What Are The Best Adhesives?

I'm new to scrapbooking and haven't taken any classes, although I've had a little bit of assistance and advice from a friend to get me started. Basically, I'm winging it and learning on my own. One of the questions I have is with regard to adhesives. I've tried several different kinds so far, but I need to know what you experienced scrappers would recommend. I want to be sure to use one that will last permanently through the years.

Thank you in advance for your help!

The ATG is very popular and very good. I use it for the majority of my adhering.

However, there are some situations where another adhesive might be warranted - foam tape when you want to raise something up, glue dots for metal or heavy fabrics, adhesive squares when you want to be able to reposition something after setting it on the page, glue pens or a Xyron for small die-cuts.

Here's another vote for the Scotch ATG. I do use liquid glue ( Scotch Quick Dry adhesive) and foam pop dots/squares. You can always keep a roll of plain old double sided tape on hand but I don't think it's acid free.

ATG

Glue Dots

Martha Stewart Glue Pen

I recommend TomBow! Easy glide and perfect for the corners.

I use glue dots and my Xyron. Whatever you do, stay away from Scotch double-sided scrapbook tape. It's expensive, and even the "permanent" one doesn't stick. I made cards and some LOs with it, and they are falling apart.

I am looking for a good liquid glue. I haven't found one yet that I am happy with.

Your search for the perfect adhesives will probably be a long-term quest. Just try stuff out and see what works for you.

Kim

Another vote for ATG - I have one in my crop wagon to take to crops and one on my scrap desk to use at home. I only use the Acid Free adhesive with it.

Ocassionally I use the glue dots for heavier items or flowers and embellies and the Zig glue pen for Cricut letters.

I use the Xyron for Slice letters and other small items.

Welcome to the neighborhood! There are different adhesives used for different things.

For basic paper to paper, I've always loved the 3M tape runner, and still use it sometimes, but I took a Bazzill class and they gave us a free Marathon runner, which I now use most of the time.

Liquid glues I use are Diamond Glaze, Glossy Accents and Multi-Medium. I picked up a few Tombo Mono liquid glues at the Expo just to try them out. I like that it has 2 different applicator ends on the bottle.

Have fun and experiment to find which ones you like for the projects you're working on.

I thank you so much for all your suggestions, but I am a little confused now. I've been told by a couple people that you should use the double-sided tape for adhering most everything and to stay away from liquid glue because when it dries, it tends to crinkle up the paper or whatever you've used it on. But, I see from your responses that a lot of you use liquid glue. Is there one out there that doesn't cause the paper, etc. to crinkle? I guess the best thing is to just experiment myself with a lot of the different adhesives. My main concern is that 20 years from now, everything is still permanently attached to the page; that the adhesives have not worn away with time so that everything falls apart!

Zip Dry does NOT warp paper or photos.

I've never been a fan of liquid adhesives... just never can get it to look right, and always ends up very wet.

I love really any dot/tape runner. I was really hoping to get an ATG but when I went to the store to get it I couldn't believe how big it is!! It's not very heavy but I have some muscle weakness in my hands and it would be a bit too much for me to handle, I like the smaller runners that fit easily in the palm of my hand.

My favorite one right now is currently Elmer's Dot Runner, it's refills are not too expensive and it comes with an okay amount on it (better than what I have found with others). If anyone knows of a runner that has a lot of adhesive (I think the ones I'm using now only come with 25') but is smaller and fits in the palm of your hand please let me know!

The elmers one is also incredibly sticky, I don't think I have to worry about anything that I used that on coming off.

I also use glue sticks, especially for small letters and such that I've cut on my cameo.

Not a fan of liquid adhesives either - I just make a mess!

ATG is big but I like that because it means that I don't have to change the tape often. And its so much cheaper to use than anything else.

I can easily go through 5-6 of the small adhesive runners or more at a weekend crop. I only go through 2-3 rolls of ATG tape.

I only use creative memories tape runners. I have always used creative memories adhesives for all my scrapbooking and card making and sometimes it comes in handy for school projects. Check out my site there is a link there to help you purchase creative memories products. I also have tons of layouts there that may help you with ideas. If you have any other questions feel free to contact me I love helping people that are just starting out. http://www.scrappingwonders.info Beth

• jessalynn Said:

Try one of the Xyrons for small letters instead of a glue stick AND Bazzil Marathon runner has 100' of adhesive on the refill. It is a little bit bigger than the palm sized ones, but not by much.

I checked out the Bazzill runner, but it's kind of on the expensive side. My Elmer's refills are 2.34 at walmart and it comes with two refills each with like 26 feet of adhesive, so even though I am refilling it more it is actually cheaper than the Bazzill would be for 100 feet.

I've considered the xyron, especially the small one for letters, but can you see the adhesive? What I love about my letters cut with the cameo and glued down with a glue stick is that all that you see when looking at my layouts is the lettering, no adhesive, or sticker outlines. I've started flipping my titles before I send them to my cameo, so then I rub the stick glue on them and then lift them off the matt so it is pretty simple. Before I figured this out I was getting a bit annoyed trying to get glue on my letters with out getting it all over the place!

Xyron adhesive goes on the back of the letters - nothing on the front.

If you're seeing the adhesive, then something isn't right

I've never used glue sticks, but from what I've heard, they won't last long before things become unstuck.

yep, glue sticks don't generally last and depending on your climate, they could fail pretty quickly. If you're seeing the adhesive, you're using too much.

For what it's worth, if you use Zip Dry, you can simply rub off the extra adhesive if you happen to make a mess. It rubs right off when it's dry! The bond it makes with other items though.....it doesn't come unstuck. Pretty weird when you think about it, LOL! But it works!

I am looking for a good wet glue, and I think I might try Zip Dry. I have tried Mod Podge, Aleene's Tacky Glue, and Scotch liquid scrapbook glue. Not happy with any of them, so I went thru a phase where I would not buy more liquid glue. But i am ready to try again. I will try Zip Dry, Best Ever Glue, and Zig glue pens.

BTW: I found Aleene's Tacky Glue glue sticks at Tuesday Morning. Thought they would be good because of the name. But I was warned to not use even these!

I haven't tried Zip Dry, but I picked up a few of the Tombo Mono's (in the blue tube) at the Expo and so far, I like it.

I love that it has 2 different sized applicators-a pin point on the top, and a larger one on the bottom.

Tombo Mono's, huh? I'll have to check that out, too!

Something similar to this...it's very good.

So there is no adhesive that you can see when you use the xyron?

Nope, it is just like a sticker. The xyron converts what you put through it into a sticker. You can even put ribbon through it.

When it comes out of the xyron machine there is a film of plastic on top of it which you just peel away - it doesn't stick at all. The bottom of the letters have the adhesive so you just glue them down. It gives the most thorough and even coverage and doesn't show when used with velum.

I recently used it for 1/8" wide ribbon and it worked great. There is no other way I could have neatly adhered a 12" length of it.

To save money, tonight I went back to using Scotch double-sided tape instead of glue dots with everything. I just won't touch the Scotch wet scrapbook glue nor their double-sided special Scrapbook tape. Last summer, I made cards with the wet Scotch glue, and the bling that i adhered with it fell off a bunch of them! And, like i said, things that i have done with Scotch Scrapbook tape (which is really expensive) are falling apart. Major bummer!

Hope you find what works for you. I see that some people just aren't fans of wet glue. I may be one of them. I'm pretty happy with the tape, glue dots, and my little Xyron.

I was just thinking about this topic today!!! I don't like liquid glues but they seem to be a necessary EVIL for some of my projects!! So far I have tried three different brands and I'm not happy with any of them!!
But I absolutely love love love my ATG!! I'm so grateful to all the scrappers who suggested this to me(:

I never mastered using the ATG - I sold mine at an LSS garage sale! I'm too uncoordinated, I guess - everyone else seems to love them. I have a 5" Xyron and use Tombow runners. For liquid glue, I am absolutely in love with The Best Glue Ever that you get from Scraperfect. It has the teeniest little hole in the end so you can use just a minute amount - perfect for those darn Cricut font letters! And it never clogs. The cap has a little secondary cap glued inside that covers just the tip when it's closed.

I am with you with the liquid. I make a mess.. I do use in occasion but rarely. I love my ATG it lasts a long time. And I scrap alot. I do like my Xyrons. I have 3 different sizes. I love the X for small letters you can beat it. And if i have something with small designs it is hard to to ATG on it (bc sometimes it makes it tear) so I use my Xyron 5. And I use Glue Dot for buttons etc.
Good luck. It is a trial and error thing for each of us.

Well I got the small X xyron and and must say I really do like it great buy.

I used ScraPerfect's Best Glue Ever for most things - it doesn't warp paper and can be used on just about everything. Fabulous for ribbon.

If I'm working paper to paper I like the Scotch dot n roller because I'll often change my mind and move things around. It's easy to pull up and you can use a rubber eraser to remove adhesive on your paper (mostly without damage).

If it's on top (like filling a charm), then I'll use Glossy Accents. But I hate how the tip clogs up.

Zip Dry gives a good hold, but I can't stand the smell and I find I have to use a lot of glue.

What is the best adhesive to use with vellum? Would Zip Dry work?

I got a vellum adhesive for some eyebrow-raising price (not here) and it works great but I'm scared to use it because it was so expensive. Stupid eh?

I tend to stick only the parts of the vellum that are being covered up, so I can use normal adhesive. I'm afraid I've never used Zip-Dry, but any adhesive will work, it's just whether it shows through the vellum. The best thing is to try and see.

I've linked a few for you. I think it's the Scotch one that I've got.

I have really been enjoying using my Xyron sticker maker with my vellum. It's a trick I learned from Heidi Swapp and it works great - it adds an even coat that you cannot detect when you adhere it to your paper. BEtter than the vellum tapes or liquid adhesives I have used.

Gwynn... great reminder about using the Xyron.

I run the entire vellum through the Xyron. It changes the color ever so slightly but it is for the entire piece so yoiu can't tell. I have 5 Xyron machines of all sizes - even the big one from the 90's and they all still work! They are my go-to for adhesives. The little "X" is awesome for ribbon.

I love my xyron products. I just bought the scotch pink tag and I am learning how to use it as a lefty but the adhesion is good.