Die cutting · Tutorial · Wax Seals

18 Tips and Tricks for Making Wax Seals | Spellbinders

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.

How to use wax seals on handmade greeting cards.

For two of my cards I embossed a background panel for added interest.

I’ve enjoyed my Wax Seal Kit so much that I signed up for the Wax Seal of the Month Kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Spellbinders | Floral Reflections Collection

Spellbinders Sealed Wildflower Die kit for clean and simple die cut cards.

Sealed Wildflower Die Kit (S4-1255)

I am so happy you stopped by! Spellbinders new Floral Reflections Collection is live and I LOVE how fresh the collection is. I made two cheerful cards, one for a friend’s birthday the second is ready to send for a get well.

Spellbinders Sealed Wildflower Kit S4-1255 die cut card.

For my first card, I used the Sealed Wildflower die kit (S4-1255). I felt like clean and simple was the way to showcase these lovely die cuts so I selected Waterfall cardstock for my backdrop. I kept my color palette simple: aqua, melon, dark green and white and added coordinating enamel dots to my flower centers. My sentiment was hot foiled and die cut using GLP-260: Mini Everyday Sentiments. Using an A2 top folding card base, I added my waterfall panel with craft foam for a bit of dimension.

Spellbinders "Sealed Wildflower" kit (S4-1255) on a die cut handmade card in aqua, white and orange.

Flower Frenzy Embossing Folder (E3D-048)

I adore the lovely texture on the new Flower Frenzy Embossing Folder (E3D-048). I embossed a panel of Waterfall cardstock and then die cut a tag. I die cut a second tag in white which acts as a shadow backdrop.

All I needed was one sweet grouping of flowers to embellish the tag and I again used the Sealed Wildflowers die kit. My base is an A2 top folding card and then I added a kraft background mat and enamel dots to the flower centers and mounted my tags using foam tape for dimension.

I love the texture that the embossing folder adds to the card, but by using a tag, the overall feel is still clean and simple.

Flower Frenzy Embossing Folder (E3D-048) die cut handmade embossed tag and card in aqua, orange and kraft.

I like to keep Get Well cards on hand so they are ready to send when the need arises. This card is in my desk drawer ready to go.

Embossing tags for handmade cards.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my die cut cards.

Karen