Scrapbooking Adhesive–Stick With What Works
Let’s talk about scrapbooking adhesive for a minute. After your album and paper, scrapbooking adhesive can have the biggest impact on whether or not your scrapbooking project is a success. Naturally, you’d like to make sure you’re getting the right kind, an adhesive you can work with easily and that will last a long time without ruining your photographs or momentos.
Once you spend some time scrapbooking, you’ll probably develop your own personal preferences for glues and adhesives. Of course, if you’re just starting out, it’s difficult to know what you should personally prefer! The only absolute requirement for scrapbooking adhesive is that you find something photo safe. Then you’ll have to decide how you want to deliver the glue. Three popular choices are glue dots, glue sticks, and glue pens.
First, let’s deal with the issue of photo safe adhesive. What you should be looking for on the glue packaging is either the phrase acid-free or archival safe. Some glues contain different amounts of acid. Acid content is one of the reasons you should not use Elmer’s glue or rubber cement. Over time, if there is any acid contained in the glue, it will begin to damage your photographs and other items you’ve included in your scrapbook album.
In what form should you buy your scrapbook glue? Many scrapbook addicts like to use glue dots. These are, well, little dots of glue. They will probably look and feel like little bubbles of thick gel. When you buy glue dots, they usually come sandwiched between two pieces of paper. People like to use glue dots because they’re fast and safe.
Another option is to use glue sticks. If you have any familiarity at all with elementary school projects, then you should know what I’m talking about. A glue stick looks like lipstick or Chapstick, but it dispenses glue. This choice for securing your photos and other items is also quick and easy, but you may need to test it out where you live. The adhesive in glue sticks does not work equally well in all climates. It seems to especially have trouble in areas of high humidity.
If you want the convenience of a glue stick, but feel like you need a little more precision, you might want to look for glue pens. They work in the same way as clue sticks, but you can really target exactly where you want the glue.
Well, I tried to spread some information around about glue sticks, glue pens and glue dots. I hope some of it sticks!
