Topic: Supplies
I thought I'd talk a bit about adhesives today. I realized that I had reached for three different products in the process of making one card and decided someone might benefit from knowing what choices I make for different parts of a process. So I wanted to share the products I have on hand and what I use them for. In some cases I am particular about the brand and in others I usedifferent brands of a similar product interchangeably.
LIQUID ADHESIVES:
Without a doubt the liquid I use most is Glossy Accents. I use it as tiny dots to glue paper to paper, as a thin coat to glue acrylic to paper, as a top coat to seal glitter or create a shiny surface, and as a fill for 3D effect.
I use Aleene's Tacky Glue for adhering FlowerSoft to accent pictures. It also works pretty well when gluing cardboard and wood objects.
Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue is also on hand. I think I got it to use with quilling but since I don't do quilling, I don't use this glue. Must be some other good use for it, though.
Also from the Aleene's line is Tack It Over & Over. I use this in a very thin coat on rubber unmounted stamps. This makes them cling to my acrylic blocks as well as to the CD cases I use to store them in. If it ever gets 'unsticky' it can easily be removed and reapplied.
For heavy-duty adhesion I really like Crafters Pick The Ultimate. This is a super thick white glue that grips like nobody's business and creates a bond quickly. I used it to glue a canvas cover to a scrapbook and it works like a dream.
TAPES:
No sense in picturing the standards: Scotch Magic Tape which I use mostly to stick down my threads when doing paper embroidery, Scotch Removeable Tape which I use for taping patterns and templates to my cardstock, and Scotch Double Stick Tape which I use occasionally for a variety of applications.
Mostly I use a 'snail' refillable tape runner for layering papers and cardstock on cards. I don't know what brand this is, I just buy 'the blue one' when I need refills! I have had other brands that did not have the staying power of this one.
I bought an ATG gun on deep discount but picked up the wrong rolls of tape for it. So I haven't used the gun but I have used the tape right off the rolls. It is some powerful stuff.
I use Scor-Tape when I want a dry adhesive that has gorilla-strength. I used this for adhering the papers to the wooden lighthouses and the cardstock would shred long before you could get the adhesive to let go.
I have some vellum tape that is 'supposed' to not show under vellum and parchment. I am not impressed. You can still see it.
I also have some Sticky Dot Tape for the same uses. It is some better for vellum and parchment but I don't find it to adhere as well.
DIMENSIONALS:
Not Pictured: Clear Silicone Kitchen and Bath Adhesive. This is used in little dabs (applied with a toothpick) to separate the layers of 3D images.
Foam squares are used for layering elements on cards, for making 3D pictures and for making focal pieces 'pop'. They come in varying thicknesses. Some are even round instead of square. The round ones waste so much product! I find they are all acceptable but preference goes to ones where the liner comes off easily, the foam is not as thick so layering does not raise your card to absurd heights, and ones that can be cut with scissors to make smaller pieces. There are some good ones that are about 1/4 inch square and 1/16 thick. Many of these have some from swaps or as gifts and they just keep getting put to the back of the supplies.
This is my REAL preference - 3M Foam Tape on a roll. It is thinner than many squares and can be esaily cut to whatever size needed. For a sentiment I can even just cut a strip of it.
SPOT ADHESIVES:
I use two products interchangeably and have no problems with either. Zots is one brand and Glue Dots is the other. I get them in 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch, 1/8 inch and 1/2 inch that is thick for 3D.
OTHER ADHESIVES I USE:
Quickit Glue Pen is a new-to-me adhesive. It rolls off the pen like a gel roller ball so you can put the glue right where you need it. Unfortunately it takes some time to dry so you have to hold it in place to keep it from popping off. Goes on blue and dries clear so you can see where you are putting it.
For a spray adhesive (when I need one) I prefer 3M Super 77. It does not come undone like other brands I have tried. WARNING: Despite what you see on TV craft and decorating shows you don't want to just spray this willy-nilly. It gets on everything and is a bear to clean up. Use a spray box to contain overspray, mask anything that it might get on where you don't want it and use sparingly - it stinks!
And finally, the Xyron. I only have the one size although they have larger and smaller ones, down to sticker size. Mine will do a card front and that is big enough for me. I find this is my pest option for sticking down parchment or vellum as the adhesive goes over the whole thing so there are no lines or dots to show.
So there you have it. I can stick most anything to most anything else and be pretty sure of a secure hold.
Ddd
