Stuck Up: What’s the Best Glue For Paper Crafts?

The Best Glue For Paper Crafts

So what’s the best glue for paper crafts if you love decoupage, collage, scrapbooking, art journals,what have you? As someone who has worked with those mediums, the porous and the not-so-porous, I can tell you that not all glues are created equal!

If your main hobbies are any category of the above you want to cut to the finish and spend more time crafting and less time trying to figure it all out.

It’s imperative that you don’t end up in any “sticky situations”:)

==>> In a hurry? This is my favorite paper craft glue right here!

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I love making collages and one such example would be that of my goal board – which started out with a regular old art canvas and to attach my pictures securely. I used the best paper craftng glue money can buy. It dispenses easily yet thoroughly, and most importantly, dries clear, in a 24-hr period.

Know what I used? You may have already heard of it, maybe even tried it before, but here goes.

The Award For the Best Paper Crafting Glue Goes To…

Let’s hear it for Mod Podge!! (Yep, that very same product with the retro 60s yellow label and the flower power design you can’t miss.) Don’t be too surprised…this may very well have been your mother’s and grandmother’s crafting glue, for good reason – it’s the sinne qua nonne of successful decoupagers everywhere.

Which leads to why many people attempting to create their own version in a pinch, especially if they run out! You can pick some up if you have a craft store nearby, it’s not hard to locate; I grabbed a 2 oz bottle from Dollar General once. (I ‘m sure I burned through that amount quickly!)

Mod Podge CS11303 WaterbaseMod Podge CS11272 WaterbaseMod Podge Decoupage Starter

It’s not only a glue, it is also a varnish and sealant, so it’s a paper craft trifecta all rolled into one.all working together to give your finished products the secure, strong finish they need and deserve. Meaning you don’t have to buy three separate products, ain’t that great?

The traditional formula has expanded to include lots of unique variations, like these below…sparkles, glitter, pearl…your papercraft just got more awesome 😊.

Mod Podge Extreme Glitter 8 OzMod Podge (8-Ounce), CS11211 SparkleMod Podge Pearl Finish (8-Ounce), CS24910, 8 oz

What Makes Mod Podge the Best Adhesive For Paper Crafts?

Well in a nutshell, here are the biggies…Your mileage may vary depending on what you’re working on but these are the main points:

• Flawless application onto surface
• Non-toxic
• Water-based product that will wash off your hands and tools easily after you’re finished
• Dries clear upon full curation
• Glue, sealer and varnish all in one product
• Can be used to adhere paper materials as well as to preserve them

You Had Me At Non-Toxic and Water-based…What Do I Like Best?

The trouble with applicator glues lies in the applicator tip. You see a bottle of glue and you have to squeeze it to dispense it – meaning it squirts out in a ribbon – which, if you don’t use a brush to smooth the ribbon down, can leave unsightly pockets or bubbles in material that is thin in nature, as is paper, whether it’s cardstock, construction, tissue, etc.

Ergo, you need something made to apply with a brush for a flawless application. What I like best is that it is made to use with a sponge (or paintbrush; but I prefer sponge application to prevent seeing the stray brush marks.  so you have control when you spread it on the desired project in the works.

You can build up layers; in my own experience I’ve found that one coat does the job. If the paper you’re working with is especially thin I wouldn’t recommend multiple coats as this can lead to the buildup of unsightly ridges. It can sometimes dry tacky too (read here to learn how I solved that one)

There are also many more varieties out now! I can remember a jaunt I took to Hobby Lobby one day and being awe-struck by all the different varieties of Mod Podge….wow, and I can remember a time when you were limited to Matte, and Gloss.

Now there is everything from glitter, pearl, and assorted colors…talk about your embarrassment of riches 😊

What Kind of Glue is Best For Scrapbook Paper

OK, I feel I’d be remiss to leave this out because scrapbooking is such a huuuge papercraft industry.📙

If you’re looking to pursue the paper craft of scrapbooking…(good on you, by the way) you’re probably wanting to know about the right kind of glue for the hobby. You’re going to need something quite different than Mod Podge.

Scrapbooking involves picking up small items carefully like lace, scrap paper,  bling, etc., and sometimes lots of them…so you want to avoid liquidy glues. Because your book may have many pages, and eventually you’ll want to close it, and not have to worry about pages sticking together (yikes!) OR unsightly show-through on elements.

You want to use something called “glue runners” or “glue dots” which is more of a sticky adhesive than “glue” per se. “Runners” kind of resemble a tape dispenser, and produce a strand of adhesive that you can stick on the back of your item to attach, and it’s totally mess-free.

You pretty much hold the dispenser at a slight angle and pull back whatever amount you need at a time.

Double Sided Tape RunnerGlue Dot Runner for ScrapbookingGlue Dots Craft Dots Adhesive, 1/2″

“Dots” kind of work in a similar fashion. They are round circle shaped adhesive spots used in more delicate types of papercraft, like cards and scrapbooks. Because let’s face it, when you’re creating a beautiful page of elements on cardstock paper, the LAST thing you want to deal with is runny liquid or messy fingers.

Conclusion

So I hope I’ve done my job so far enlightening you on the right kinds of paper craft glue.

Thanks for “sticking with me” this far (ok I’ll stop now with the fun puns) and I hope you find your paper projects go smoothly with this info in mind…Happy Gluing 🙂

Want to explore the fun of craft glue further? Check out my Craft Glue Hacks free guide by filling out the form below:

Creative Commons Photo Attributions: Images By: Julie Jordan Scott
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