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Elegant & classy wax seal is a great way to make your letter/creation stand out. Here's how to make it [video]

The concept of using personal seals dates back to ancient Egypt, where seals were applied to documents using strips of material. Over the ages, seals have been composed of clay, bees wax, resin and more recently sealing wax.

Sealing an envelope with a wax seal is a great way to make your letter stand out from the rest as it adds a touch of elegance and class.

There are generally two methods to apply wax seals. In the first method, you can directly apply the melted wax to your document/envelope before applying the seal, as shown in the video below:

In the second method, you can choose to apply all your seals to non-stick craft paper (a.k.a. wax paper) first, as shown in the video below. After the seals hardens, peel off and apply to the original document or envelope with craft glue. This method ensures that every finished product has a perfect seal. We recommend practicing before applying your seals to your creations. 

The wax seal stamper should be oiled before each use. Baby, mineral & vegetable oil all work well.

   


Filed under  //   crafts   inspiration & tips   invitations   on the shelves   staff picks   stationery  
Posted September 5, 2010
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"One who folded 1,000 origami paper cranes would be granted a wish" - a true story

   

A 10 year old girl and 8 year old boy came to our store with their mother buying up so many of our origami paper set. The amount they purchased was a bit unusual, we thought, so we asked the children what they were going to use the origami paper set for. They told us that they were going to fold 1,000 paper cranes and they were serious about it. Wow! We were quite surprised to hear the answer, but sensing our bewilderment (did we say they were smart, too?) they offered up an explanation that they became truly inspired by the story they read from a children's book titled "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" written by Eleanor Coerr.

The book tells the true story of Sadako Sasaki. She was a Japanese girl who was only two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, near her home by Misasa Bridge in Hiroshima, Japan.

At the time of the explosion Sadako was at home, about one mile from Ground Zero. By November 1954, chicken pox had developed on her neck and behind her ears. Then in January 1955, purple spots had started to form on her legs. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with leukemia, which her mother referred to as "an atom bomb disease." She was hospitalized on February 21, 1955, and given, at the most, a year to live.

On August 3, 1955, Sadako's best friend Chizuko Hamamoto came to the hospital to visit and cut a golden piece of paper into a square and folded it into a paper crane. At first Sadako didn't understand why Chizuko was doing this but then Chizuko told her the story about the magic of paper cranes: that one who folded 1,000 cranes was granted a wish. Inspired by the story, she started folding them herself wishing for a cure. Despite her tenacity, she unfortunately fell short of her goal of folding 1,000 cranes, having folded only 644 before her death. Her friends eventually completed the 1,000 and buried them all with her. Sadako's famous writing on some of the paper crane was "I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world." Sadako has since become an enduring symbol of peace throughout the world.

Amazing story. No wonder the children were inspired.

Sadako Sasaki memorial in Hiroshima, Japan surrounded by paper cranes


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Posted August 9, 2010
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How to make an awesome paper flower pop-up. Very easy steps. Watch me...

All you need is paper, scissor and glue. Make it more interesting by using different coloured papers. Don't worry about screwing up. Just do it several times & you'll be amazed at your newfound ability :)


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Posted July 25, 2010
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How to make an amazing & beautiful paper gift topper that will leave a lasting impression with just 6 simple steps

                   

Use above photos & steps below to create the gift topper.

  1. Print out words and cut strips of paper.
  2. Use double sided tape to adhere the text to the paper strips.
  3. Using a craft knife, cut out the tops and sides of each letter. Don't cut out the bottom edges.
  4. Pop letters up from strip, folding along the bottom edge.
  5. Cut the strips at varying lengths and bend them into circles.
  6. Use double sided tape to attach completed circles.


Filed under  //   crafts   inspiration & tips   papers   presentation  
Posted July 21, 2010
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