Wax Job

http://tinyurl.com/5q8t2

Sealing Wax history and instruction

by Christin Harvey, FLAX Customer Service

The use of wax seals can be traced back to the Mesopotamian era. The method of
creating the seals then was crude, but was an essential medium for recording
ones status and wealth, as well as and major events. As literacy became more
widespread the medium of wax sealing served such purposes as recognition of
social status, validity or authority, and the security of private documents.

Royalty and governments used wax seals as their authoritative stamp of approval
by affixing them to proclamations. The first Great Seal of England was that of
Edward the Confessor. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were
the creators of the United States First Great Seal used on July 4th, 1776 on
the Declaration of Independence.

It was not until the invention of gummed envelopes in the 19th century that the
art of wax sealing lost its popularity. The medium survived as an art form and
has become a more personal and creative expression of decorative art.

Sealing wax comes in many forms, such as wicked sticks, pellets, or plain stick
forms. I prefer the stick form. The wax stick needs to be broken into small
chunks, placed on a spoon and melted with a heating apparatus.

The spoon method is by far the best method for achieving beautiful wax seals.
This is the method I would like to instruct you on. You will need the following
items:
* Heat source, such as a tea light or candle.
* Melting spoon. I suggest a very thin metal spoon, such as an old copper or
tin measuring spoon. Dinner or soupspoons are usually too thick and do not
absorb the heat as well.
* Wax paper. If you are a beginner I suggest that you practice on wax paper.
The seals can be easily removed and glued to the item in mind or if you're not
pleased with the seal, you can peel it off the wax paper and remelt the wax.

Choose a safe and clean working area that is well lit. Make yourself as
comfortable as possible. Now let's get started.
First, prepare your stamp by wiping it with vegetable oil or Crisco so that the
wax will release more easily and the impression will be cleaner. Break the wax
stick into small pieces. Place the wax within the spoon and then place the
spoon just over the tip of the flame. Do not place the spoon on the flame
because this will smother the flame and the wax will take too long to melt. And
don't allow the wax to get so hot that it begins to smoke, because if it
ignites the flame creates black carbon that mixes into and muddies the color.

To achieve a lava or marbled design melt two pieces of different colored wax
together. I use two spoons so I can toggle the wax back and forth between the
spoons and get a good mix or swirl of color. After the wax melts you can pour
it onto your envelope surface or wax paper sheet. Allow 3 to 5 seconds for the
wax to cool and then impress your stamp into the wax.

Voila, you have created your first seal. The raised portion of the seal can be
traced with a permanent marker for contrasting color or you may leave it as it
is. Now that you have the basics you only need your creative force to take over
and have fun.
---


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

Thanks for something useful Sheldon.

wax on... wax off...



David

Sorry to top post, but it's a long scroll down.
Nice posting Sheldon, it's a keeper!

I still like using my hot glue gun to do seals because they travel
through the postal system better, but your posting makes me want to pull
out my wax seals and give them another try. And there's a new aluminum
foil that is non-stick called Reynold's Non-Stick Aluminum Foil which
you can use to do wax seals so you don't waste envelopes on the seals
that didn't come out well.
Thanks!

Nancy
(reposted below in case anyone missed it - -)


PENMART01 wrote:

http://tinyurl.com/5q8t2

Sealing Wax history and instruction

by Christin Harvey, FLAX Customer Service

The use of wax seals can be traced back to the Mesopotamian era. The
method of creating the seals then was crude, but was an essential medium
for recording ones status and wealth, as well as and major events. As
literacy became more widespread the medium of wax sealing served such
purposes as recognition of social status, validity or authority, and the
security of private documents.

Royalty and governments used wax seals as their authoritative stamp of
approval by affixing them to proclamations. The first Great Seal of
England was that of Edward the Confessor. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin,
and Thomas Jefferson were the creators of the United States First Great
Seal used on July 4th, 1776 on the Declaration of Independence.

It was not until the invention of gummed envelopes in the 19th century
that the art of wax sealing lost its popularity. The medium survived as an
art form and has become a more personal and creative expression of
decorative art.

Sealing wax comes in many forms, such as wicked sticks, pellets, or plain
stick forms. I prefer the stick form. The wax stick needs to be broken
into small chunks, placed on a spoon and melted with a heating apparatus.

The spoon method is by far the best method for achieving beautiful wax
seals. This is the method I would like to instruct you on. You will need
the following items: * Heat source, such as a tea light or candle. *
Melting spoon. I suggest a very thin metal spoon, such as an old copper or
tin measuring spoon. Dinner or soupspoons are usually too thick and do not
absorb the heat as well. * Wax paper. If you are a beginner I suggest that
you practice on wax paper. The seals can be easily removed and glued to
the item in mind or if you're not pleased with the seal, you can peel it
off the wax paper and remelt the wax.

Choose a safe and clean working area that is well lit. Make yourself as
comfortable as possible. Now let's get started. First, prepare your stamp
by wiping it with vegetable oil or Crisco so that the wax will release
more easily and the impression will be cleaner. Break the wax stick into
small pieces. Place the wax within the spoon and then place the spoon just
over the tip of the flame. Do not place the spoon on the flame because
this will smother the flame and the wax will take too long to melt. And
don't allow the wax to get so hot that it begins to smoke, because if it
ignites the flame creates black carbon that mixes into and muddies the
color.

To achieve a lava or marbled design melt two pieces of different colored
wax together. I use two spoons so I can toggle the wax back and forth
between the spoons and get a good mix or swirl of color. After the wax
melts you can pour it onto your envelope surface or wax paper sheet. Allow
3 to 5 seconds for the wax to cool and then impress your stamp into the
wax.

Voila, you have created your first seal. The raised portion of the seal
can be traced with a permanent marker for contrasting color or you may
leave it as it is. Now that you have the basics you only need your
creative force to take over and have fun. ---


---= BOYCOTT FRANCE (belgium) GERMANY--SPAIN =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
*********
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."
Sheldon
````````````

On 18 Nov 2004 21:37:12 GMT, (PENMART01) wrote:

Royalty and governments used wax seals as their authoritative stamp of approval
by affixing them to proclamations.

Wax has been obsolete as a seal for many centuries. Wax seals are
easily removed with a hot knife and re-attached. Since shellac became
available the sealing medium used has been a mixture of shellac and
wax. This isn't re-meltable by forgers.