Friday 12 February 2016

Not to be sniffed at

Quite often, on my trip around the desks, I see crafters who have a variety of glues. In fact sometimes, more glue that I have paint. It's funny how we're all wired so differently, yet practice the same sort of hobby.
I'm too impatient to use glue unless I absolutely have to. Drying time is always an issue for me. I still can't decide if this is because it means I have to leave things to dry and therefore they aren't finished - moving away from the desk with unfinished stuff is deeply dis-satisfying for me, or if it's simply because it has never occurred to me to use glue. I 'learned' card making and stamping from a couple of masters who used tape. And I use acid free tape in my scrapbooking, so I guess I've just not met a reason to change. 

A vignette from my work desk....my glue 'collection'
Neet said that her friend Mary has spent years (and therefore probably $$) trying out glues and only now thinks she's found 'the one'. It was that remark that triggered my thoughts on glue, really. I wonder how much she uses and if it's her adhesive of choice in any situation. At workshops, and probably at home as well, The Librarian uses photo glue for sticking even flat stuff. She says, and I really agree and think it's very sensible, that the wet glue gives her a few seconds to straighten or jauntily angle stuff that tape doesn't. True dat. I use wet glue for dimensional embellishments or where I think even the red tape wont be up to it. I have to think twice about using it though. Perhaps I'm clumsy.

I recognise and understand the need for glue, but because I'm a tape gal, I never thought it was that important, but in fact, even  in my small collection, each has different jobs. Obviously, the dimension gained by silicone glue is great. If you remember not to squash the damn item flat into the stuff because you aren't used to working with it. I often opt for this instead of foam pads when I'm doing scrapbook pages. No specific reason, I think somewhere at the back of my mind I think it may last into perpetuity. Totally don't know.
The PVA  (Aileen's) is there because we use it as home glue as well as it being the one I can control well enough to make a clean sticking of buttons and other non porous surfaces. And because we all like peeling it off our fingers once dried. Don't we? The little glue is a really cost effective one and for wet glue, relatively quick drying. Its by Dovecraft and was developed for quilling. Sticks paper to paper really well...but it is runny and I can make the most awful mess with it, quickly. Argh.
So that's a reveal isn't it? Something you didn't know about me? Perhaps the wet glue thing is the beginning of the reason why I don't do paints and journals and things too...I dunno. If there are any psychologists reading this, you're welcome to tell me what I think! As for you other nutters....tapes or glue? I'm really curious to know!

30 comments:

Kathyk said...

And I've never really felt that at home with tape! As you say, isn't it odd the way we're all so very different but, if we weren't then our favourite adhesive medium would be frequently out of stock!!!

FYI ... I love Cosmic Shimmer and Tombow dual purpose glue - both dry pretty speedily and without distortion of paper and card

Kathyk

Sue Jones said...

I use tape but not those runner thingies - I can't get on with them. cheap good old fashioned DST. Although I do have a backet of glues- some times things are too small, or too thick for tape or its just not cost effective. So I have various PVA type glues and I cannot live without glossy accents!!.

Helen said...

I am not sure if I should answer, not being a nutter... I use tape and glue, depending on my project. Cards, always always tape, for matting and layering... for dimensional stuff, foam pads unless it needs to be more robust... then it's a choice of glues.. glossy accents often - if the bottle isn't blocked; matte medium frequently... and it also how impatient I am for it to dry! tend not to use silicone glues as I don't like the smell.... so there you go.. a long response from a (non??) nutter!

Laura said...

I'm quite fond of the tombow multi mono glue with the green lids. You can use it as a regular glue but also use it as a sticker glue... if you put it on and leave it to dry it becomes like the stick on stickers and is repositionable. (Did that make any sense?!)

Judys Lace Creations said...

I get asthma, so I try not to use that much glue.The tapes are so good, and those dispensers make it quick to attach things.

shazsilverwolf said...

I'm another DST user for cards, always. I have the Stix2 tape runners for attaching inserts and occasionally vellum. Pinflair Glue gel for height/awkward embellishments, including sticking anything to glittery surfaces.White Glue( Anita's) for glittering on acetate. Glossy accents for little things, like beads. That's pretty much all my adhesive choices, I think. I'm rarely a wet Glue person unless there's no choice.

shazsilverwolf said...

I'm another DST user for cards, always. I have the Stix2 tape runners for attaching inserts and occasionally vellum. Pinflair Glue gel for height/awkward embellishments, including sticking anything to glittery surfaces.White Glue( Anita's) for glittering on acetate. Glossy accents for little things, like beads. That's pretty much all my adhesive choices, I think. I'm rarely a wet Glue person unless there's no choice.

brenda lee said...

I've always been a wet glue (what a fabulous term!) kinda person. I've just recently started using tape - or more correctly "glue dot runners". I use them both interchangeably except for a few instances. If I need a really really strong stick then I will use either Matte Medium or Gel Medium. I also use either of these if I need to create a barrier between what I'm gluing down and my next layer - especially if it is fragile/precious/water based. For paper to paper I will often just use a glue stick - Elmer's Craft Bond is my favorite. I've never had any good experiences with Uhu Glue sticks. If I just need the tiniest of dots I use Glossy Accents. I'm starting to use tape to stick straight-ish pieces of paper to paper. I find that if it's particularly wonky shaped then I am better off sticking to my glue stick.

Kyla said...

I also use both. Tape for quick cards and sticky stuff glue for most other things. Foam pads for dimension (I use hardware shop insulation foam tape as it's cheap) and I also love my hot glue gun.goodness it does seem a lot of us use lots of different ones!

Bernice said...

DSP of various types and widths would be my usual preference, although I tend to use a glue stick for inserts. For small embellishments I use glue dots both for card making and in school craft classes (when you use wet glue for googly eyes they usually slide down and dry in the wrong position!!) On a rare occasion I will use Tombow or Collall glue if tape or glue dots just won't work.

Sharon said...

I'm not a glue person. I tried different ones when I started making the mini-albums but however little I put on it seems to make the paper appear all wrinkly and horrible. I do like the way you can re-position glued pages where you can't with take, but I haven't found one I like.

CoventryAnn said...

ATG tape gun for me (acid free as I am a scrapbooker in the main) and if I want to use wet glue, which I do for edge to edge stick or really small embellishments, then I love the 3M quick dry adhesive. So much that I hoard it when it appears online on special offer. :)
Foam pads for dimension, and that's the end of my sticky list!

Jacki Daniels said...

I use tape mostly or 3d sticky tabs but for my embellies I always use pinflair I swear by it unless I have embossed them to death then I use glossy accent just to make sure they stay where they're intended.
but yeah it's funny how we are all different xx

Craftychris said...

I used to mostly use tape but now I've swapped to mostly glue. Collal Multi Purpose, Cosmic Shimmer PVA, Ranger Multi Medium Matt (for sequins) Pinflair gel, Glossy Accents. I still use tape and sticky pads sometimes though. I have two glue guns but never think to use them! xxx

katemade designs said...

I learned to make cards using a tape runner from Stampin Up. I still use it a lot but it doesn't stick as well as I like sometimes so I use Tombow glue which I can clean up with a rubber cement pickup or Liquitex Matte Gel which dries flat and clear.

misteejay said...

I mainly use DST for card making & scrapping. Photo glue is handy if I want a bit of 'slip time' and any squidgy out bits rub away. PinFlair gel is great for dimension (no silicone smell) and glue dots or Glossy Accents for adding embellies.
I have to say that Cosmic Shimmer PVA has grown on me as it is great for construction pieces.
I have an ATG and a Glue gun, both of which are rarely used.
When it comes to DST, I use normal & redline. I do not like 'fingerlift' as I can never get it close enough to the edge for my liking. I went through a stage of using tape runners for ease & quickness but have found that LOs haven't faired well with this and many of my album pockets contain layers that have fallen to the bottom of the pocket and now need to be re-stuck.
Toni xx

Sue said...

I usually use foam tape, double sided tape or pads. When I use glue it's usually Pinflair to add depth to something, but I do have some PVA, Silicone Glue and Tacky Glue.

Hope you have a lovely weekend. Sue

Lynn Holland said...

To impatient for glue drying so it's tape and Pritt sticks for me even though I do have various glues around the place.
Your post is a good one to refer back to Julia.
I got two tape guns after asking about what that thing was on your desk many moons ago.
Have a good weekend
Lynn :-)

Twiglet said...

Good to see you can handle a sticky situation! I never know which one to use and do tend to slap it on and hope for the best! Very helpful post - thanks. x Jo

ednamburgess said...

Mostly double sided tape. The runners are nice when they work but cost more. Glues the same. Seems like they clog up a lot. Have a couple of glues I like, when they work. Like glossy accents, but they get thick and don't always work either. So double sided tape 99% for me.
Edna

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

I too must have spent more on glue than anything else and unfortunately I am often disappointed. I still use cosmic shimmer glue most of the time and love Ranger Glossy Accents. Sometimes use double sided tape on cards but you can't always trust it to stay put for long which is strange because it seems very sticky when you first apply it. I also like the dry sticky dot roll stuff and have started using my glue gun more often now (it's good but I can't always be bothered to wait for it to heat up). Very occasionally a glue stick but these vary and I prefer the clear type to the Pritt Stick. By now you will see that my first comment was true and these are only the glues I can remember Lol! Have a great weekend, Angela x

April said...

Tape. Always tape. And my favorite is my ATG gun - the pink one like yours. I do use glue when putting together box cards and my favorite is Scotch quick drying. :-) I have tried so many!
April

Neet said...

I fell out with my tape runners a while ago. Probably unfair of me because it is most likely the tape I got that was a bit less costly. I love that Scor-tape because it comes in different widths, is as strong as the red liner but tears easily when using it. And no red bits that will not get off my fingers!
I love Cosmic Shimmer. Introduced to me by bollyanne and that has fast become my favourite glue. It is quite "instant" stick so I need to exercise more care in placement.
I cannot remember what Mary's preferred glue is. Very much like Cosmic Shimmer but with a bit more placement time. When she is back on the. Imputed I will ask and let you know.
Probably my second favourite wet glue is the Tombow with the green lid (Laura's choice) and I have come down on preferring wet glue because I have found that old work where dos tape has been used dries out and the creation falls apart.
Just my two penne the Julia.
Hugs
Neet xx

Laura (Bookworm) said...

Small adhesive runners for day-to-day adhering of paper to paper (Project Life, layouts, cards), double-sided tape when adhering heavier types of paper for cards (watercolor paper, for example), Glossy Accents for adhering embellishments (buttons and the like.) I know the big adhesive "guns" are more cost effective, but my table is small and I don't want to have that giant thing taking up that much space. Plus I've heard they're a little challenging to refill.

Laura (Bookworm) said...

A quick note for everyone finding that their Glossy Accents clogs up: I just use a piercing tool to clear the nozzle. It's a bit of a pain, but works. There are some replacement nozzles out there that has a pin-type thing in it to keep the nozzle clear; seems like those would work wonderfully.

Claire Grantham said...

I'm totally a tape person, unless the item I am making needs 'real glue' but here's the thing I am totally and utterly obsessed by glue..I have no idea why, maybe it's because it all looks the same, but behaves differently. One little corner of my Ikea trolley is full of glue's - Tombow, Martha Stewart, UHU, Aleenes, just to name a few..I think I need help. Cx

Robyn said...

I have a bumper sticker that says
"I honk for wet glue!"

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I picked a bad week to stop sniffing glue....! I'm an Aileen's wet glue girl. The secret is a wee bit of it. I tend to use tape runners at classes and workshops but only to keep the comments at bay. Truly use what you like and don't let others tell you differently. When I first started stamping this lady who also taught classes harangued me something terrible about my choice of adhesive. After her dressing down I got one of those AIG tape guns (hated it) and tried a bunch of other adhesives. I finally told myself, "Who is she to tell me what to do?!" I guess she since taught classes that gave her some sort of authority in my mind. I teach classes now myself (and let people take their pick of adhesives). I know teachers aren't experts. We're just faking it like everyone else!!!

505whimsygirl said...

As you noticed on last weeks WOYWW post I have quite a selection of glues. I use the Mod Podge for mixed media. There's glossy and matte. I also have glue that I use on fabric which is usually Aileen's. When I do make cards I use the double sided sticky tape rolls. I also like to use the glue dots when I want something to pop.
And there you have it!
Hugs
Kay

HeARTworks said...

I use glue sticks and wet glue only if I absolutely have to! patsy