To seal, or not to seal...

The most common crafting question that surfaces is to seal, or not to seal.  Questions like should I seal, what sealant should I use, or is sealing even necessary...

There are some materials that you want to seal.  If you're working with delicate materials like card stock or foil, sealing is a good idea because it will preserve the topper and prevent scratching or dings.  Sealing fabric can be a good choice as well to prevent the fabric from staining.  There are lots of methods, so let's go over them together.

The MOST IMPORTANT STEP is to ALWAYS TEST the material you're going to seal with the product you're sealing with.  Some sealants will pull away color or even dissolve the surface, so taking the time to test is certainly a good choice.  

RESIN:  Resin scares some, but don't let it intimidate you.  The process has become so much easier and there are one step resins that are fool proof.  When using resin, you must have a UV lamp.  They're inexpensive and easy to use, but when selecting your UV lamp be sure to get a higher wattage so the process goes faster.  

NAIL GEL:  Nail gel is an awesome choice for beginners.  If you can polish your nails, you're good to go!  The cool part about nail gel is it comes in two finishes.  Matte and high gloss.  Once your topper is ready to seal, brush a thin coat and slide it under your UV lamp and you're done. 

MOD PODGE:  Mod Podge comes in lots of finishes.  It behaves like Elmers Glue because it starts white and opaque and dries clear.  You can add glitter or tiny stickers to it before it dries without too much work.

MOD PODGE SPRAY:  Mod Podge Spray is a fast way to seal with a glossy finish.  This is best used on card stock and fabric.  Mod Podge Spray is NOT RECOMMENDED for FOIL TRANSFERS or anything IRIDESCENT or HOLOGRAPHIC.  It has a very high acetone level and will pull all the color out of some materials, so be sure to test.  

POLYURETHANE:  Polyurethane is a great choice if you're sealing flexible wood and have finished it in its natural state over stain or a paint wash.  It will seal the stain or paint and bring life to the topper.  

CLEAR SPRAY PAINT:  Using spray paint is a quick way to seal but again, test your material because it contains a high acetone level and in some cases will strip the color or finish from your material.  The benefits of using spray paint is it is available in both matte and glossy and dries quickly.  

Here are links to some of the products mentioned in this post:

LET'S RESIN offers a one step no mix product that's easy to use!

UV LIGHTS come in all wattage and styles.

NAIL GEL bundles of both matte and glossy.

NAIL GEL & UV LIGHT BUNDLES are priced so affordably.  

MOD PODGE is available in multiple finishes.

MOD PODGE SPRAY ACRYLIC is easy to use

POLYURETHANE is available in multiple finishes

CLEAR SPRAY PAINT is available in multiple finishes