver in person.
I die cut my vase and flowers using one of my new favorites: Fresh Picked Vase. I used Cosmic Sky, Periwinkle, Charcoal and Coral cardstocks.
I wanted a bit more texture so I embossed my vase using my Luxe Backdrop Emboss and Cut 3D folder.
As I mentioned, I wanted a shaped card so I took an A2 Side Fold Card Base and die cut my white base with the Scallop Labels and Tag die. I made sure that the left cutting edge was to the left of the fold so it would stay intact. Then I cut a Periwinkle and White Mat and assembled my card with Bearly Glue and a few Foam Adhesive Squares.
I also made a coordinating wax seal envelop for my card that you can see below.

As I said, I really enjoy making wax seals so I made some extras for future projects. The other colors are Indigo Ink, Pistachio, Velvet Rose and Gold.

Adding wax seal elements to your envelops.

Conclusion

Using wax seals and infinity dies in your handmade cards adds a level of detail and elegance that will impress any recipient. These tools allow you to create intricate designs and sophisticated touches that make your cards truly stand out. Whether for birthdays, weddings, or just because, a floral handmade card with these elements will be cherished and remembered. Happy crafting!

Karen

Spellbinders Cards | Better Press Spring Collection

January 22, 2024January 22, 2024 Karen BrownLeave a comment

BetterPress A Friend Like you card two ways.

I adore the timeless elegance of BetterPress letter press cards. Today I wanted to share two cards using the press plate – A Friend Like You. One card is pure letter press….no coloring or embellishment. The second card is loosely colored with Zig Watercolor Brush Markers. I love them both!

If you’d like to read my post on Tips, Tricks and Insights into the BetterPress system you can find it HERE.

A Friend Like You – Pressed Posey Collection

My Process:

I taped a Porcelain cotton card panel to the top plate, inked my press plates (flower and sentiments are both included in the A Friend Like You press plate set) with Black BetterPress ink and ran the sandwich through my BetterPress system.
For my watercolor card, I repeated step one using watercolor paper.
I cleaned the press plate and BetterPress platform with Ultra Clean.
I taped my watercolor panel to a hardboard with painters tape.
Using Zig markers, I applied watercolor along the etched lines and then used a water brush to move the color around. I did wet-on-dry painting. I also scribbled some watercolor on my work surface and using my water brush, I added additional color to some areas. I experimented with watercolor brushes and my round water brush and I found that I liked the result with the water brush best.
I let my panel air dry.
For the watercolor panel, I made a card base using Stylish Ovals Nesting Dies.
I also used Stylish Ovals to cut down my watercolor panel.
For the black and white panel I die cut my letter press panel with Essential Rectangles, which unfortunately is retired. I matted with black and glued to an A2 top folding card base.
Zig Colors Used: cobalt, light blue, bright yellow, orange, yellow green, mid green, mustard, cool gray, light gray.

Black and white Spellbinders BetterPress letter press floral card.

Products Used on My “A Friend Like You” Cards:

Sealed Cord and Faux Seal Sentiments (BP-107)

I wanted to make a traditional masculine card and I love how this one turned out. Minimalist yet elegant. The Sealed Cord press plates have 6 great sentiments, but I wanted to top my card with a wax seal. I used one of the included circular sentiments on a card that you can see HERE.

I love making and using wax seals. I have a blog post titled 18 Tips and Tricks For Making Wax Seals that you can read HERE. I used the wax beads and seal that were included in Spellbinders Wax Seal Starter Kit. I used a Posca Paint pen to highlight the sentiment. I haven’t tried it, but I think a Sharpie would also work.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

Die cutting · Tutorial · Wax Seals

18 Tips and Tricks for Making Wax Seals | Spellbinders

January 11, 2024December 23, 2024 Karen Brown3 Comments

18 Tips and Tricks for Making Cards with Wax Seals.

My Husband gave me Spellbinders Wax Seal Starter Kit for Christmas, and I have been having SO much fun! I also received a Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine and I have to say I loved the results!

In today’s post, I used three beautiful new wax bead colors: Pistachio, Velvet Rose and Ink.

Tutorial + 18 Tips and Tricks for Making Wax Seals:

With a Sharpie marker, I put a dot on my seal so it was easy to keep track of where the top of the design is.
I read that it helps reduce soot if you trim your tea candle wick, so I did this.
I put 4 beads in the warming spoon and it took 2 minutes to melt.
I poured the wax and found it is easy to make a circle pattern, but I do like seals that aren’t perfectly round.
Don’t press the seal into the wax, just gently position and allow gravity to work.
After experimenting, I found that if I wanted a thicker, more button like seal you should pour the wax and then wait 15-30 seconds before gently dropping the seal into the wax. The card with the pink seal was done this way.
If you like a thinner seal with a higher rim then place the seal immediately after pouring.
I found if I used just my thumb and pinky or middle finger that I was better able to center the seal more precisely.
I left the seal in the wax anywhere from 15 to 90 seconds. The time didn’t seem to matter and no wax was ever left on the seal itself.
I also found it helps to move your pours around on the silicone mat so you don’t get warm spots on your work surface.
I also let my seal cool in between pours.
If you don’t like a seal, you can remelt it.
You can mix colors for a lovely marbled look. I really love the blue and green combination that I made which is shown in the upper left of the first photo. I also love blue and gold together and you can see two with that combination in the upper right corner on the blue card.
You can add flakes, glitter or pearls to the melted wax.
I used a paper towel to clean the spoon when changing wax colors.
I used a Decocolor marker on some of my seals (see the card with the green seal). I have Gold but wish I had bought silver too. Just lightly go over the raised ridges.
I experimented using Posca Pens too. They work, but I did like the result of the Decocolor markers better. The navy wax seal was highlighted with a silver Posca.
I love the Sealed Twine Die for a perfect twine look every time!

Quick and Easy Die Cut Card with Custom Handmade Wax Seal.

Each seal is so beautiful and unique!

Floral card with blue and purple flowers and Ink Navy blue Wax Seal Element.

Once, my seals were made, I got out two favorite die sets – Sealed Wildflower, and Autumn Sealed Sprigs – and started creating my floral designs. I also used the Sealed Twine die on all of my cards.