The Sticky Truth about Adhesives

Adhesives. We know. A sticky subject. And a fantastic opportunity for some really bad jokes.

One of the comments we receive pretty regularly from other papercrafting types is how disappointing it can be when one begins a project with all kinds of high hopes and beautiful, inspiring ideas, only to have it all fall apart because the adhesive fails.

We’ve been there. We feel your pain.

We have loads of experience trying to stick all kinds of things together and, over the years, we’ve amassed a sort of internal guide about how to adhere (mostly from some seriously EPIC fails!). As a help to you, here is a compilation of our wisdom, along with some specific brand suggestions.

Seriously, we have learned that, although adhesive is kind of “behind the scenes” and no one really sees it when the project is completed (hopefully!), it is truly worth a crafter’s while to buy good quality adhesive.

And we’ve included a chart at the end for your reference. Thank you, Lifehacker website!

Happy Adhering!

	SU! SNAIL Adhesive (#104332) Tape Runner Adhesive	The most versatile adhesive. Perfect for cards, scrapbook pages, and other flat projects. Acid-free. Double-sided, permanent adhesive. Easy to apply and refill. Instant bond. Acid free. Remove with Adhesive Remover.
	SU! Stampin’ Dimensionals (#104430) Foam Squares Foam Tape Rolls	A must have! Just a bit of dimension added by these double-sided foam pieces or tape can make a project really pop!
	SU! Mini Glue Dots (#103683) Adhesive Dots Adhesive Squares	These strong little dots or squares are ideal for adding buttons, bows, knotted ribbon, and other small embellishments. They’re a little gummy, so the embellishment kind of “sinks” into them. Acid-free. Instant dots of adhesive. No fumes, no mess, no drying time. Holds heavier embellishments.
	SU! Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue (#110755)	Great for adding embossed card stock layers without crushing the embossing, and is a fast and economical choice for putting together cards. Plus, this adhesive is permanent when used to adhere while it’s wet, or let it dry and it is a strong temporary adhesive like a super-sticky note. Crafter’s dream glue! Adheres glitter and other embellishments. Strong bond. Dries clear. 0.9 oz. Fine tip and broad tip. Acid free.
	SU! Anywhere Glue Sticks (2) (#104045) – 2 sticks, 0.7 oz. ea. General Glue Sticks	This quick and economical adhesive is best on card stock or Designer Series Paper. It dries quickly, but isn’t quite as strong as SNAIL or Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add glue anywhere with this diamond-shaped glue stick – great for reaching those tight corners! Dries quickly. Acid free.
	SU! Crystal Effects (#101055) Gloss Laquer	This super-glossy liquid makes a strong adhesive, but also creates a beautiful, lacquered look over images. Create a glossy, laquered look over images, paper, anything. Also works great as an adhesive. 2 oz. bottle. Acid free.
	SU! 2-Way Glue Pen (#100425) –	With the small tip, this adhesive is applied much like using a marker, making it great for adding glitter to detailed areas. Like the Multipurpose Liquid Glue, the 2-Way Glue Pen is also permanent when used wet and a temporary adhesive when first allowed to dry. Perfect for small touches of glitter. 1 pen: 0.4 oz. Acid free.
	SU! Fast Fuse Adhesive (#129026) Tombow Extreme	Super-strength adhesive that bonds instantly and neatly. Safe for memory preservation projects. Refill offers 8 extra yards for a great value! Acid free. Works great for: cardstock that has been embossed with a design 3-D projects like die cut boxes book or journal covers that will get lots of use when you need a strong bond but want something quicker than Sticky Strip wemory preservation projects
	SU! Fine Tip Glue Pen (#138309)	Perfect for adhering small embellishments, glitter and small paper cutouts to projects. 1 oz. Comes with a hollow needle tip and corresponding lid with a permanent pin to keep the needle tip clean.
	SU! Tear & Tape (#138995)	Strong adhesive with tearable paper backing for easy sticking. Perfect for boxes and 3D items. 27 yds. Acid free.
	SU! Sticky Strip (#104294) Red Liner Tape	The go-to adhesive for 3-D projects like boxes or projects that will be handled a lot. This super-sticky double-sided tape is a must-have!
	SU! Silicone Craft Mat	Pretty important piece of equipment, especially when working with hot glue, because it will release any adhesive that touches it (as opposed to working on paper, which will tear off and stick to your project). Incidentally, any silicone mat (even the ones used for baking), will work.
	Adhesive Remover	Who among us hasn’t accidentally gotten adhesive where it doesn’t belong? This nifty little tool (which is kind of like a brick of dry rubber cememt) will remove that unwanted adhesive like an eraser removes pencil marks. Super cool and very handy.
	Hot Glue	This requires a hot glue gun to use and comes in both high and low temperature options. Be careful! Even the low temp can burn a person’s fingers (and more)! Great for a fast, permanent bond between paper, fabric, pottery and all kinds of heavier materials. Melts styrofoam and some plastics, but can be used sparingly with these materials, if you move quickly.