Scrapbooking Adhesives: Stick to the Basics

Scrapbookers have so many choices in scrapbooking adhesives. Manufacturers are offering more and more options to meet the needs of this hobby.  Scrapbooking techniques have continued to change over time, and now scrapbookers need adhesives that can handle the newest techniques and trends.

The primary concern when choosing scrapbooking adhesives is to make sure it is archival safe.  All adhesives used on scrapbooking pages must be safe for your photos.  You have a variety of options available to use on the back of your photos or scrapbooking embellishments.

Photo Corners: These are the first adhesives used in modern scrapbooking.  They are still very popular.  Photo corners were a great choice because they allow you to remove the item from the page, giving you a temporary adhesive.  They would very for heritage photos, and any other page elements you don’t want to permanently glue to your layout.  Check your local scrapbooking store for the variety of photo corners available.  They come in different colors, including metallic colors.

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 a necessity for any scrapbooker.  Tape runners allow you to quickly place adhesive on a large surface, and makes for quick scrapbooking page layouts.  They are double-sided adhesive, and come in a roll or in dispensers.  They are one of the more economical options for scrapbooking adhesives.  You use only the amount you need.

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:  Glue sticks provide a convenient, easy-to-use alternative to glue, without the sticky mess. You can cover a large area quickly, making them a great choice for creating fast layouts.  Before you buy a glue stick, make sure it states that it is photo-safe.  Some varieties, like those use for school projects, are not.

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:  Scrapbookers find many uses for both double-sided and standard tape.  One-sided tape can be used to cover the prongs on brads and eyelets, so your pages don’t get caught on them.

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.

Scrapbooking adhesive is a basic supply for scrapbookers.   Stock up on a variety of glue  and adhesives before you go to any crop or workshop.  Each project may call for a different type of scrapbooking adhesive.  Choice the one that best fits your needs.

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 ideas and creative memories scrapbooking.