My Favorite Adhesives
Love paper crafts? Me too! I don’t know how many times I’ve shared this information over the years as I’ve been asked, but it’s time I put my favorite adhesives in a blog post so it’s easy to reference.
I don’t have a single favorite adhesive, but I do have several that I like a lot and sometimes use in combination with each other. (See my comments in the Liquid Glue section.)
Note: I’m including links for you so you can find these items at Amazon.com or at ScrapbookPal.com. The latter is generally cheaper than Amazon, and you get free shipping for orders over $25 in 48 U.S. states. These are affiliate links and are here for your convenience, but if you have a craft store like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby or JoAnn’s where you can use a big coupon on the same item, then by all means, use a coupon! 🙂
For flat layers (cards, scrapbook pages, school projects):
Scotch ATG gun. It took me a while to get this tool because it looks ridiculously huge when working with small elements, but if you go through a lot of smaller adhesive tape runners, you will love this! It lasts a long time between refills and has a strong, instant hold. I have to watch YouTube tutorials every time I have to refill it, and there is the risk of getting a “backwards” roll, but for me, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Get the acid-free version if using in scrapbooks.
Scor-Tape or Scrappy Tape. Not as convenient as a tape runner, but these rolls of double-sided adhesive have a very strong, instant hold. They also come in several widths, so I have rolls in 3/8″, 1/4″, and 1/8″ and find uses for them all. There is no applicator, so you just tear off the length you need, place it on your project, and peel away the backing to expose the second side of the adhesive. Both are acid free and safe for scrapbooks.
For pop-up, dimensional layers (card embellishments, etc.):
I use any brand of foam tabs. They all work about the same and are permanent. I like having both the 1/4″ and 1/2″ sizes.
For paper flowers:
Hot glue gun. You can opt to use a liquid glue or glue dots on 3D flowers, but I prefer to use a low-temperature hot glue gun. The low-temp glue gun helps prevent burns from the occasional oozing of the glue when pressing pieces together. I’ve recently discovered these extra long glue rolls that last so much longer than the mini sticks. I tried a cordless brand of glue gun but the batteries just don’t last long enough, so I prefer a corded glue gun.
Liquid glue for 3D crafts:
I find that some of my 3D paper crafts with glue tabs, like boxes, tend to come apart later due to the forces pulling against the adhesive. My best solution to combat that is to use a combination of liquid glue for a lasting bond and a dry adhesive for instant hold.
Put a strip of dry adhesive on the glue tab (see links for Scrappy Tape or ATG gun above), then a few dots of liquid glue on areas not covered with the adhesive strip. I don’t have to hold the piece by hand while the liquid glue dries; the adhesive strip does that work for me.
PPA glue or Scotch tacky glue work great for lasting hold, once the glue dries. If you use small amounts, you can avoid most warping that tends to happen with liquid glues.
This precision-tip glue-applicator bottle is what I use to hold either PPA or Scotch liquid glue. While I’m working with it, I keep the cap off and have it inverted in a small bowl lined with a wet paper towel, and that keeps the tip moist so it doesn’t clog. When I’m done working, I put the cap back on and leave it stored upside-down in the bowl.
Zip Dry is another liquid adhesive I like to have on hand. It dries quickly without warping paper, and any “oozing” can be easily rubbed away. I’ve been using the Zip Dry Minis because the large bottle tends to clog on me, and I like them a lot. Very portable, too.
Finally, another liquid adhesive I like and some crafters swear by is Tombow Mono Multi adhesive. This one has a broad tip or fine tip, and I like to grab this for the broad tip when I need a lot of liquid glue at once. The only thing I don’t like about it is the glue stays tacky when dry, so little exposed bits of glue are more noticeable. But that tacky-when-dry is an intended feature if you need a removable adhesive.
What are your favorite adhesives?
This is a whole lot of great information and tips.
Thank you for sharing this.
There are so many products available that sometimes it is hard to decide what to buy. I use a lot of the ones you have listed above.
Glad I could help, Lora! 🙂
OMGosh, I LOVE Zipdry!!! I don’t know why you don’t see it in more Youtube videos. Ranger’s Multi Matte Medium is great… when the bottle isn’t clogged. One product I think is a must have is Stick It. Its a really thin, double sided adhesive great for the Silhouette or manual die cuts. Just peel and stick your intricate die cuts!!! Of course there is the Silhouette double sided adhesive, great for adding flock, glitter, etc. I also like glue pens from Nuvo and Zig for adding title and sentiments to projects or stamping with and foiling, and the Sakura Quickie glue pen for really small details, like tracing lines and adding glitter to the glue. A couple others I don’t use frequently but couldn’t live without… E6000 for those situations where it MUST hold; its like a cold hot glue 🙂 And Aleene’s Tack it Over and Over; I use this to mount unmounted rubber stamps to an acrylic block or stamp positioner. Otherwise your favorites were all my favs too!!! Now we just need a good vellum adhesive!
Thanks for all the input, Karen! I haven’t tried Stick It, but I’ve heard it recommended from other friends, too. I have both E6000 and Aleene’s Tack it Over and Over but don’t use them much. I’m glad I’m not the only one who uses a lot of different adhesives for various applications. 🙂