r/waxsealing

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.

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.

This one just sold my I hope to

Make a few more but this pour I just love.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I finally finished the tulip seals in pinks, blues and yellow as an homage to u/AbaloneFountainPen love for all things blue.

I’m quite pleased with the finished collection.