Fancy wax seals, S.W.A.L.K (sealed with a loving kiss) messages and hand-crafted calligraphy – letters aren’t what they were in the olden days. But they can be. Why not make your correspondence fancy once again with these tips?
- The why’s, how’s and where’s of wax seals and sealing wax
- The importance of penmanship
- Little bits of added stationery fun for all ages
There’s already something special about getting snail mail from your friends and family, but let’s make it a little bit extra…
The why’s, how’s and where’s of wax seals and sealing wax
Gummed envelopes and sticky tape weren’t around way back when letter writing began. These are relatively modern innovations (it was the 1840s, but that is modern by letter writing standards) and before that, letter seals and sealing wax sticks were used.
In the 16th Century when these wax envelope seals became popular, they were a necessity, but these days they’re used more often to create a touch of class and ceremony. The only downside is that we’re not used to using it, so there’s a lot of questions around them and how you use them, so here are a few FAQs we’ve answered for you:
Can you use any wax for a wax seal?
Candle waxes and wax crayons won’t adhere as well as to the paper as classic sealing wax does. And they’re not typically as flexible and may be prone to cracking. You can find glue gun wax which comes in magical metallic colours and a range of other shades which is much more appropriate if you’re after an alternative to sealing wax sticks.
Can I use a rubber stamp for a wax seal?
You can. Sealing wax doesn’t have a very high melting point, so it should be ok. Be wary of other kinds of wax though. To be safe, we recommend using a metal stamp to avoid any melting issues.
What is the difference between a seal and a logo?
Nothing really, apart from the fact a logo is used on all your marketing and business materials. A seal is more for signing off and closing envelopes and messages. If you like the look of a seal, you can get a personalised wax seal or a custom wax seal made in your logo’s design online.
How do you melt sealing wax?
You can do it in a microwave, but this method is likely to waste wax. Instead, be very careful and place what you need in your melting spoon and use an open flame or heat gun to get it to the thick pourable consistency of cold honey. If you’re using a glue gun, insert the specially-made wax stick into the glue gun and let it do all the hard work for you.
The importance of penmanship
We all had writing lessons in school, but if you’re like us, then your penmanship has lost some of its refinement in more recent years. With hand-written letters, this is a bit of an issue. You don’t want your excited recipient having to spend an age deciphering your chicken scratch writing, but you don’t need to be a calligraphy master either. So, here are a few ways you can improve your handwriting style for letter writing.
- Take your time: There’s no need to rush through writing a letter. You’ve got to think about what you’re writing anyway as there’s no delete button with a pen and paper. So, slow it down and look at what you’re writing – this alone will help keep your writing style consistent and more legible.
- Change your paper: You may only have standard printer paper lying around for a letter, but don’t you find that you write better and more carefully when you’re writing on card or thicker GSM (Grams per Square Meter) paper? Get yourself some better-quality materials to use for correspondence – it’ll feel more luxurious with them too.
- Invest in a fountain pen: Ballpoints and biros are excellent for quick notes or shopping lists, but we do tend to write faster with them because they’re smooth and easy to use. With fountain pens or special writing pens, you need to have a steady hand. As a result, you’ll spend more time writing so your words will be more legible and more carefully written.
Little bits of added stationary fun for all ages
You may send letters as an adult, but children love the novelty of writing a letter or card too. To make it a bit more exciting for everyone here are a few things you can add to your letter to make it stand out special.
- Novelty Stamps – They’re the same price as regular stamps, but with fun faces, films and themes. Popping one on your envelope is a great way to signify this letter is a good one.
- Fancy addresses – add fun letters, little drawings and different fonts to your envelope – as long as it has a stamp and a visible address, anything goes.
- Add a scent – spray some perfume or get scented paper to make opening a letter a multi-sense experience.
- Include a photograph or two – help your reader visualise yourself and what you’re writing about with a photo or two.
- Pop on a few stickers – choose some of their favourite animal, their favourite show or just some sparkles. It’ll just make it more personal and fun for the reader.
- Frame it with Washi tape – putting a thin strip around the paper or envelope adds a personal touch and jazzes up the white paper.
At the end of the day, letter writing shouldn’t be left in the past. We need to bring it all back, wax seals, sealing wax sticks, penmanship et al. Let’s make it special, let’s make it fancy and let’s all slow down and enjoy it while it’s here.
