Custom Wax Seal Stamps: Accessorize Your Invitations with Wax Seals! : How to Make a Custom Stamp

How to Make Your Own Custom Wax Seal Stamp
DIY Wax Seal Stamp Tutorial
Where to Buy a Custom Stamp / Embosser for Wax Seals
Where to Get Pre-Made Custom Wax Seals

One great way to add more personal details to your wedding is to get crafty and do some DIY projects. And most paper projects are super easy, affordable, and fun! If you’d like to add an extra special something to your wedding invitation envelopes, creating your own DIY Custom Wax Seal Stamp is a great option.

Using the process outlined below, we created a stamp that we can use to make wax seals that feature a custom bee design. We used it to add wax seals to the envelopes of a few hand-delivered wedding invitations. We didn’t add them to all of our invites in order to save on postage.

But truly, the possibilities for other uses for a custom stamp are endless! You could place wax seals on thank-you notes, place cards, envelopes, and shower favor tags– and those are just a few creative ideas we’ve thought about.

You could even make custom wax seal stamps as gifts! Add a logo, a monogram, a custom design element or artwork, you name it. A personalized stamp to make a monogram wax seal would make a creative and unique wedding gift for a newlywed couple.

How to Make Your Own Custom Wax Seal Stamp

This awesome project costs next to nothing if you already have the equipment. And if you don’t, the tools come in handy for many other things and will eventually pay for themselves.

Of course, you can always purchase a custom wax stamp from a business that sells them, but they can run up to $70, and the production time may vary. If you want to make your own DIY Wax Sealing Stamp, here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies You’ll Need:

A Dremel rotary tool
This can be the expensive part if you don’t already own one– they range from $25 to over $100.
A medium-sized metal bolt
Costs about 50 cents at any hardware store
Various Dremel bits, for carving the design.
We used this kit, and utilized about three different bits from it.
Clay or other mold-able material
Wax for sealing
We just used leftover candle wax.

The three bits that Tim used — The three bits that we used

DIY Wax Seal Stamp Tutorial

Sketch your design on paper.

Your design should be relatively simple so that it will show up well in the wax. A monogram or geometric design would work well, or a simple object such as a leaf or flower.

Copy Your Design to the top of Your Bolt

Transfer the design you sketched onto the top of the bolt using a marker or pencil. Feel free to skip this step if you are comfortable drawing it freehand with the Dremel.

Use the Dremel Bit to Carve Your Design

Starting with the largest areas, use an appropriate size Dremel bit to start carving out the metal. You can hold the bolt in your hand while you use the Dremel with the other hand, or you can use a small vise grip or another clamp to secure the bolt in place. Work your way down to finer details by using increasingly fine bits. If you are doing a monogram, you may only need one size bit. We used a large one for the body of the bee, a medium one for the wings, and a very fine bit for the antenna and stripes on the bee’s body.

As a bit of a tip: choose the simplest design possible if you’re planning to make your own wax seal. Creating an intricate design could be quite difficult, especially on such a small surface area.

Utilize Clay to Check Your Design

As you work on carving your design into the bolt, frequently check your progress by pressing the bolt into the lump of clay. You’ll be able to see how well your detail is defined and which areas you need to carve out more.

Practice Stamping with Wax

Once you are happy with how your design looks in clay, it’s time to practice with wax. Beeswax would work best, but we used the leftover candle wax we had on hand. Gently melt the wax over your envelope or paper using a lighter. Once the wax has set slightly, gently press the seal into it, and remove. It takes a little practice to learn how long to let the wax cool before applying the seal, so practice away before applying your stamp to invitations or thank-yous!

Overall, this project took a few hours to complete. However, you can work on it for a few minutes and return to it later, so it doesn’t require a single large block of time. It also does not take up much space. You’ll really just need a small work surface.

The results? You’ll have a one-of-a-kind item that you can keep using long after your wedding! You can make custom logo wax seals to your heart’s content!

Finished product! I like the drips, but if you’re more careful than me, you can avoid them!

Where to Buy a Custom Stamp / Embosser for Wax Seals

Not down to DIY this project? Check out these sellers who offer custom stamps created just for you! Make sure to follow their recommended artwork guidelines and file format (ie, jpeg vs vector files) when you submit your designs in order to get the best quality final product.

Custom Wax Seal Kit

AshokShopGifts • Starting at ~$10

Check out these stamp kits where you can get a custom stamp made as well as the wax beads in a handy kit!

Buy Here

Custom Wax Seal Kit

FabricWorldAngel • Price

The stamps can be made with your chosen fonts and come with gorgeous wooden handles for a true keepsake item you’ll use again and again!

Buy Here

Where to Get Pre-Made Custom Wax Seals

If you don’t want to buy an expensive personalized stamp made out of solid brass, you have some savvy options to consider other than DIY. Skip the dripping wax and order pre-made wax seals from a shop or seller on Etsy. Below are a few beautiful examples to consider!

Custom Wax Seal Stickers

MeganBruceDesigns • $97 for 100

These pre-made wax seals feature an adhesive backing, so you can place them wherever you like!

Buy Here

Custom Wax Seal Stickers

TieTheKnotDE • $60 for 100

Another 3M adhesive sticker option that allows for easy use. These self-adhesive wax seals come in a variety of colors, fonts, and styles to choose from.

Buy Here