A Sticky Situation

Let’s talk sticky stuff!

If you are new to crafting you might have questions about which type of adhesives to use.

I’d love to share some suggestions based on my experiences. Remember, these are just my opinions and are not Gospel 😉 However, opinion disputes are traditionally handled with leg wrestling so that’s cool.

There are three basic paper crafting adhesives that I use regularly. I use a liquid craft glue, a double-sided tape and a tape (or dot) runner. Yeah that sounds like overkill, but it’s how I roll.

First let’s talk liquid glue. A good liquid craft glue is going to be strong enough for heavy materials and it will also dry clear.

I haven’t tried them all, but they are all similar, I think. If you are looking to buy one, I recommend you try the Tombow Mono Multi glue, the Nuvo Delux, the Lawn Fawn glue or the Bearly Art craft glue. These will all be great for most situations.

I also highly recommend the Ranger Multi Media Matte glue. It is for mixed media projects. So it’s fabulous for paper to paper but also Perfect for other surfaces. I like to use it for adhering gems and other embellishments. Also, I use it on my cards for felt or even fabric. It’s a great tool to have.

You can also use a glue pen. The adhesive isn’t quite as strong but they still are great to have. I use mine on light weight paper and I love them. The two I use the most are the Zig Fine Tip and the Chisel Tip.

A lot of other glues will work too. but you’ll want to be cautious of glue that soaks into the paper and discolors or distorts it. You’ll also want to make sure it’s strong enough for your project. A glue stick or bottle of school glue will work for some things but the hold might not last.

A strong double sided tape is another great tool for paper crafting. I like to use this for the bigger stuff. I use it for card panels and card bases and also for foam panels. Because it’s a dry adhesive it works well for lighter weight paper and guarantees no warping.

The two tapes I use most are Scotch Double Sided tape and Score tape. Scotch tape can be found wherever tape is sold. So that’s convenient! The Score tape comes in a variety of sizes and is the stronger of the two It’s nice to have for things that are a heavier material. I really like to use it for my foam panels, but both are great!

Now let’s talk tape runners. Usually these are small, hand-held tape dispensers that paper crafters use. The tape comes in a strip form or a dot form.

The adhesive in a tape runner is generally not as strong as a liquid glue, or a double sided tape. But, they are a nice, easy way to adhere paper to paper. I have found that they are not all created equally. In my experience, you get what you pay for. The AdTech brand I picked up at Walmart gave me nothing but trouble. I won’t be buying that anymore. But I do really like the Tombow versions. They have a tape and a dot runner that have been very reliable. There are lots of good brands to choose from, and I think you’ll be glad you have one!

Okay, I know this got long, but just hang in there with me for one more topic! Let’s talk foam tape!

I love dimension on my cards. I use foam tape, foam squares, and fun foam sheets to make my cards stand out. I’m not worried about archival characteristics because my cards aren’t intended to last for generations 😉 I do have some favorite foam products but, there are lots out there. There is variation in foam thickness so if you plan to mix products on a project, just keep that in mind. I hope you give foam a try, I think you’ll love it!

Okay. That’s lots of good sticky stuff. Thanks for Sticking with me. Have a great day!

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