The best glues for handmade cards are the types of glue that work to adhere the materials that you choose to use with your handmade cards. Some glues are made for specific material, such as paper, and do not work well with other material, such as fabric. The best glues for making handmade cards are the ones that will stick indefinitely and will not disrupt the final design of the card with unsightly lumps or excess dried glue.
When making handmade cards, you may also come to find out that there are other ways to adhere materials that do not involve glue. For instance, many seasoned handmade card crafters sew items and embellishments onto their cards rather than using glue. Others find that double sided tape or spray on adhesives work best with the types of handmade cards that they create.
Here is a breakdown of common material types used when making handmade cards and the best glues or adhesives for those types of material:
Adhering Paper to Paper
Gluing paper to paper is the most common combination that is used for making handmade cards. The best types of glue used for handmade cards when working with paper are those types of glues and adhesives that do not create lumps. Double sided permanent tape is a great adhesive to use when attaching paper to other pieces of paper. The double sided tape allows the crafter more control over where the adhesive is placed and it is a very flat type of adhesive that will not result in lumps on the cards. Many scrapbookers choose double sided tape as their primary adhesive when working with adhering photos and other paper mementos into a scrapbook.
Adhering Embellishments to Paper
Embellishments, such as buttons, silk flowers, and other small items, are often used when making homemade cards. There are a few types of glue that will work when using these types of embellishments. Clear drying glues work best, most times glues, such as Elmer’s or Aleene’s Tacky Glue, are perfect for adhering embellishments onto handmade cards. For a more sturdy adhesive, you can use a hot glue gun with clear drying glue sticks. When using clear drying glues or hot glue sticks remember to allow the glue to dry completely before handling the card again.
Adhering Fabric to Paper
Different types of fabrics are a great way to add dimension and texture to a homemade card. If you are using light fabrics, such as lace or cotton, then you may consider using spray on adhesive. Spray on adhesives give the back of the fabric a nice light layer of stickiness. The light stickiness allows you to adhere the fabric to the card without any lumps. If you are using heavier fabric, such as denim, then you might consider sewing the edges of the fabric to your card or you might consider a fabric glue. When using fabric glue you should spread the glue as thinly and as evenly as you can. Once the fabric is in place, you might choose to take a bone folder or the edge of a ruler to smooth it out before it dries. This will help to ensure that there are no lumps or air bubbles underneath the fabric.