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Wax
seals were originally a way to authenticate documents and preserve privacy in correspondence. Recently, they have been transformed into a
practical and elegant way to embellish cards and layouts. The traditional
wax seals are brittle and expensive, but you can use colored glue gun sticks
to create a flexible and affordable alternative.
Materials and Tools
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color glue gun sticks
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a die, examples:
rubberstamp, brass seal, carved eraser, ring,
pendant or anything with a raised design
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a clear ink pad (the release agent to keep the die from sticking
to the glue)
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a glue gun
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a smooth,
heat-resistant working surface, examples: release
paper, a glue mat, a glazed ceramic tile, a non-stick frying pan
(but don't use it for cooking again)
Place your chosen color glue stick in the glue gun and allow it to pre-heat
for a few minutes. It is ready to use when a little drop of glue begins to
form on the tip.
Form a small blob of glue on your working surface. Experiment with how much works best for you, but a little goes a long way. For the end result
you want a thin outline around the seal, but be careful that the seal is not
too thick or bulky.
Ink up your die thoroughly and sink it firmly face down into the warm glue.
Make sure the design does not go all the way through. Wait a few seconds and
then remove the die. If it continues to stick to the glue, let it cool down
some more and then remove it. An alternative to using the clear ink as a
release agent is to either chill the die with an ice cube or wet it
completely with water or an alcohol-free baby wipe,. Make sure that you ink,
chill or wet the die each time before you stamp in the glue.
Once the seal has cooled completely, remove it from your working surface.
You may then attach it to your page or envelope with double-sided tape.
A time efficient method is to make some unstamped glue seals and stamp them
at a later date. When you're ready to stamp, place the pre-made seals on
your working surface and heat them with a heat gun (the kind used for
embossing). Once the glue is soft, stamp it and let it cool.
Almost anything with a raised design could be used for a die. Keep in mind
that the shape of the background will also be indented into your seal.
For a variation, try using a mix of different colored glues. You could
embellish your seal further by coloring in your design with gel pens or
using rub-ons or metallic foils. Another option is to paint the seal with
acrylic paint. The possibilities are endless.
 
Toes by Julie
Kosolofski
Ginko Card by Julie
Kosolofski
-- Julie
Kosolofski (a.k.a. Julie K in Taiwan)
Julie readily admits she is a "scrapaholic." Her
main themes are focused on family adventures with her young daughter
Jaylene. She also enjoys creating culture scrapbook pages about life in Taiwan. She enjoys
trying new and different techniques for embellishing her pages.
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