7 Best Glues For Paper Crafts & When To Use Them

I’ve tried a variety of glues through the years, and I can let you know, they’re not all made equal. 

Some glues warp and wrinkle paper whereas others go away an annoying shiny residue (I’m taking a look at you Fabri-Tac!) 

However with so many craft glues on the market, and so many issues to contemplate, how on earth do you discover the appropriate glue for you? 

In my expertise, it takes a good quantity of trial and error. To save lots of you some bother, although, listed here are the glues I exploit and why.

Good to know: I often make junk journals however I additionally dabble in different paper-based crafts and upcycling tasks. I exploit the identical glues for journaling as I do for my different crafting, so I hope you’ll discover my information useful it doesn’t matter what kind of paper crafting you do.

TL;DR: My Favorite Glues For Paper Crafts

I ceaselessly get requested what glues I exploit for journaling and paper crafts. By means of a fast reply, these are those I’ve used for a couple of years now and can proceed to take action:

Now for my extra detailed reply and what I feel the professionals and cons of every glue are.

7 Finest Glues For Paper Crafts

1. Artwork Glitter Glue For Precision Work

When crafting with paper, you’ll typically discover it is advisable do some precision glueing, comparable to when utilizing fussy cuts and die cuts. Additionally, for those who make journals like I do, you’ll desire a skinny line of glue when attaching pockets to your pages. 

Artwork Glitter Glue (no, there’s no glitter in it) is ideal for this. It dries clear and could be very sturdy. So sturdy, in reality, that it is advisable watch out to not glue one thing within the unsuitable place as a result of mere milliseconds later, you received’t have the ability to transfer issues round. 

Artwork Glitter Glue is a tad expensive, however you don’t want heaps of it. Considered one of my YouTube subscribers kindly despatched me a big bottle of it roughly 18 months in the past and I’m nonetheless working via it. I’d really take into account that truthful worth for cash – particularly with how typically I exploit it.

High Tip: I decant my Artwork Glitter Glue into small bottles like these to make my glueing much more exact. It additionally prices much less to do it this fashion than shopping for an official glue bottle tip. Simply watch out to go sluggish otherwise you’ll get it in every single place. I discovered that the arduous approach!

Cheaper Options

Should you’re model new to paper crafting and unsure for those who’ll stick with it, then you definitely may need to take into account a less expensive different to Artwork Glitter Glue, comparable to:

Anita’s Cheesy Glue: That is the primary glue I used and it really works nicely for precision work. Nevertheless, it does go away a barely shiny residue for those who look carefully. It’s additionally fairly thick, so that you’ll have to squeeze the bottle arduous – particularly if you get near the underside of it.Cosmic Shimmer: I personally haven’t used this one. However a variety of crafters I comply with on YouTube say this is without doubt one of the closest glues you may get to Artwork Glitter Glue – for a fraction of the fee. When my Artwork Glitter Glue runs out, I’ll doubtless do that one subsequent, so keep tuned for my verdict.Bearly Arts Glue: That is one other glue I haven’t personally used, however a few my pals within the US have really helpful it. It’s very costly right here within the UK, so I doubtless received’t have the ability to do that one myself.

2. Collall All Goal Glue For Giant Floor Areas (Paper-to-Paper)

Up subsequent: non-precision work! If it is advisable glue giant surfaces (paper-to-paper solely), I like to recommend Collall All Goal Glue. 

It offers you loads of wiggle room and is a spreadable moist glue, so you may cowl giant areas shortly. It’s additionally comparatively cheap. 

However watch out: Don’t open the cap an excessive amount of as this glue tends to return pouring out, so that you may see it seep out of the sides for those who use an excessive amount of of it. The excellent news is you could shortly rub off the glue if this occurs with out leaving a shiny residue.

3. Fabri-Tac or Beacon 3-in-1 For Materials, Trims & Uncommon Surfaces

For glueing materials, trims and strange surfaces like charms or buttons, Fabri-Tac (for those who’re within the US) and Beacon 3-in-1 (for those who’re within the UK) are your new finest pals.

Plenty of crafters, myself included, typically describe these glues as sizzling glue in a bottle. They’re sturdy and work shortly. 

Be conscious: They go away a shiny residue, which you’ll see via the holes in lace or different trims. It might probably additionally seep via skinny materials, so strive to not use an excessive amount of of it for those who’re glueing material onto your journal cowl, for instance. 

You may additionally discover that the glue turns into very thick if you attain the underside of the bottle. Others have informed me you may pour a few drops of nail varnish remover into it to make it runny once more, however I haven’t tried this myself. I’m an excessive amount of of a rooster to strive that.

Due to this, I now use Artwork Glitter Glue for lace and trims and solely attain for my Beacon 3-in-1 once I want one thing stronger or when glueing giant items of cloth. I additionally use Beacon 3-in-1 once I glue pressed flowers into my journals.

4. Uhu Glue Stick For Masterboards

There may additionally be events when it is advisable use a glue stick, comparable to when making collage masterboards. I’ve tried a couple of through the years; I choose Uhu as you should buy it in bulk and it holds comparatively nicely. Lately, I solely use it for masterboards.

5. Matte Gel Medium For Decoupage

Lastly, for those who’re utilizing napkins in your tasks or when it is advisable seal one thing, comparable to these DIY circle charms I made on video, then the Matte Gel Medium from Pebeo (Studio Acrylics) is the one I exploit and like. 

It’s matte so it received’t dry shiny and you should use it straight out of the bottle. You don’t want to combine it with water like PVA glue and it doesn’t dry cheesy like Mod Podge.

5 Essential Issues To Take into account When Selecting Glues

1. Will the glue warp or wrinkle your paper?

Warped or wrinkled paper is considered one of my greatest bugbears. Not one of the glues I’ve really helpful above have this situation.

However for those who’re in search of a distinct glue, listed here are some issues to contemplate:

Water Content material: Glues with excessive water content material could cause paper to warp or wrinkle as they dry. Water-based glues like white glue or PVA glue are widespread culprits. Whereas glues like this are broadly used, they will trigger points for those who use an excessive amount of glue or if the paper is especially skinny.Drying Time: Sooner-drying glues could scale back the danger of warping or wrinkling as they’ve much less time to have an effect on the paper. Nevertheless, quick-drying glues may additionally set earlier than you’ve had an opportunity to correctly place your items.Utility Method: Utilizing a skinny, even layer of glue and making use of it sparingly may help to keep away from paper warping and wrinkling.Paper Thickness and High quality: Thicker, higher-quality papers are usually extra immune to warping and wrinkling than thinner or lower-quality papers. Nevertheless, even sturdy papers might be affected by extreme moisture from sure kinds of glue.Check Earlier than Use: It’s at all times a good suggestion to check a small quantity of glue on a scrap piece of paper earlier than utilizing it in your precise challenge. This fashion, you may assess how the glue interacts with the paper.

2. Is the glue acid-free?

Should you’re making one thing you need to preserve for a very long time, then you definitely’ll want to make use of acid-free glues.

In any other case, you may discover your tasks turn out to be discoloured or brittle over time. Acid-free glue can also be finest for archival tasks, comparable to for those who’re utilizing classic photographs you need to protect.

You’ll have to verify the label on the bottle or the outline offered by the producer on-line to verify if the glue you need to use is acid-free or not. Often, this can be a promoting level, so that you’ll typically discover it will likely be talked about if the glue is acid-free.

All the glues I’ve really helpful above are acid-free aside from the Matte Gel Medium, which doesn’t specify whether or not it’s or not. The label does say it’s non-yellowing, although.

3. Does the glue dry clear?

Should you’re doing precision glueing or utilizing lace in your tasks, you’ll most likely need to verify whether or not your glue of alternative dries clear or not. 

Some glues could go away a shiny residue (like Fabri-Tac and Beacon 3-in-1), so that you’ll should be cautious when utilizing them, whereas others could go away colored stains. 

Glues that dry clear typically have this as a promoting level, nevertheless it’s most likely additionally value testing your glue earlier than utilizing it in your remaining challenge.

4. Do you have to use tape runners or double-sided sticky tape?

You may discover tape runners and double-sided sticky tape simple to make use of – particularly for those who’re crafting with uncommon papers like vellum or glassine. 

I personally don’t use them as a result of I’ve seen these glues discolour over time and likewise go away a build-up of sticky residue for those who by accident glue issues within the unsuitable place. 

As an alternative, I exploit both Beacon 3-in-1 (aka Fabri-Tac) or my Artwork Glitter Glue (relying on the floor), which appear to work simply positive.

5. Do you have to use sizzling soften glue or a glue gun?

Loads of crafters use sizzling soften glue and glue weapons of their tasks – particularly in the event that they’re utilizing fairly gildings like charms and buttons, for instance. 

I personally don’t do that since you’ll most likely discover these charms will pop off over time (years later) when the glue turns into arduous, brittle and non-stick. 

It’s additionally tough to be exact with a glue gun. As an alternative, think about using Fabri-Tac or Beacon 3-in-1, which maintain simply as nicely and are for much longer lasting than sizzling soften glue.

Do you want extra assist selecting your provides?

I hope my information to the very best glues for paper crafts has helped you. You probably have any questions I’ve not lined above, please go away me a remark beneath and I’ll reply ASAP!

And for those who make junk journals like I do, then you may additionally need to try a few of my different weblog posts, comparable to:

Should you discovered this weblog submit useful, please take into account sharing it with a good friend who may additionally discover it helpful.