A guide to glues and all things sticky.

As Papercrafters and Scrapbookers one of the essential items in our creative toolbox and the one thing that no crafter can possibly live without is glue.   It may not always end up where it should… sometimes attaching itself to our hair and clothes,  not to mention the soft furnishing around us (well that’s if you are a messy crafter like me…lol) but all things sticky are a must in this creative world of ours.   I have a box dedicated to the stuff,  being addicted as much to owning every sticky products available as I am to hoarding my stash.

There are soooo many glues and sticky items available for us crafters that we could go on buying them forever,  so here is a little guide to some of the most popular ones and their uses.

Glue sticks    One of the first items a crafter usually buys.  Quick and easy to use and available in different sizes.  Ideal for using on paper, card and photographs.   Using  a glue  stick allows you to cover a large area in a short time and gives you a little bit of time to align your papers and/or cardstock before it dries completely.

PVA glue     Another crafters’ favourite because it has so many uses,  a wet glue that can be diluted in strength to suit the project.  Apart from the obvious sticking properties, it can be used as a protective coating on artwork,  be mixed with poster paints to produce coloured glues for projects.  Use it as a decorative feature in your crafting by writing and drawing with it from nozzle, creating a raised effect when the glue is dry.

Glue dots      These are available is many sizes  and are a crafters’ quick fix,  they usually adhere instantly,  however repositionable glue dots are available.   Fantastic for attaching 3d embellishments and as they come in different sizes they have a multitude of uses from matting and layering to using in decoupage.

Double sided tapes     Available in a variety of widths and as normal or fingerlift tapes they usually have strong sticking properties.  Difficult to move when attached to your projects though,   so more care is needed during placement.    Use to matt and layer your paper projects, to add your papers to candles, tins and other  items where a strong bond is required.  Use double sided tapes to created embellishments too by adding strips to your projects and adding glitter, sand and micro beads to them.

Glue pens     These are available with different nib sizes, are easy to use and are brilliant for matting and layering on your cards and scrapbooks, though best not used on your photographs, just on cardstock and paper.   Draw and write with them and add embossing powders for a raised effect.

3d Foam pads and tapes     Mostly used for adding depth to projects and embellishments and again available in a variety of sizes, they consist of a layer of foam which is sticky on both sides.  The smaller size 3d foam pads are commonly used in decoupage.  You can also use them in a decorative manner by applying to your project as they are and after removing the protective layer to expose the sticky part of the pad, add glitters and sand as with DS tape to create your own 3d accents.

Silicone glue     Commonly used in decoupage for creating a 3d effect, this glue is slow drying which makes it easy to move your pieces around and take your time to perfect the  placement of your image.   It can be also be used for stained glass and mosaic.  However you should always take extra care when using silicone glue and use in a well ventilated area and wash your hands well after using it.

Dimensional glaze     This is a clear drying glue and is ideal for use on project where it would be possible for normal glue to be seen and spoil the effect of your creating.  Use it to attach glass pebbles and also add 3d clear droplets of the glaze to your project for spectacular effects.  It can be mixed with water based paints to create tinted glaze and can be used clear or tinted,  as a varnish to add a hardwearing shiny finish to book covers, stamped art etc.

This is just a small amount of the glues and sticky items available today so feel free to add to this list and also tell us of different uses you have devised for your glues and sticky stuffs… as crafters we are clever at finding other uses for the most commonly used and basic supplies and I’m sure that many of you will have some fantastic ideas for using glues in unusual ways that your could share with us.

Happy Crafting

Chris xx