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Adhesive Overview: Liquid Glues
by Tiffany Roberts
(Aug 21, 2007)
I think the least understood and misused adhesives are those in liquid form. There are a few different varieties on the market, and I think there is some basic confusion on the appropriate use and application method for liquid glues. I hope to clear up some of the misconceptions, discuss the different varieties, and give some tips and tricks for using liquid glues in your altered art, scrapbook, and stamping projects. Most adhesive manufacturers now carry some form of liquid glue. It's generally inexpensive, and if used properly will last you a very long time, so it's a very economical tool. Tips The general rule for any liquid glue is to use a light touch. Because they are water-based, overuse will cause warping of paper. Long drying times are another common problem. Both issues are easily resolved by drastically cutting down the amount of adhesive used. For a full-coverage application I suggest using an inexpensive paint brush, not a foam brush. Squirt your liquid glue onto a paper plate, dip your brush, and then apply a very thin layer. If your liquid glue has a fine-point applicator tip then gentle pressure will result in an even, thin line that can be placed in narrow areas, along the border of your embellishment, or in small sections where you may want glitters or micro-beads as an accent. Take advantage of this fine point and use liquid glues to tack down those pesky ribbon ends, or to add a few small beads here and there as desired. If your liquid glue doesn't come with this type of tip, don't worry. You can simply dip either a cotton swab or a toothpick into the glue and apply it in those tiny areas. Memory Mount
It's also not going to be a good choice for any project you need to dry quickly. In fact slow drying time is the only major downside to this adhesive. However if you can give your project 24 hours to dry you'll be amazed at the strong bond this adhesive has, especially for those hard-to-adhere items. At under $4.00 per 4 fl. ounce bottle this adhesive will last you a good long time. Memory Bond Another favorite of mine is manufactured by Elmer's Glue, called Elmer's Craft Bond Memory Pen. This adhesive will cost an average of $2.50 to $3.00 and has a fine-tip end for easy application. It dries clear, and offers a sufficient bond to hold paper, photos, light memorabilia or accents. It's a quick-drying glue as well. This product is fairly inexpensive and is one that I keep on hand at all times. It's great for adding fine lines of glitter or beads to a project. I also like that it doesn't dry with a high-gloss sheen, so if I get it on my project where I didn't intend to it is not overly noticeable. Tombow If you would like liquid glue that is both permanent and temporary I suggest giving the Tombow Multi Liquid Glue a try. Zig 2 Way Pen EK Success has had a long-standing best seller, when it comes to liquid glue pens. Their Zig 2 Way Memory Glue Pen is just that, a pen. It looks and handles like a jumbo ballpoint pen. I like that the glue is milky blue-white when it comes out of the dispenser, but it dries nice and clear. I would consider this one of the lightest-bond liquid glues on the market. It's great for very fine line work, and it dries quickly. However, it's not appropriate for use with felt, cloth, or anything with any bulk such as buttons or metal accents. It is labeled as two-way glue, but I've found that it works primarily as a permanent adhesive, and is not overly successful as temporary glue.  Zig has a second glue pen with a broad felt applicator that can be used for lightweight ribbons, paper accents, and paper piecing projects. However, the glue isn't any different than in the original pen, so even though you can apply a wider path of adhesive you don't increase the strength of the bond any. Sailor A direct competitor to the Zig Glue Pen is a smaller version made by Sailor. This is the size and shape of your average ballpoint pen. The glue is lightweight, and very similar to the Zig version. However this glue pen costs under $3.00 and does not come with a thicker applicator like the Zig pen. This glue will be permanent if two items are adhered together while the glue is wet. However, if you wait until the item airdries you'll get a tacky, repositionable type of glue. Be warned however that this glue only remains tacky for a short time. The repositionable qualities quickly seem to wear off, and a second application only makes your project a sticky mess.  Wackytac Fairly recently K&Co. came out with a repositionable liquid glue, called Wackytac Liquid Sticky Note. It is not meant for permanent application, but rather to create a temporary sticky backing, similar to a Post-it note. It is a very good quality glue, and not overly expensive. This is a great option if you like to move and shuffle pieces around before you stick them down permanently, or if you like to sew your accents on. It's just strong enough to keep your layers from shifting while you sew. A two ounce bottle of Wackytac will cost on average $4.99 either online or in a brick and mortar store. Aleene's Duncan's Enterprises, more commonly known as Aleene's, is an industry leader when it comes to adhesives. They've got the market covered with liquid glues for every application you can think of. From flexible fabric glues to high-gloss paper glaze, if you can come up with a unique application you can find an Aleene's product to use. A couple of my favorites are the Memory Glue, the Original Tacky Glue, and the Paper Glaze. Each one has its own specific uses. The Memory Glue is acid-free and archival in nature. It's wonderful for paper-to-paper adhesion, and dries in a moderate amount of time. The Original Tacky Glue is an old standby for many crafters. It's wonderful for fabrics, ribbons, beads and buttons. It dries nice and clear and is very reasonably priced. This water-based classic will cost approximately $3.99 for a large 8 ounce bottle. My newer find, and one that I'm enjoying quite a bit is the Aleene's Paper Glaze. This product is fun, but it's a little on the expensive side. A 2 ounce bottle will cost nearly $6.00 at most retailers. On the plus side however, you have to use very little to achieve a high-gloss finish. This product is not overly sticky, and it's not appropriate for adhering items into your album, but you can tint it with acrylic paints for a unique look, and you can create wonderful dimension and drama by adding this product to flower centers, accents or title letters, or as a high gloss border. This product comes with a long, narrow applicator tip to allow for detailed work.  Making Memories If you are looking for a strong bond adhesive for metal or plastics I suggest you take a look at the liquid glues offered by Making Memories. Each of these varieties will cost you around $3.00 and they are easy to find online or in your large chain stores. Many smaller scrapbook stores may carry them as well since Making Memories is a leading scrapbook manufacturer. Mod Podge The last liquid glue I would like to discuss is very popular for altered art projects. Mod Podge, by Plaid Enterprises, is a staple for many artists. I think this adhesive is very versatile, but also frequently misunderstood. Many projects are ruined by bubbles or warped papers because the artist didn't follow the golden rule of applying lots of thin layers. If you apply Mod Podge too thickly it takes a very long time to dry, it causes wrinkles and bubbles in the piece, and you can get a streaky look. It's best to apply very thin layers and to allow each layer to dry thoroughly between each coat. The key to using Mod Podge successfully is to have patience. I love that Plaid came out with Mod Podge in both matte and glossy finishes, as well as sparkle and a special formula made just for paper-to-paper contact. Prices for Mod Podge range between $4.50 for an 8 ounce jar to $7.50 for the jumbo 16 ounce jar. The Sparkle and the Paper varieties may be slightly more depending on your location and availability. So what have we learned? Hopefully you'll always remember the golden rule of applying thin layers and using a light touch. I think if you give liquid glues a try you'll be pleasantly surprised as how versatile, economical, and easy to use they are. It's definitely a tool you'll find yourself using over and over once you've gotten the hang of it.  Shop at the Scrapbook.com Superstore for all your Scrapbooking Supplies!Enjoy 5-Star service, HUGE selection and LOW prices! Click here to start shopping! Featured Scrapbooking Supplies (from Scrapbook.com):
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There are a few quality liquid glues on the market I find myself reaching for over and over. My primary liquid adhesive is made by Crafter's Pick and it's called 
This two-sided glue pen has both a narrow pen tip and a broad tip for multiple application options. You can apply the glue directly to your item and immediately adhere to your layout for a permanent bond, or you can allow the glue to air dry on your embellishment before sticking it to your layout. You will then have created a temporary bond, much like a Post-it note. You'll spend approximately $3.50 for this adhesive, and it's very handy to have available if you like to create punch art, paper piecing, or other detailed accents.
They have formulas specifically created for metals, ribbons, and general craft use. I like the metal formula very well. It dries nicely, and does an excellent job of adhering my metal letters and accent pieces without getting brittle or lumpy. It also works very well on plastic embellishments. The ribbon and general use glues are both wonderful quality, but they don't offer me anything that I can't get in another, less expensive liquid glue. 
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