Adhesives

1. Here is the nightmare in scrapbooking. I feel like I have tried them all and I still don't know what I am doing. Often the more expensive they are the better they work but you don't always want to use the most expensive. You will find a nice assortment of adhesives in our basics section. So here is my humble opinion. There is no expert panel here and everyone you speak with will have a different opinion. You'll just have to experiment and find out what works for you. When you find the answers that stick please let me know.  Most Scrapbookers keep a variety adhesives and use several different kinds on each page.
2. Hermafix permanent squares work. Roll them out one at a time and place them individually. Spread them out. They are great for holding card stock to card stock, photos, mulberry, etc. They really hold and they stay where you put them. They can be expensive to use all the time but if you can afford to just do it. Also they are a specific size which doesn't work for all applications and they are not clear.
3. Glue Dots work. They are very sticky and they hold the hard to hold. They are great for ribbons, buttons, gems, sea glass, and odd shapes and sizes. Use mini glue dots to adhere tiny bows and buttons. Use Pop Dots to add dimension. Add a standard Glue Dot then cover it with tiny beads and they will stay put. You can also roll them into a snake and adhere small items like bows. They are versatile and extremely sticky.
4. Two-Way Glues. We sell them and everyone has and uses them but they are limited. The best thing about them is that they are very inexpensive and they dry quickly. They glue paper to paper very well and sometimes card stock to card stock but if you get anything heavier or odd shaped they do not hold. Most people who scrap will tell you they use this glue the most often but that they like it the least. It is not for everything but it is for the things you will do the most often.
5. Mono-Glue. This glue holds better than the Two-Way Glue but it also spreads out. Often people don't like it because of overflow. People who use it all the time love it and have replaced their two-way glue with this because it has more clinging power. You will need an adhesive eraser if you are going to have good luck with it.
6. Scotch foam mounting tape. It adds dimension, holds very well, and can be torn to any size. (Tear just the tape, not the backing.) It is acid-neutral and so should not come into direct contact with pictures but it is wonderful for popping embellishments and much less expensive than mounting squares. Scotch will soon be coming out with a full line of acid-free adhesives that may well be the answer to every industry requirement since they are the adhesives experts. We'll just have to wait and see.
7. Glue Stick is also acid-free, easy to use, inexpensive, and readily available. It can be used for most of the same paper to paper applications as Two-Way Glues and Mono-Glue but isn't necessarily good for holding the heavy, textured, or odd shaped items.
8. Elmer's Glue. Surprise! It's acid-free, inexpensive, and readily available. It is slow drying but sometimes that is what you want. Pour a little in your palette with some fluid water colors and you'll have glue in any pastel shade you can mix. Use colored glue to adhere crystal glitter. Then you need to set the project aside to allow plenty of time to dry.
9. Scrappy Tape. It really works. It is fairly transparent, non-dimensional, and little things like sand, glitter, shaved ice, and bitty beads really stick to it. Create a frame for a picture or cut the full sheet to shape and adhere to your page. This tape is a winner when it comes to holding the odd shaped and hard to hold. You can cover the entire bottom of a pebble and see right through it but if you don't cover the whole pebble you can tell where the tape ends. Ease of use is the big draw back and you may need to use Un-du to get this sticky adhesive off of your scissors.  I keep 2 scissors.  One for sticky things and the other for the rest of the time.
10. Scrappy Glue is very sticky like Scrappy Tape. It dries very slowly and on items like sea glass and sea shells it might react to bring back the fishy odor. You don't want people to think your albums are fishy! Use applicators to put the glue right where you want it or to write out a word. You can use it to adhere bitty beads, glitter, and porous larger objects but it isn't necessarily the best glue for the non-porous items such as sea glass or mosaic tiles as it needs air to dry.
11. Mod Podge is not acid-free. If you are doing a collage use Artsy Collage from our basics section - adhesives. Don't ruin precious memorabilia with anything that will ruin it over time. Just because a lot of people are doing it that doesn't mean it is right. Mod Podge is a no - Artsy Collage is a yes!
12. Be certain all adhesives are acid-free before using them on your photos. Scrapbooks may be the only thing in the world that duct-tape will not fix. You will need to experiment to find what works best for you knowing that it will be a combination of several different products. Though they didn't know it what your mother and grandmother used to use was wrong so don't go there. Have fun, create, serve, and protect, that is the scrapbookers way.