{scrap and stamp with mary}: Adhesives - such a Personal Decision

Monday, November 29, 2010

Adhesives - such a Personal Decision

A few weeks ago I shared some of my favorite tools - those Stampin' Up! products that are always on my table helping create my projects. Today I want to talk about another behind-the-scenes tool - Adhesive. What do you prefer to use when assembling cards, 3D projects or scrapbook pages? When I started stamping years ago I tried several different kinds and brands of adhesive that my friends were using or that different stamp instructors were using. I ended up primarily using Scotch Double Sided Tape as my Adhesive of Choice.

When Stampin' Up! started carrying the Tombo Mono Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue (the little green bottle) I gave it a try and fell in love! Tombow Mono Multi is my go-to adhesive for most of my cards and projects. It has a bit of a learning curve as far as how much or how little to use - often much less than you think! It's a strong little glue and will hold your layers together well and for a long time. I like that it has a 'slide factor' when I first put my pieces together. That gives me just a few seconds to be sure my layers are aligned evenly the way I want them. Then a quick rub and they are stuck together permanently! Mono Multi is a temporary OR permament adhesive - to use it as a temporary adhesive allow it to dry before adhering. To use it as a permanent adhesive, adhere while still wet. And to remove any messy glue residue, if you have some liquid that squeezes out between your layers, lift the excess with a Paper Piercer or scrap of cardstock, allow the remainder to dry and then remove it with the Adhesive Remover. I used to use a lot of Sticky Strip when I was working with 3D projects and boxes, however I've found that Tombow Mono Multi holds these together very well and I'll use Tombow first on those items.

As much I love the Tombow Mono Multi, it just doesn't work well with fabric or ribbon. Mini Glue Dots are another adhesive that is perfect to stick down that ribbon knot, keep that bow in place or tuck a piece under the cardstock mat. I use my Paper Piercer to pick up a Mini Glue Dot and stick it just where I need it to do its work.

And I can RARELY create a stamped card or scrapbook page without some Stampin' Dimensionals! These beauties are double-sided adhesive foam mounts that add height and create beautiful layers and dimension on your projects. I like their thickness, but occasionally I will stack two on top of each other to give something a little EXTRA lift. The hexagon shapes are just the right size for most projects and I even like to use the straight edges of the border strips, too.

As much as I love these Adhesives, especially my Tombow Mono Multi, I know that adhesives are a personal choice and you've got to try several to find just the right one for you and your projects!