Adhesives Comparison

My husband loves to make fun of my adhesive collection.

“Don’t you have enough already?” he says when I show him my latest find.

“Of course not!” I explain. “Each one has a different purpose. I need them all.”

Adhesives are essential to any scrapbooker, but there are so many types it can be a bit confusing. Let’s take a look at the different types of adhesives and their uses, good points and bad points.

Photo Corners
Photo corners are self-adhesive corners that attach to your layout. Photographs are held securely underneath the photo corners. They can also be used to adhere journaling or any flat square or rectangular items.

Examples: Fiskars, 3L, Pioneer, Xyron, Chatterbox, Stickopotamus, Making Memories, Heidi Swapp

Review: Classic photo corners provide a stylish and safe way to adhere photographs. The adhesive never touches the photographs, providing extra safety for irreplaceable photographs. Scrapbook companies now sell decorative photo corners that add beauty to your page as well as safety. Disadvantages include that some may find photo corners difficult to attach correctly and occasionally photographs can pop out of the corners.

Adhesive Dispensers
Handheld roll-on dispensers of adhesive are available in two types. One dispenser type applies a film of adhesive, often sold in “permanent” or “repositionable.” The other dispenser type applies tabs of two-sided tape. Some companies feature refillable dispensers. Adhesive dispensers adhere photographs, cardstock, paper and other lightweight, flat items.

Examples: Duck Easy Stick Double Stick Adhesive, Hermafix Vario, Dotto by EK Success, Creative Memories, Xyron, Tombow Mono Adhesive, Adhesive Tech, Scrapbook Adhesives by E-Z Runner, EK Success

Review: Both varieties of dispensers are very good for photographs, paper and cardstock. The biggest downfall of both types is that it is easy to use more than necessary and quickly empty the dispenser. Tabs can be applied more judiciously and can be used for small, lightweight embellishments like buttons. The glue from many roll-on dispensers is repositionable until you press down firmly on your layout. Some people experience problems with refilling their dispensers. Adhesive dispensers are quick and easy to use for photographs, paper and cardstock.

Mounting Squares
Mounting squares are double-sided tabs of adhesive with peel-off backing, dispensed from a box. They typically are used to adhere photographs, cardstock and other lightweight, flat items.

Examples: 3L (Scrapbook Adhesives), Fiskars, Creative Memories, Canson, 3M (Scotch), Century

Review: Mounting squares are removed individually, making it easy to place them exactly where they are desired and not use more than necessary. The tabs are easy to remove but leave little pieces of backing to clean up.

Adhesive Dots
Adhesive dots are small double-sided pressure-sensitive sticky dots available in various sizes and are often used to adhere bulkier embellishments.

Examples: Glue Dots International, Zots

Review: Adhesive dots are the perfect adhesive for embellishments such as metal, buttons, flowers, and ribbon. Adhesive dots come in many sizes and are very strong and sticky. They are so sticky that they tend to stick to your fingers. To avoid this apply them directly to the item from the paper backing. Larger glue dots add a three-dimensional element. Glue dots are not repositionable so place them with care! In some cases, adhesive dots leave a lump where they are adhered. Glue dots are a wonderful product for most embellishment needs.

Mounting Foam
Mounting foam is a pre-cut double-sided raised foam which adheres an item completely, after the backing is removed. Foam adheres to most items including embellishments and paper.

Examples: Mrs. Grossman’s, All Night Media (Pop Dots), Therm O Web

Review: Mounting foam gives a wonderful three-dimensional effect. Large pieces of mounting foam can be cut to the desired length, but most mounting foam is sold in convenient pre-cut circles, squares and rectangles. Mounting foam is a little sticky while getting it off the paper and leaves little tabs of paper backing to clean up afterwards. Some foam is colored and, thus, more useful with items that are not transparent. Mounting Foam adheres very well and works quite well for most embellishments.

Mounting Glue
Mounting glue is a clear strong adhesive stored in a bottle. Mounting glue adheres paper, ribbon, beads, glitter, powders and many embellishments including acrylic, metal, plastic, and wood.

Examples: Scrappy Glue by Magic Scraps, KI Memories GLOO, Fiber scraps, Making Memories Metal Glue, Tombow

Review: The versatile mounting glue adheres many embellishments and small items while drying clear and quickly. These glues are easy to use: just apply a small amount to your embellishment or paper. Bottles of mounting glues tend to last a long time, making them cost effective. Sometimes the tips gets clogged but can be unclogged by inserting a needle inside the tip. The Making Memories glue is thicker than the other glues and exceptionally secure, working on things no other glue could handle, but the dispenser tube is hard to use and messy. Mounting glue provides an easy and cheap way to adhere paper, embellishments and small items.

Glue Sticks
Washable all-purpose glue sticks are stored in a tube and spread directly on to the paper from the tube. Glue sticks adhere flat objects such as paper and photographs.

Examples: Scotch, UHU Stic, Avery

Review: Glue sticks are easy to use and cheap. They can wrinkle the paper and can be messy when working with small items. The biggest drawback to glue sticks is that many of them lose their adhesion over time. The pictures and/or paper eventually lift off and a project may fall apart. Glue sticks are a cheap alternative to other adhesives and they are good for temporary or non-archival projects.

Glue Pens
Glue pens are tubes with “pen” tips that squeeze out a liquid glue, available in temporary or permanent bond. Glue pens adhere small items and decorative trims.

Examples: Sailor, Zig

Review: A glue pen provides a layer of glue and does a moderate job of adhering items. It is especially nice for very small items. Glue pens can be messy, dry up and are sometimes hard to use. The newer mounting glues are much more versatile and easier to use than glue pens.

Adhesive Sheets
Adhesive sheets come in two styles. One style is sold as a sheet where the front and back layers are peeled away to reveal the adhesion. The second style is a roll of adhesion that is placed in the Xyron sticker maker machine. When an item is placed in the sticker maker, it applies adhesion to one side. The other side is peeled away. Refills are available for the sticker maker. Adhesive sheets adhere cardstock and other flat materials, especially larger items that need wide adhesion coverage.

Examples: Xyron Adhesive Dot Transfer Sheets, Provo Craft Art Accentz Terrifically Tacky Tape Sheet, Xyron sticker makers

Review: Adhesive sheets provide coverage for large flat areas. The larger Xyron sticker maker allows items up to 5 inches wide and works well for large, flat items. The smaller Xyron 150 maker allows items up to 1.5 inches wide and works well for small items like punches and letters. The Xyron sticker makers may leave adhesive around the edges, but rubbing the item before peeling away the top plastic sheet can minimize it. The Xyron sticker maker will only accept flat items. Adhesive sheets work well for larger items that need lots of adhesive coverage.

Glue Tape
Double-sided glue tape comes off a roll to the desired length. Place the tape on the item and, if necessary, remove the backing. Many glue tapes come in a dispenser with a cutting edge. Others need to be cut to the desired length with scissors. Glue tape adheres photographs, paper, small embellishments, glitter, beads and ribbon.

Examples: 3M double-stick tape, 3M vellum tape, Duck, Scotch, Xyron, Magic Scraps, Terrifically Tacky Tape from Art Accentz, Wacky Tac

Review: Glue tape does its job very well, adhering items strongly. Thin glue tape like Magic Scraps work especially well for adhering thin or small items such as ribbon, glitter and beads. Some may experience problems with getting the glue tape stuck on their fingers. It is easy to use more than necessary and quickly empty the dispenser. Glue tape is a very good adhesive but should probably be reserved for special uses, due to cost.

Adhesive Sprays
An adhesive spray comes in a can with a spray top. Spray adheres vellum, transparencies, cardstock and paper.

Examples: 3M, Scrapper’s Spray by Creative Imagination, Krylon

Review: Adhesive sprays are completely invisible when dry. The biggest advantages of these sprays are that they are temporarily repositionable and they are able to adhere vellum or transparencies without leaving marks. For the best look, let the spray settle for a minute before adhering it to minimize any showing of the wet adhesive. The can is expensive but long lasting. Some find the spray messy to adhere. Spraying should be done in a well-ventilated area. Adhesive sprays are excellent for adhering vellum, transparencies or other items that need large coverage.

Staples
Staples are metals prongs set into the paper with a stapler. Staples adhere flat items such as paper and ribbons.

Examples: Swingline, Making Memories

Review: Staples are a quick and easy way to adhere flat items to a page. In most cases, the staples remain visible. Staples may discolor over time, discoloring the items on the page as well. Staples are a quick way to add interest and adhesion to a layout.

With so many products for adhering photographs, paper and embellishments, it’s easy to find an item for each of your needs. To learn about specific brands, please check out and contribute to the adhesive reviews here at Scrapjazz.