I love the soft sheen that beeswax gives a junk journal cover, and after a lot of trial and error, perfected a technique that gives even coverage and protection but is also easy to use. Here’s how I add beeswax to my junk journal covers to protect them from moisture and handling.
Update, sorry, I forgot to add this kit is in the shop, as both a printable and finished journal.
Using Beeswax on Paper
Adding melted beeswax to paper gives it a unique and rich finish. The wax also forms a protective barrier. Once dried, water will just bead up on the surface and not damage the cover. You can also handle the journal without worrying about damaging it.
You can use melted beeswax on paper in a variety of ways. Use on small bits of ephemera or paper, on entire covers or on pages you want to have a unique finish.
Before you Begin Adding Beeswax to Paper
A few important things to know before you begin:
Beeswax increases transparency: Beeswax will penetrate the paper to a degree, so lighter pages may become translucent. If you use brown cardboard (the piece above is made from an Amazon box) then any white or light parts need to have a white base under the paper or the dark cardboard will show through.
I knew I wanted a beeswax finish for this, so I painted the cardboard white before adding the decorative paper. This prevented the brown from showing through and darkening the images.
Melted beeswax is hot. It can Burn you, so handle with care. Don’t leave it unattended in the microwave or the oven, etc.
Beeswax will alter the color of your cover. This is usually a good thing, as beeswax
naturally deepens or brightens colors, but you should be aware that a subtle color change will occur. Add wax to some scraps first to see how it impacts the colors before using on your project.
Wax will stick to the melting container. Use a recycled or dedicated container for melting. Once you melt wax in it, it won’t be easy to remove.
Waxed pieces won’t adhere with glue. You can stick smaller pieces onto your cover using wax as both the adhesive and the covering, but regular glue or tape will not work. If you just want to do smaller pieces to try the method out, scroll down for an excellent tuto from one of my favorite journal makers.
What kind of wax works on paper?
you’ll need 100% beeswax for this project, nota paraffin or soy, and not a melted candle. Beeswax comes in easy melt pellets or bars like the ones below. It can range from ivory to deep yellow. I usually prefer the pellets because they are so easy to work with. This time, though, the pellets I had were dark yellow, and I did not want to have a yellowed cover, so I went with a 1 ounce bar.
An ounce was enough to cover this journal, which holds signatures that are 5x8”.
Prepare the Cover
All parts should be glued in place and fully dry. Once the beeswax finish is on, most adhesives won’t stick, so add papers and embellishments now or plan on using more beeswax to adhere them later.
Melt the Wax
Chop the wax into smaller chunks if you’re using a bar. Pellets are already ideally sized for melting. Add to an oven or microwave safe container. I used a small canning jar. A few minutes in a 300 f oven or a blast in the microwave will melt the wax completely. It should be 100% liquid before you begin.
Brush on the Wax
Use a disposable brush to cover the piece with a thin coat of wax. It will dry almost instantly. It will also look terrible at this stage. Just cover everything as evenly as you can.
It will look awful when you’re done, but don’t panic. Just make sure everything is covered.
See, an uneven, dull covering at this point:
Put it in the oven. Really, bake it for a few minutes to even out the wax and liquify it, that’s how you get the satin smooth finish:) Heat the oven to 180f (82 c)
Use a cookie sheet dedicated to crafts and place the journal cover on it. It should be right side up and flat. Bake for 5 minutes, he cover will be shiny and smooth. Remove from the oven and let it cool. It will take about a minute.
Here is a little red cover, right from the oven:
Let it cool, then buff lightly with a soft cloth. Use for your journal:
Making Wax Coated Paper Pieces
Wax gives a lovely finish to regular copy paper and card stock too. Amazing papercrafter Mich Rauf shows an easy and clever way to achieve the wax finish on a smaller scale, using an ordinary tea light. Watch the fast and easy tutorial here and get inspired:
I love how her labels and words turned out, the texture is amazing! I recommend sewing these into place, as once they are waxed, glue and adhesives won’t work well.
What do you use to protect your covers? I’m always looking for new things to try!
I’ve linked a few other projects to try below, enjoy!
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