How To Seal An Envelope With A Glue Stick | Snappy Living

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Licking envelopes to seal them is not everybody’s idea of a great time. It’s unpleasant tasting and some people worry about what exactly they’re licking. There’s gotta be a better way, right?

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And that better way is to use a glue stick to seal an envelope. This way you don’t have to lick anything or worry about germs. It’s easy, quick, and not at all messy. But there is a trick to it. Well, a couple of tricks.

Just applying the glue and pressing down the flaps won’t always work. Sometimes the glue doesn’t really stick and the flaps come open a little while later.

But it’s soooo simple. Keep reading or scroll to the bottom to see how to do it right!

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Is anybody still using envelopes?

Yes, they are. Old-fashioned mail on paper in envelopes is still popular for invitations and thank you notes, even with people who pay all their bills online.

Businesses still love to put things in the mail, so you might find yourself using this trick at a job.

Greeting cards are also still popular. Even when you’re not going to mail them because you’re taking them to a party or delivering them with a gift, you might want to seal the envelope to draw out the suspense of the presentation.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Stop Junk Mail Forever

What about those squeeze bottle moisteners?

They do make little bottles with a sponge tip that you squeeze to put water on the envelope sticky stuff. But if you squeeze too much, you can get a large part of your envelope soaked. Too little, and it will be too dry to seal.

The glue stick method, if you do it correctly, works every single time. It just works.

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Materials

• Envelope
• Glue Stick

Tools

• Your hands!

Instructions

1. Open the flaps of the envelope. Pin
2. Run the glue stick over the gum on the envelope - just once. If you run it over and over, the glue turns into a gooey substance that won't dry quickly. That leads to not sticking.Pin
3. Fold the flap down into place, just like you would after licking it.Pin
4. Run your hands over the backside of the glue area several times, rapidly. This heats up the glue a little, making it extra sticky and helping it dry more quickly.Pin
5. Now it's sealed well and will stay sealed until someone opens it.

Notes

You don't need a special brand of glue stick. We used Elmer's disappearing purple Extra Strength, but we've also used the cheapest generic glue sticks we could find.

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How to Prevent Sticking and Smudges

If you’re sealing decorated envelopes or ones with printed addresses, it’s easy to smudge ink if it isn’t fully dry. Make sure any printing or hand lettering has had at least 20 to 30 minutes to dry, longer if you used gel pens or pigment ink.

When pressing the flap, try to keep your hands on the back side of the envelope instead of rubbing against the printed front.

Another tip: keep a clean scrap of paper handy and place it under your hand while you rub the flap. This reduces transfer of oils from fingers and keeps everything looking sharp.

If you’re sealing a bunch at once, lay finished envelopes flat and stack them in small piles with a book or a light weight on top. This keeps the flaps flat while the glue fully sets.

Avoid huge stacks – five to ten envelopes per stack is enough to keep them neat without crushing them.

RELATED: How to Make DIY PVA Glue (Elmer’s Glue Substitute)

Time-Saving Batch Sealing

When doing a lot of envelopes, set up a little assembly line. Start with a clean table, a glue stick, a soft cloth or paper towel, and a small weight (like a paperback book).

Swipe glue on three or four envelopes at a time, press and rub each flap, then slide them under the book in a staggered stack. Rotate through the batch. This streamlines the process and keeps the seal consistent.

If you want to speed-check for loose corners, flip each finished envelope and gently tap the flap edge with your fingernail. If you hear or feel a slight click or lift, give it another quick rub. It takes two seconds and saves headaches later.

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