What You'll Need For The Project

Low Temp Glue Gun

The wax sticks need a low temperature glue gun. Be sure your gun specifies that it's low temp, or get this one that has both options for hot glue and wax. You'll need the high temp for using regular glue sticks to apply the seals to the cards.

Glue Gun Sealing Wax Sticks

These wax sticks come in an array of colors, but I went with Antique Gold for this project. *Note: You will also need regular hot glue sticks to secure the seals to your cards if you make your seals ahead of time.

Wreath Wax Seal

We got this wreath wax seal and it turned out perfectly. I also love this variety set for more botanical options. I set the stamp on a bag of ice in between stamps to cool the metal and help the process along.

Calligraphy Font

I found this calligraphy font download and thought it was such a beautiful script. I wanted something that looked as close to hand-written as I could find. This one is perfect for an array of events, but especially an elegant wedding. Printing this font on cardstock is simple after you install it to your font library. It's nice to have the font at your disposal, so you can create matching menu cards, seating charts, table numbers, invites, etc. I ended up creating table numbers with the leftover cardstock I had on hand. Here are the minimal acrylic card stands I used.

Textured Cardstock Paper

I used this cardstock paper to bring in some texture and add authenticity to the calligraphy on the name cards. I was able to print approximately eight names per sheet. This will depend on the size of the font you choose and the length of your names. You can get this paper by the sheet at your local craft store, but it can be expensive if you have a lot of name cards to print. Buying it online here is more cost effective if your event is larger.

12inch Paper Cutter

I used a paper cutter to easily cut my cards once I printed them. This one is more compact than your typical cutter, and it's easy to use. Be sure to leave enough room on the top of your cards for the wax seals!

Israeli Ruscus Leaves

You don't have to add the leaves to the cards, but I thought they were a nice touch and turned our beautifully. You can usually find these greenery stems at your local grocer. It took me a couple of trips, but I found them in bundles of three for $12 so I picked up a few of those. I only needed enough for sixty guests, so it wasn't a huge expense. If you are preparing for a larger event, you can find them in bulk here. You simply cut the leaves off at the base and they're ready for application! Be sure to get a few extra stems as some leaves might be damaged or the incorrect size. The leaves at the top were smaller and I wanted consistency. These leaves have a long vase life and stay fresh for days. You could easily assemble the cards a week prior to your event with this specific greenery.

The Process

No. 1 - Make the seals. I made all the seals prior to the event and stored them in a plastic bag for travel. The seal making process can be fairly time consuming, so you don't want to wait until the last minute to do this step. Release some of the wax from the gun to create a nickel sized circle onto your parchment paper. Place your stamp fairly centered on the wax. Let it sit until the wax easily releases from the stamp, or you can pop it off with ease. You don't have to be too accurate with this step. In fact, I enjoyed the ones that looked a bit more imperfect.

No. 2 - Print your place cards using your calligraphy font of choice. I used Microsoft Word and our home printer to complete this step. You can also take your paper and file to your local printing store. I split the page into two columns and spaced the names out so there would be enough room for my seals at the top. I recommend printing out a test sheet and cutting it after your seals are complete to make sure you left enough room.

No. 3 - When you're ready to assemble, cut the leaves from the stems. Put a dab of regular hot glue onto the cardstock place card. Ease the leaf into the glue and adjust placement to your liking. Add a bit more glue, then secure the wax seal, pressing down until it's in place.

voilà

If you have any other specific questions I didn't cover in the post, feel free to reach out to me in the comments below, or via DM on my Instagram page.