Glues - An Honest View Of Cardmaking Glues

Image credit: shabbyartboutique

The blog post added above explains how to adapt PVA to use as all the different glues shown in this photo.

Many have set and intrenched ideas about what is right or wrong when it comes to glues and, while their favourite brands are probably fine, their reasons for using these brands probably aren't thought through as thoroughly as my discussion here will be. Their suggestion may come from what a friend told them, a sales video they saw or even a brand sold by demonstrators with a vested interest in the recommendations. 

I have none of those influences, I tested many glues out for myself and my short answer to the question of "the best glue" is that just one glue doesn't work for all crafting occasions. 

Dry glues, like tape runners, rollers, double sided tape and foam tapes will always avoid warping of your cardstock. However, as many have discovered, they don't have the holding power of the wet glues. They won't stand the test of time, extreme weather or hold up on certain materials. Dry glues are best to be thought of as "temporary hold" products, nothing more. 

Wet glues, on the other hand, are the glues that will set hard and hold permanently. Most white glues are nothing more than acid free liquid PVA, Polyvinyl Acetates (PVA glue in the US it’s also known as Elmers glue). 

The problem with PVA glues is they have a high water content and it's that water that will warp and buckle cardstock. The simple fix here is to use much less than you think you need. It doesn't matter what brand you use, it's how much you use. Most bottles come with a nozzle that is much too big and the flow of glue is uncontrollable as a result. Decanting a cheap brand of PVA into a bottle with a finer nozzle will give you the same great results as an expensive bottle of glue supplied in a small tipped bottle. As far as wet glues are concerned, the simple solution is to use thin lines and less glue overall. You can also buy PVA with a thicker consistency, that will dry thicker as well. This thicker PVA is great for holding things like glitter and other loose particles like flower soft in place simply because of the extra thickness it dries at. It's still PVA though. 

This post explains it further. It even tells you how to adapt PVA glues for other purposes, like as a high gloss sealant or a glue with glitter in it. 

As far as brands go, there are a few stand out products that are worth a mention and serious consideration.

●Ranger Multi Medium Matte Adhesive:

This is an inexpensive white glue that has a couple of unique features. It dries matte and invisible on most surfaces, including on satin ribbon and on the top of vellum. Once dry it has such a strong bond that you need to tear the cardstock to remove the embellishment. It's fine for matting layers but I reserve it for card fronts and joining cardstock at folds. 

●Any double sided tape with a red backing: 

This is an extra strong double sided tape that is also heat resistant. You can actually sprinkle embossing powder on this tape and heat set it. However, when used as a tape on cardstock alone, it has the same shortfalls as any other double sided tape and will separate over time. 

●Tombow Mono Multi Glue:

This glue dries tacky and clear. It can be used in the same way as PVA glue but, as it has a much higher price point, I tend to reserve it for patting over the back of vellum or gluing clear plastics. It's absolutely essential for these materials and applying it with a make-up sponge will ensure an even, thin coverage that is sure to dry without lumps or white spots. You can use your finger to smear it as well but you need to be careful to apply it with a very clean finger. It's extremely hard to remove small particles that will be very obvious once the glue is dry. This glue will also work to extend the tackiness of things that lose their stickiness over time, like paper masks made for stamps. 

●UHU glue sticks:

The old school room favourite is still handy for cardmaking. I reserve this for when I need to glue thin papers, like coloured copy paper, that a wet glue would damage. The dryer glue, when applied thinly and evenly, will prevent visible lumps beneath such a thin paper where even the thinnest lines of a wet glue would leave a raised lump after it's dry. 

●Glossy Accents:

This gloss coating will also work as a strong glue, especially on non porous surfaces. I have even used this to glue a blending brush back together. It will dry clear with an extremely strong bond, just be aware that it takes overnight to fully cure and could be visible on matte surfaces.

Many actually use PVA and dry glues together. In this technique, the dry glue is used to hold the piece in place while the wet glue dries. Just a few drops across the tape surface is all that's needed. Once dry the wet glue creates a permanent bond even on the tape so the threat of things falling apart due to temperature or time is eliminated. It also allows wiggle time for dry adhesives placements, you only press down when you're happy. 

Many will still stick to their preferred brand (pardon the pun). But, for those who want to save their crafting money for other supplies, an inexpensive PVA and a couple of bottles of specialised glues are all that's needed to cover all your bonding needs.

And, for those of you who want to buy in bulk, then decant your glue to a bottle with a smaller tip, this post explains the various applicator tip options and the best way to fill the smaller bottles.

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