Best glue for scrapbooking?

Hi People I'm new here and already loving looking through layouts and getting ideas. My scrapbook is going to be so much more creative from here on out

So here's my first official question on this site, I'm sure I'll have more!

What is the best adhesive or glue for scrapbooking? I have been using 3M spray glues for years but since I'm running out soon I thought I'd ask if that really is the best way to go. I find it's more permanent than stick glue and most of the time it's easy to apply. However it is messy b/c I have to have newspapers to spray on and make sure I don't get it anywhere else. Plus it gets on my fingers no matter how careful I am when picking up the photo to apply it.

I need an adhesive that works for papers and photos mostly. So what do you use? Any recommendations? Thanks!!!

EDITORS NOTE: There is a great article here on Scrapbook.com that talks in depth about this topic and which adhesives are best for certain projects etc. You can read it here.

I like the Herma adhesive tabs. Works great for putting photos on pages. For adhering things like chipboard, etc. and for altering things, I have just discovered Zip Dry. Love it! Doesn't wrinkle the paper as it dries.

Thanks! I will look into those. I like that this forum let's you link products, it makes it so much easier to know what you are talking about.

I can't scrap without my atg gun. Only way to go; easy to use even for my arthritic hands and way more economical. I like Zip Dry but find Beacon's 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue to work as well and is cheaper. I keep an extra bottle in my stash.

Thanks! So are these options you guys are providing permanent? And will they stick to anything such as patterned paper?

I'm just thinking of the current page I made where the paper actually had a design that sticks up a bit, and after spray glueing I really had to hold the photos down on the paper for a long time to make sure they stayed.

My current scrapbook doesn't use page protectors so I like to make sure to get something very very strong.

I use a ton of Zip Dry! It's permanent and super strong. It doesn't warp paper or photos like many liquid glues do. I scrap with a lot of dimension as well, so I gotta have my foam dots.

Thanks. I like the idea of the liquid b/c I always felt like the Spray Glue I used was more permanent than tape-like glues. But I've never used the ones listed in this thread! I might try the zip dry first b/c it's cheaper

I love the kukoyo adhesive but that was discontinued but I also use Glossy accents from Ranger!!! it dries super fast and it doesn't warp your paper if you use a little!!!!


I own the following products plus more I couldn't find at the Superstore!!!!! Good Luck!!!

Adhesives...there are so many choices out there! I love glue dots for heavier applications. I have tried several types and use different ones for different applications. Sorry...not much help here!

absolutely my first fav is the ATG 714 gun,,,,and the 1/4 inch tape that goes with it,,,,it's about as sticky as you can get, definately permanent, and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. However, for a newbie, it's a bit pricy to start out with,,,,the gun will cost anywhere from 40-80 dollars or so, PLUS the refill tapes you need to buy,,,,,,,,but IMHO, it is WELL worth the investment for a scrapper. Almost every single person I know has loved it,,,,,even the ones who held out forever on buying it,,,,,,,,I know of one person who just felt it was too big to handle,,,,,,

my 8 year old grandson scraps with one and won't use anything else,,,,,,,,AND he can load it himself. So its really not that tough, just a personal choice.

Barring that, or if you don't want to (or can't) lay out that kind of money, my second fav, getting very very close to my first fav, is the already mentioned Zip-Dry glue,,,,,,,it lasts forever, costs about 5 bucks give or take a buck, can get it either here or at J's or M's, and you can use a coupon for it,,,,,,and it does NOT wrinkle paper,,,,,,,

some of the best stuff I've ever used,,,,,

I prefer Xyron and Glue Dots.

Zip dry is great but recently I found Beacon's 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue and I like it better - mostly because you get twice as much as the Zip Dry for half the cost.

thanks for all the suggestions. I searched this forum and found that others have asked about this before so I guess I should have searched first! I hope you didn't mind repeating yourself

I think I'll stick to the cheaper options for now. That Beacon's and Zip-Dry might be the first I try. All those glue dots and other things sound cool too! I never knew there was so much out there! I think the cheaper options are more for me b/c then I can buy a whole variety of cheaper adhesives for different needs.

you know what they say about adhesive,,,,,

2 scrappers,,,,,,3 opinions

PS,,,,it's almost as bad as asking about trimmers

Right now I'm loving Zots glue dots. But I go through them too fast. Also love my sticker maker.
Usually use a plain old glue stick.

Ok so I had no idea what you guys were talking about when people mentioned "warping" the paper.

Well last night, with none of my usual adhesive left, I reallllly wanted to put together a page I'd been waiting to finish. I figured I could use the tacky glue I had bought to glue some cardboard together. The tacky glue worked great on my cardboard but when it came to my scrapbook it didn't! Well... now I know what warping means! This stuff definitely caused it to warp. Luckily it did not warp too much and I think once it's in my book people won't even notice.

I'm going to have to buy my new glue right away so I can get back to work on my book! Now I'm in a standstill.

I love Aleene's Tacky Glue, Glue dots, my xyron X, Zig 2 way glue pen, and tape runners!!

I always use Duncan Enterprises - Original Tacky Glue.
It holds everything!

For photos and paper I like the re-positional adhesive by either 3L or Herma. I change my mind a lot and it lets you move stuff around, but it becomes permanent later. (i haven't had any problems). For heavier things i use Glue Dots. and I LOVE Zip Dry for covering chipboard.

So those are my main adhesives. I can't scrap without them!

Well I just ordered the Zip Dry and some Glue dots to start. I'm going to keep this thread bookmarked and try something new whenever I run out (unless of course I fall in love!)

pharmgirl, that is one thing I don't do is change my mind after gluing I usually design the whole page sans-glue and then pull the glue out when I'm 100% sure of what I want.

Thanks so much!!

I wanted to come back and let you all know that the zip dry and glue dots are both working great. It is funny b/c the glue dots do not appear like they will work, but once I got things stuck together they stayed stuck! I even used them to hold on my wedding necklace to my scrapbook page and was surprised it isn't falling off

The zip dry probably won't last me as long as all of you say your's does. Perhaps I use too much But I like to be extra sure my stuff stays stuck. It's certainly easy to use! I like that it's kind of like rubber cement and can be wiped off of things if I mess up.

Those glues and dots are great!!!!! :-) Have fun!!