I don't even remember how I got sucked into the wax seal wormhole. Nice video, I-ll have to check with my local post office since I guess they have very different mailing procedures.
It’s frustrating that it can’t be a “one size fits all” situation, but every other stationer I have talked to has a different system and sometimes it’s just whoever is at the front desk that day 🙄 I’ve had mostly good experiences but it’s always safest to ask!
My goodness I am so glad I saw this before preparing my mailers, because I would of been very disappointed if they were returned. I rather spend the little extra to avoid the cancel machine or cancel them myself, but I will check w/my PO before I do anything. Thank you for the info and guidance.
YAY! That’s exactly why I made this video-it’s so tricky and each PO is different but knowing some of the standard protocol beforehand can make your life so much easier! I don’t think twice about sending a letter with a wax seal now, but there are definitely steps that I take that are different than a “regular” letter
This is a wonderful and informative video! There is something I wanted to bring up since this video doesn't mention the topic I am going to ask about. When it comes to wax sealed envelopes, do you lick the adhesive/glue strip regardless of whether it has a wax seal or will the wax seal suffice to hold the envelope and its contents intact without worrying about anything being forced open during transit?
YES, you should always seal your envelopes-the wax seal doesn't prevent the envelope flap from lifting or the machine from catching on the "lip". A wax seal is an extra, not a replacement
Super informative! Thank you so much! Just wish I had seen this before i sent 10 handmade cards from US to UK with a wax seal. They weren’t thin either. 🤦🏽♀️
I did just want to expand a little bit on something she was saying about the non-machinable stamps, I send a lot of non-mustainable stamps and if you take non-machinable stamp and you just stick them into your mailbox, they'll still go through the machine and you will have just wasted money and possibly damaged your stationary. so when I send the non-machinables through my mailbox, I put a big red non-mesanable sticker onto the back of the envelope. But that'll make it ugly, though if you do the envelope in envelope method that's not a big deal. So I have had some luck putting on machinables in the mailbox and having them actually not get machine. Technically those non-machinable stamps if they're seen, they're supposed to get put into a different pile and that's why you pay a little more cuz somebody goes in hand cancelling them. I have noticed in the machine sent ones, that you don't see the cancel stamp as much anymore, I don't know if it's UV ink or they're just not putting it on, but in the past couple years or so I've seen less and less canceling stamps. Also, with particularly thick envelope in envelope letters, if it ends up getting stuck into the machine and that machine goes down, they will just tear your letter out of it just completely destroying it. So my point of all this is just to expand on what she said if you're going to pay the extra for a non-machinable stamp, and you have really nice stationery with pretty wax seals or tassels or twine or anything else like that on the envelope, take it into them and physically give them to somebody where they will be able to keep them from going through the machine. They have no problem doing it if you're willing to pay especially if like she said you're willing to hand canceled though I've never been asked to do that. I'm just in full disclosure I've never sent an envelope with a wax seal this is all just experience I've had on my own, I have since moved to having stamps.com and I send them a padded envelopes not in regular envelopes anymore. Which is another thought they have a stamp that cost a dollar it's for a slightly irregular or slightly thick sized envelope and it's under the same first class mail as the rest, but it's made for a small padded envelope. If you get that $1 stamp, you could also put that on. Anyway just wanted to expand on what she said she had a bunch of great advice so.
Thank you for this! I made my own wedding invitations with wax seals using hot glue. They traveled fine and I had no issues. Now I'm sending Christmas cards and doing it again but nervous lol!
Wow! I didn't even know about the machines, I think we don't have anything like that in my country, we don't have as much post here I guess. Either way I try to put the wax sealed envelope in another plain one. Another thing about the candle wax - it also tends to leave greasy spots depending on the wax.
Great videos! Do you have any recommendations for where to get old style wax that isn't as bendy as the modern, plasticized version we have today? Thank you!
I can’t speak to the rest of Letter Seals’ quality (if it bleeds or is oily) because I haven’t used this particular wax. I just stumbled upon it when researching and know they have the traditional style ☺️
You would need to ask at the post office. Some will have you hand cancel (stamp over the postage to cross it off) the postage yourself and others will do it for you for a fee.
Instead of using a "non machineable" stamp for postage, you can use 2 forever stamps. It's not really about the type of stamp, but rather you paid enough for the service you're wanting. I've done it several times with no problems.
Square envelopes have their own rules, so make sure you look those up for your area! Stamps can be purchased at USPS.com and I believe Stamps.com still sells stamps
@@katrinacrouch can we use the non machinable stamps for regular envelopes? I plan to get a wax seal stamp and some gold wax seal, so can I use it for sending regular mail.
I definitely press, but not hard. If you have the brass handle, it’s heavy enough to just “place” but the wooden handles need a little press (at least that’s what my mind assumes)
Have you ever sent the crayon hot glue method? I know you said you don't do the crayon method, but when you mix the crayon with the hot glue, and you use enough of the hot glue and just use the crayon to color it, it doesn't leave marks on anything and it seems to bend really well, so figured I'd ask!
I have not tried that yet. It has been requested so I will likely have that tested and up in the next month or two! My biggest problem is that both the crayons and hot glue are not my ideal consistency for a wax seal. Obviously the crayon breaks down (as designed) but the hot glue is also softer and bends/breaks more easily then I would prefer for sending in the mail. So I don’t imagine that the two together would suddenly make a magically-perfect consistency, if that makes sense! Hah But never say never! I’ll give it a try-any color requests when I perform the tests? 😉
I sent some wax sealed letters from England to the US and asked the Post Office worker here about paying a bit extra for a non-machinable process. He had no idea what I was talking about about. In fact he looked at me like I had 2 heads and asked why I need to even use a wax seal in the age of self-seal envelopes. 🤦🏽♀
I use a silicone mat and then place them aside once they cool and add these stickers to the back to adhere them to the envelopes: artisaire.com/products/adhesive-backings-50-pack?rfsn=6672964.29c0074
I was a wedding stationer for many years and sent many a wax sealed envelope through the mail! There are definitely more successful techniques than simply placing the seal on the envelope (I talk about that more in this video), but as far as I know, they are still allowed!
Oh dear… it might be okay though! These steps just increase security, so to speak. And postal workers are more and more familiar with wax seals, so hopefully someone noticed and saved it
Uhh, that's not a wax seal, that's a pretend decal. Like a clip-on tie. If you're not burning the wax, dripping it onto the envelope, and stamping it with your personal metal stamp, why bother?