How to Make a Name Seal

People have used name seals for centuries to seal correspondence. You can continue with the tradition and create your own seal by carving limestone or by making your own customized rubber stamps. Use your seal to embellish letters, cards and gifts easily and elegantly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Limestone rock
• Drill press with a grinding wheel attached
• Pencil
• Dremel with chisel bit
• Craft clay or Playdoh
• Rubber stamp making kit
• Pencil
• Computer and printer (optional)
• Ink
• Paper

Make a Name Seal by Carving Limestone

1. Choose a limestone rock long enough that it fits in your hand, with a semi flat area large enough to create the seal design you want.
2. Grind the base of the limestone using a grinding wheel that's attached to a drill press. You want to create a flat and smooth surface.
3. Draw a mirror image of what you want your seal design to look like. For example if you wanted a "B," draw it backwards so when you press the seal into the wax pressed it creates a "B."
4. Carve away the limestone outside of the lines using a Dremel and a chisel bit.
5. Use crafting clay or even Playdoh to test the seal. Once you are satisfied with your seal, you can begin to use it with sealing wax.

Make a Name Seal Using Rubber Stamps

6. Purchase a rubber stamp making kit from an arts and craft supply store. A set normally includes a few thick pieces of rubber material and carving instruments.
7. Decide on a design. For beginners, a simple design or initial creates a nice seal.
8. Reverse the image and copy onto the rubber material. You can either draw a mirror image of what you want directly onto the rubber or you can use your computer to design and print a design. To copy a printed image to the rubber, color in the image you've selected with pencil. You can then rub the pencil markings onto the rubber using a flat object such as a bone folder or even your fingernail--just be careful not to rip the paper.
9. Begin carving the outline of the image. Use different carving tips as necessary for large and small cuts.
10. Ink and stamp the image onto paper every so often to determine if you have carved enough rubber away to make the image clear. Once you're satisfied with the image, clean the stamp with soap and water and decide if you want to mount your seal or leave it unmounted.
11. Branch out into more intricate designs and larger carvings to make additional seals as your carving skills improve