Sticky Business: An Adhesive Overview

We all have it, we all need it, and there are more varieties of it on the market than nearly any other scrapbook supply. What is it? Adhesive of course! If you are like me you have a small arsenal of sticky substances. Tabs, liquid glue, spray glue... you name it and I've got it.

All-Purpose Adhesives

For all-purpose use the most popular adhesives on the market are double-sided sticky tabs, often called photo splits. There are numerous manufacturers for this type of adhesive. Tabs can be purchased in a peel-and-stick variety with waxed papers on the back. These are great for occasional use and they are quite inexpensive, averaging $1.99 a box for the 3L variety. The downside to this type of adhesive is the abundance of small waxed papers that litter your scrapbook area. Your other option for double-sided tabs are those sold in a dispenser, such as Hermafix Vario Tabs. These tabs are nearly double the price of the peel-and-stick variety, but you'll get 1000 tabs in each refill compared to the 250 to 500 pieces that are available in the photo split packages, so after the initial purchase of the dispenser, you may find it to be cheaper in the long run.

Tape runners, such as the Tombow Permanent Mono Adhesive or the Xyron Solutions Adhesive Runner are another very popular choice for general paper crafting. These dispense a solid strip of sticky adhesive or a strip of tiny, sticky dots from a refillable dispenser. The refills for this type of adhesive range in price from $3.99 to $4.50.

Glue sticks are another inexpensive option for paper and photographs and are available in multiple sizes. Be sure to check for acid-free glue sticks, as not all are created with scrapbooking and photographs in mind.

Large-Surface Adhesion

For large-surface adhesion your best options are spray glues and Xyron adhesive machines. My preferred method for ease of use and cleanup is the Xyron. Xyron has made their patented machine in numerous sizes, but the technology for all sizes is the same. You insert the item you want to adhere and either pull it out the backside of the machine or use the handle to roll it through. There are many popular sizes of Xyron machines, starting with the small, brightly-colored X machine that can be used for items like die-cut letters and small chipboard shapes and going all the way up to a 12-inch wide, large-format machine. The Xyron machine and refills are readily available in most craft and scrapbook stores. The only downside I see to the larger Xyron machines are storing them, as they are large and fairly bulky.

Spray glues are inexpensive and readily available. You do need to be careful when choosing a spray glue. Read your labels fully and make sure you are getting an acid-free, photo-safe variety. Spray glue has been on the market longer than scrapbooking-specific glues have, so don't assume all spray glues are safe. There are some very noxious industrial-strength glues on the market that are not intended for crafting. Even with low-odor spray glues you'll need to make sure you use them in a well-ventilated area, away from other papers and supplies that might get tacky from the cast-off. When using spray glue I place my item inside a cardboard box and spray well away from anything that might be ruined by getting sticky. I use spray glue for hard-to-adhere items, such as thick, handmade papers or embellishments to add to metal buckets. A thin, even coating will give you the best results.

Specialty Glues

Liquid glues are another option. I tend to avoid them for paper gluing because if applied incorrectly or with too heavy a hand your paper can warp due to the water content. Liquid glues, such as book-binding glue, Mod Podge, and Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, do have their uses though. Lumpy embellishments, ribbons, glitter, etc. are all adhered quite well with a little liquid glue. One thing to keep in mind when choosing liquid glue is that there is a difference between liquid adhesive and liquid glaze. A glaze, such as Aleene's Liquid Glaze, is primarily for adding dimension and shine. It's applied over an item to give it a shiny coating. It is not the type of product you want to use to adhere accents to your project.

Dimensional Adhesives

For adding dimension or height to your project you might look at 3D adhesives, such as glue dots or foam mounting squares. Made by numerous manufacturers, these dimensional adhesives are tacky on both sides and are most effectively used to adhere light-weight items. Glue dots tend to be stickier than foam mounting squares, so they may be a better option for metal embellishments or those with a more uneven surface. Glue dots come on a wax paper background, and are sold in a roll. Foam mounting squares come in sheets. There are several sizes of both varieties available.

Temporary Adhesives

The last adhesive category that is frequently used are the temporary or repositionable adhesives. These are usually in tape runner form as well. They are most often small dots of adhesive, just sticky enough to hold your items together, but not sticky enough to be permanent. Xyron, Tombow, and Hermafix all sell popular varieties of temporary adhesive. This product is best used during the assembly of your layout when you are not sure of photo or embellishment placement. You can tack things into place, step back and study the layout, or even leave it overnight, and then come back and move elements around until you are satisfied with them. This is also a great option for memo boards or any other location where you don't want the items permanently attached.

There really are numerous ways to adhere your items to your layouts and altered projects. The key is finding the best adhesive for each project so that the layouts and items you spent all that time creating will last for years to come. With a little forethought and planning you can alleviate stress and disappointment. I really think that there is a fine art to choosing the correct adhesive for every application. Like the saying goes, "There's a proper tool for every job." The same thinking can be applied to choosing and using adhesive when creating a layout or altered item.