Scrapbooking Adhesives 101

Scrapbookers can never have enough adhesives, and now it comes in so many choices.  The scrapbooking manufacturers offer some very innovative adhesives that can meet the new demands of the scrapbooking industry.  Trends and scrapbooking techniques have continues to change, and you need to know what adhesive to choose for your scrapbooking projects.

Photo safe is the most important quality when choosing a scrapbooking adhesive.  Make sure any adhesive you choose is archival sage, especially when using them on the back of your photographs.  Scrapbookers have so many choices when it comes to adhesives.

Photo Corners: These are the pioneer adhesives of scrapbooking, and they still remain a popular choice for many scrapbookers.  When scrapbooking first began, photo corners were used because they would allow you to attach photographs to a page and still remove them.  Because photo corners are not permanent adhesives, they are ideal for heritage photographs and anything you don’t want to permanently mount to a page.  They now come in a variety of colors and materials.

Glue: Whether in pens, bottles or tubes, glue is the most versatile adhesive option for scrapbookers.  Glue pens allow you to put a tiny dot of glue where ever you need it.  They come in permanent and repositionable varieties, as well as specialized glues made for fabric or metal.

Tape Runners:  These are double-sided adhesives that are sold in rolls or in dispensers.  They are a must-have supply for any scrapbooker.  Similar to glue, they come in permanent and repositionable varieties.  They are convenient and less messy than regular glue.  You run the tape along your photos, paper or any other surface that needs adhesives.  It leaves behind a continuous line of adhesive.

Glue Dots:  Available in rolls or sheets, glue dots provide a strong bond for heavy embellishments.  They work well with fabric, ribbons and textured materials as well.  Glue dots are available in a variety of sizes.

Glue Sticks:  If you don’t want the mess of glue, glue sticks are a convenient alternative.  They glide on easily and allow you to cover a large area quickly.  You can still use them on small embellishments too.  Use only glue sticks that specifically state they are photo-safe.  Stay away from the ones that are for school use.

Adhesive Spray:  Adhesive sprays provide transparency and even coverage.  They don’t show through paper like many adhesives, making them perfect for vellum.  Be careful with over spray.  You always want to cover your work surface before using adhesive spray.

Tape: Most scrapbookers prefer double-sided tape for adhering scrapbooking page elements. However, one-sided tape is useful on the back of brads or eyelets to keep paper from catching on the prongs.

Foam Tape: Foam tape comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, such as dots and squares.  The adhesive is double-sided, and the foam allows page elements to have a dimensional effect. This adds interest to small items and works very well with letters in scrapbooking titles.

Scrapbookers can never have enough adhesive. Always stock up on your favorites and bring plenty with you when you go to a crop or workshop.  It helps to have a variety of adhesives available as you work on a project.  Consider your choices and choose the ones that best fit your scrapbooking style.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking techniques and creative memories scrapbooking.