Wax Seals and Stamps

    Do you like to use wax and seals?  

        During the first few years of marriage,  I picked up a W seal (for my last name) and used it when I sent out cards and letters. I don't remember now what wax I used.

   Several years ago, I had found my stamp again and bought several handmade wax sticks from a seller on Etsy. She made them herself, and her packaging and colors were beautiful. I asked her if the wax would make it through mailing machines-she assured me it would. So of course I purchased several colors. No one ever said anything about the seal so I asked a couple people-they said what seal?  

  Lately I was experimenting with this same wax and the seal came off still, even though I also tried it inside the envelope. Turns out the wax she made is very very brittle and just will not hold up in today's mail system-she was making the traditional wax. I had thought I could use this up in my journal pages someway but playing with the seal, it pops right off the page. So of course I am bumbed.

 Sooo, this past Christmas I got a card in the mail with a beautiful seal on the outside of the envelope. Wow-so I contacted her right away-what did you use?

  Turns out one needs a modern flexible sealing wax, when you purchase it must say flexible. These waxes come in sticks that look like candles. or beads that you melt in a spoon, or even a special glue gun. It must say flexible though to make it through the mail. This company had good information here and I purchased their wax here

  I bought a couple colors, and one of my slow mail friends showed me a photo-your seal made it through-made me happy happy.

  Excited now that I can play with wax and seals again, I ordered a couple new seals from online. Two are coming from France, and another stamp that I fell in love with is coming from China-looking all over the net it seems to be only from China-so I broke down and ordered it too-found both shops on Etsy.

   Not sure how popular wax and stamps are now, but there is allot available when searching the net. Thinking there must be some new ideas out there using the wax I searched online and found some.

   I love the idea of sealing in herbs and flowers, combining wax colors, use on a gift package too.

videos I found: These are similiar but show different techniques on how to melt the wax, with ideas for using. I am an old fashioned girl so I enjoy using the wax sticks with the wick

Found this article from Martha Stewart, this one did not mention flexible wax. It could be that the more modern waxes are flexible-but I would ask the manufacturer to be sure.

Do you still enjoy melting wax and using a stamp for your letters or gifts??? I think it adds a personal touch and makes the slow mail letters extra special.