Description
I stock a variety of adhesives so I can be sure what I attach to my card stays put. It’s important to use the right adhesive for the job so you aren’t wasting expensive tape where you don’t need or using adhesive that isn’t strong enough to secure your elements.
The first adhesive is a tape runner. I use Scotch’s ATG gun. I’ll be honest, I didn’t initially invest in one of these and instead bought smaller, handheld tape runners and refills. They are convenient – especially if you craft on the go. However, I worked out the math and ATG gun tape is a lot cheaper than those refill packs. Also, it comes in larger rolls, so you run out less frequently. I don’t mass produce hundreds of cards, but I was still going through the handheld tape runner refills really quickly.
A dotted tape runner is particularly nice for getting adhesive on the back of an intricate die cut or small/thin areas. It’s a lot less messy and easier than trying to dot the die cut with liquid glue.
Scor-Tape is another must-have. It’s a dry adhesive tape similar to what comes out of an ATG gun, but it comes on a roll. It has a paper release backing, so you can easily tear it down to the length you need. I typically use this when I need a stronger bond or I’m taping together different types of materials (e.g. cardstock and acetate). It comes in multiple widths from 1/8″ up to even 6″. Whenever I see this go on sale, I’ll stock up. I generally use the 1/4″ most.
Liquid adhesive is a must as well. Tombow’s Mono Permanent Multi-Purpose glue is great. It’s a strong adhesive but it also dries tacky if you want a less permanent bond or want to try other techniques like foiling!
Finally, I use foam adhesive to add dimension and create shaker cards. When I sat down to do the math to compare the cost of adhesives, foam tape is actually the most expensive. That’s not surprising since it’s more than just the glue – you’ve got foam sandwiched between two strips of glue.
I’m experimenting with a cost-saving alternative because I want to use it more generously than I have been. If I find a solution worth sharing, I’ll be sure to post about it.
