u/CadillacGirl

It’s Alive!
So I finally got this glow in the dark (black magic) powder.

I tried the first batch with plain vellum or translucent wax. Works amazing but in regular light you can’t see the design.

Second batch (single seal of the spiders web) I added a touch of green to test how to bring out the seals design in regular light. It didn’t really work.

Third batch was in black wax which was an epic fail - no black magic to be had. I even tried with the top seal sprinkling the powder on top of the black wax before stamping. Still a fail.

Fourth batch I used pure white wax. This appears the best for both regular and black lighting.

5th batch is 5 vellum beads and 1 white. This batch held the black light glow the longest after I removed the black light and in regular light the seal design still shows up.

Next tests for scientific purposes is to do a scrape and pour using the white and vellum with glow in the dark powder and a dark background final pour.

I enjoyed playing weird/mad scientist and mixing batches of glowing wax under black light.

I used crystal clear glue. And then black marker to fill in the details. I think this would be better as a black wax scrape and pour then glue for the final pour.

I struggled to find pictures tiny enough for this view finder stamp.

I used stickers from a postcard that was sent to me by another redditor, the stamp from said postcard and some floral paper card stock.

My clear glue wasn’t clear enough to see the miniature details of the picture.

I’ll work on this more but I do think the picture has to be brighter for it to show up properly.

I searched for what I thought would be fun backers for this stamp.

I used a Tommy Bahama mailer to get the tropical 1” punched circles. And I used mini maps on newsprint for the rest.

Then I used metallic marker to highlight the relief. I love this stamp.

Now I’m sifting through mail for interesting visuals that can be used as backers to my clear glue seals.

I got myself the smaller circle lever punch and was able to punch these tiny butterflies out of card stock. Well here we are I thought it might be fun in crystal clear glue with a 1” blank stamp.

Might also work with crystal clear glue and my 3D heart stamp.

Cause what kid hasn’t dreamt of being in movies.

This is another tricky stamp. Some of the details got stuck in the stamp and didn’t come out on the final pour and press.

I’ll keep at it but I do love it and wished the clapper actually moved lol.

I think I could try more colours but I honestly love the simplicity of this being in black and white.

This stamp is a bit finicky so I need to practise more on multi pours with it. But it’s very satisfying to complete.

It’ll look amazing as a frame stamp with black and red details and crystal clear glue.
It’s funny cause I’m not huge into frame stamps but I love glue seals.

I love this stamp. The cut out version feels like chits or some kind of money. But I’m a bit stumped on how to jazz it up more.

I did a gold scrape on a white pour. Maybe gold on red?

I honestly like the golden ticket cut out personally the most. Any suggestions to make it even more fun.

The first pic: is a full scrape and pour. The t and r didn’t make it out of the seal in the final stamp.

The second pic: I used metallic marker of the relief. I think this works better.

I’d like to try it with a black scrape and pour on the relief just to see. Metallic waxes can be difficult with tiny detail.

I just used some wax remnants cause I wanted to do a quick test run.

I’ll post more serious attempts later with multicolour wax.

I see a lot of serious potential for the passport travel stamp. Maybe glue with some tropical backer.

The ticket for me is just a fun stamp. I’m not sure how creative I can get with it. It’s giving Willy Wonka vibes right now. And it’s making me want the chocolate bar stamp that strictly Rita has. The one with a bite out of it.

I think the camera view finder would be fun as a frame stamp.

The clapper would look awesome in black and white for more depth.

This was just delivered just as the in-laws arrived for a Mother’s Day brunch today.

I snuck away to take a pic and rub my hand across my new stamps in longing.

I’m waiting for them to evaporate so I can craft which is how I wanted to spend my day to begin with.

Happy Mother’s Day to anyone who has stepped in or up with a maternal care for another being human or animal. My love goes out to all of you!

The final instalment from the “stamps I am coveting but waiting for a special occasion to buy” category.

The key to my wax sealed heart!

I’m really starting to adore interesting shaped stamps and this definitely falls into that category.

I’ve seen some tutorials on how sealers are heating up thin metal rods and carving the intricate wax designs from the seal out. I might try this technique.

Has anyone else tried this? What was your experience and any tips or tricks so I don’t burn myself or the house down. Also I don’t want soot to mar the wax. Any tips?

This was the second stamp that arrived as part of my Christmas themed seals.

I can’t wait to use this on my kids gifts and tags at Christmas and my grandkids and my great grandkids….

I am going to work on perfecting this pour. She’s a hefty sized stamp.

[effacé]

Some new stamps arrived yesterday. And they were Christmas themed.

This subtle 3D wreath will be amazing with multicolour this Christmas.

Also great as a mini frame stamp.

So…. This turned out to be a learning experience for me. These seals are from the sunflower wax beads online haul.

First impressions of the wax I just felt something was off. There was a very strong smell to the wax, like caustic and not safe. It didn’t melt like normal. It was partially melted and started immediately bubbling in the spoon. First pour the wax hardened but was breakable. No flexibility. The remaining wax crumbled and didn’t remelt well.

So I went down the rabbit hole and started researching and talking with the supplier in China.

Turns out there’s two types of Rosin based waxes. And I’m not talking about the vintage style shellac wax.

There’s an EVA or EVA like wax mixed with Rosin which is popular in America and Europe. It’s flexible and mail safe. Then there’s a brittle Rosin only wax that is for decoration, not mail safe and cracks easily. It’s a low heat wax. This type is apparently popular in South East Asia. Its appearance is chalkier. This is what I accidentally got.

I have to say I don’t love it. It’s frustrating to work with. The pour and scrape method doesn’t work well. The wax gets caught in the stamp itself and won’t come out with the second pour. It’s difficult to remove from the stamp once cooled if there are remnants left behind.

I’ve since learned to ask suppliers questions about the type of wax I’m buying. I hope this saves even just one person in case they prefer the more malleable wax we are used to.

I wish the pics showed the texture and smell lol.

Vein attempts were made…. Ok enough with my puns but seriously thanks to u/AbaloneFountainpen and u/E-Skullery for encouraging me to mix it up after that failed tulip seal.

I was inspired to keep going and I just loved how these turned out. The only one I question is the 3D heart. You don’t really see the heart impression but I still love the colour combo. Prior to this I was on the fence with metallic waxes. I’m totally sold now in using them as part of a marbled effect. I feel that it gives like a silver fuming (as in glass blowing) effect to the seals. I love very much how some of these look a lot like various phases of oxidized copper.

100 count flower wax bead bags. They are smaller than the 100 count hexagons wax beads. But I got some iridescent, glow in the dark and Halloween colours. So I’m excited about that.

Thought I’d see if I could still make this seal as it had been a while.

I prefer this seal with a more pastel background but very happy with how it turned out. I used a custom red wax blend this time just to change things up.

Thanks to u/E-Skullery for encouraging me to melt down my recent fail.

I did and I didn’t mix it. The marble was lovely so I did a pour (the camellia flower round stamp lower right). Then I added one metallic blue bead to see if I could get more purple based on her instructions and still loved the marbling and did a pour (tulip on upper center).

Then I added one metallic purple bead (tulip on upper left corner).

Added one light blue metallic bead (tulip lower center).

Finally added one metallic peach bead and got the magnolia mix (lower left).

Added a second metallic peach bead and got the partial camellia in the upper right and just loved this combo. But didn’t have enough wax for a full pour. Now I’m focused on trying to recreate this combo lol. Reminds me of a copper penny that’s partially new but also starting to oxidize.

Thank you for opening my eyes to this kind of wax mixing. It’s not something I would have tried without your encouragement and comments.

It’s a mini. I love it but use it so rarely. While finishing my tulip collection I just felt a calling to showcase this little guy.

Also I was drawn to more blue and purple seals. I just can’t get this combo out of my head. It’s so lovely. Thank you to u/AbaloneFountainPen for introducing me to it.

I think the tiny purple/blue is my fav of the bunch.