How to Make Your Own Wax Stamp

Do I even need to say it? You know that I love wax seals. It’s a little bit of a problem, but not enough of one to make me change my ways ;)

Which is why I’m so excited to share this tutorial with you today! I’m sure you’ve been there too—you have a fun idea for a wax seal stamp, but you don’t want to spend the money on this little idea… or wait for the production and delivery, for that matter! So what is a girl (or boy) to do? Follow this video tutorial to create your own wax seal stamp, of course! I’m not usually one for “crafts” like this, but again, if it has to do with wax seals? Then I’m all about it!

This tutorial is super easy to follow and really fun too! I lead a “workshop” or sorts a few months ago with about 30 women and we had a blast creating our unique stamps. My advice? Don’t get into your own head—this should be FUN! Don’t allow pressure to creep in and steal your joy :)

Okay, now that my little rant is done, let’s dive into the tutorial!

DIY Wax Seal Stamp Video Tutorial:

Supplies:

Sculpey Clay
Sealing Wax (haven’t used this, but it’s prime!)
A medal spoon and candle OR a hot glue gun to melt the wax
Carving tools:
- Sharp Pencils or pens
- Needles or a Safety Pin
- Pendents to create an impression

DIY Wax Seal Stamp Written Tutorial:

Shape the stamp:

Warm up the clay in your hands (I used about half a 1oz block) and then create the shape for your stamp. I did this by rolling the clay in-between my palms to create a ball, shaping it into a cyllandar and then pinching the top to create a handle of sorts. I recommend about a 1 - 1.5 inch diameter for the stamp itself. Too big and it’s more likely to break.

To keep the top of your stamp nice and smooth, simply tap it gently against the table.

Create the Impression:

Now for the fun part: designing your stamp! Using whatever tools are at your disposable, press into the clay in order to create the design for your stamp. I have found that pendants or embellished jewelry is a great option for creating a fun design and requires less “creativity” on your part ;) I used a pearl earring for the design in this video, but previously I preferred using a mechanical pencil for control when creating the thin lines in the stamp.

Don’t let this intimidate you—it’s just clay and if you “make a mistake” then you can always fix it by kneading the stamp and forming it again or covering the “mistake” with a little piece of clay.

Keep in mind!

Everything you carve into the stamp will be in reverse when you actually stamp the wax! So if you’re trying to create a monogram or date, make sure that you hold it up to a mirror to make sure it will stamp correctly before you cook it :)

Cook the stamp:

Check the instructions on your clay (should be on the packaging), but the sculpey clay that I used cooked in a 275 *F oven (130*C) for 15 minutes. I found that it was critical to cook for the full 15 min or else your stamp is more likely to break.

Don’t forget to allow your stamp to cool before you use it! It’s hard to wait that extra time, but your stamp will be so much stronger if you’re patient enough to wait for it (also, it would stink to burn your crafting fingers!)

Use your beautiful stamp!

After your stamp has cooled it’s time to make a seal—woo-hoo! You can either use a spoon and candle (tutorial here) or a glue gun (tutorial here) to melt your wax. This will probably take a little practice to find the right amount of wax for your particular stamp, so use a scrap piece of paper for your first attempt. After pouring your wax, carefully press the stamp into the wax while it is still hot and allow it to rest for a few minutes. I recommend waiting longer than you think you will need to —because the sculpey clay absorbs the heat rather than cooling the wax, it will take some time.

Time to remove the stamp? Give it a little push—if the wax seems to make a little lip right next to the stamp, then it’s not ready. If there is a small gap created between the wax and the stamp, then you know that it’s ready to be removed!

If you want something that will stand the test of time:

I recommend exploring Artisaire and their beautiful stamps for something that will last. I’ve worked with them for a few years now and their quality and customer service has been unmatched so far. I use them for all of my wax seal needs (except the occasional DIY, like this post showcases!) and really stand behind them.