Embellish Me Gorgeous

how to | Behind the Art

Best Adhesive for Mixed-Media Art

Developing artists working in mixed-media art often have the misconception that there is a single ‘best’ glue. Although hot glue is one of the most useful tools in a crafter’s workshop, it is not an all-purpose adhesive.

The best adhesive for mixed-media art is the one formulated for the materials being joined and the demands of the finish project.

After years of working with a variety of materials in my own mixed-media art, I have developed a time-tested approach to choosing the right adhesive. In this guide I will share the material for which each adhesive works best along with the different types of craft adhesives.

A better way to explain adhesives is to ask four questions:

1. What am I gluing?

2. How heavy is it?

3. Will it be seen?

4. Does it need to be permanent or repositionable?

HOW TO | SUGGESTED ADHESIVE USE

I. Paper, Cardstock & Detailed Paper Embellishments

1. Best for paper, cardstock, die=cuts, small embellishments, and detailed paper construction. Dries clear and allows precise application.

BEARLY ART ORIGINAL PRECISION CRAFT GLUE

2. Best for paper, cardstock, decorative papers and lightweight embellishments. Provides a strong bond and can be used as either a permanent or respositionable adhesive depending on how it is applied.

TOMBOW AQUA LIQUID GLUE

II. PAPER-TO-PAPER. QUICK. CLEAN APPLICATIONS

Best for lightweight paper, cardstock, photographs, labels, and flat paper layers. Useful when you want a clean application without liquir glue showing around the edges.

ELMER'S CRAFT BOND EXTRA STRENGTH GLUE STICK

III. FABRIC, LACE, RIBBON & TRIMS

Best for fabric-to-fabric applications and attaching lace, ribbon, trims, and other textile embellishments. Dries clear and remain flexible, making it preferable to rigid adhesives for many fabric applicaitons.

ALEENE'S FABRIC FUSION

IV. Rhinestones, Beads, Jewelry Findings & Metal Embellishments

Best for rhinestones, beads, charms, jewelry findings, metal embellishments, and other small decorative pieces where a strong, precise bond is needed.

ALEENE'S JEWELRY & METAL GLUE

v. METAL, ALUMINUM & MIXED MEDIA EMBELLISHMENTS

Best for heavier or difficult-to-bond materials such as metal, glass, plastic, wood, and mixed media embellishments. Particularly used to attaching aluminum cut out pieces from soda cans. It procides a strong, flexible, permanent bond.

E6000

VI. HEAVY OR DIMENSIONAL EMBELLISHMENTS

Best when an embellishment has weight or when two different materials need a particularly strong bond. Useful for dimensional mixed-media pieces that may not hold securely with ordinary crafts glues.