Snail
Snail adhesive is probably the simplest of all of the adhesives to use. There really isn't any learning curve for using it, and it makes applying adhesive to your project quick and easy. It shines when placing card layers together, adding ribbon to a card front or holding decorative thread in place. A weakness of Snail adhesive is that for 3D items such as boxes or other projects that have moving parts that will have stress placed on them, Snail is not really strong enough to stand up long term on these projects; you will want to turn to a stronger adhesive.
Fast Fuse
Fast Fuse is also a convenient adhesive that rolls on to your surface, however, it does have a little learning curve. You must "check" at the end of your application to "break" the adhesive away from the applicator, otherwise, you will have a great big sticky mess on your hands...ask me how I know! It is a stronger adhesive than Snail, making it a good choice for 3D items and any projects with moving parts.
Fine Tip Glue
Fine Tip Glue is a very fluid adhesive that comes in an applicator with a very fine, needle like tip that allows you to place adhesive very precisely, in just the exact spot you need it in just the right amount you need. That make this THE go to adhesive for small embellishments such as sequins or rhinestones etc. It's also great for those detailed die cuts so that you can be very precise with your adhesive.
Multipurpose Liquid Glue
Multipurpose Liquid Glue is just that, multipurpose and is probably the most well rounded adhesive we carry. It has both a small tip applicator end for applying glue to smaller areas in well controlled amounts and a wide for applying a large amount of adhesive down onto large surface areas. Multipurpose Liquid Glue is a good strong adhesive also making it a great choice for those 3D projects. Another advantage of the Multipurpose Liquid Glue is that you have "wiggle" time to ensure your items are lined up exactly where you want them before they dry permanently in place and this leads me to the disadvantage that the slower drying time can lead to unwanted movement of layers or embellishments.
Mini Glue Dots
What can I say about Mini Glue Dots? I LOVE Mini Glue Dots! They are a real work horse in my craft room. They are perfect for adding embellishments to cards, they're great for both large and small embellishments, they are precise especially if you add them with your piercing tool. And believe it or not, those little Glue Dots are STRONG!
Tear & Tape
Tear & Tape is one of the THE strongest adhesives we carry and it is perfect for those 3D items and projects that will receive a lot of wear and tear from use. It's easy to use and comes in a roll that will last you through many a project.
Stampin' Dimensionals and Foam Adhesive Strips
Stampin' Dimensionals provide lift while at the same time providing staying power. These little "pillows" of adhesive do just as the name implies, provides dimension for your projects by lifting the item/element you place onto your project with these little hexagons. And the best part, you can layer them one on top of the other to increase the depth and dimension of your project as you'd like.
Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets
Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets are a must have if you do a lot of die cutting, especially fine detailed cuts. These adhesive sheets provide edge to edge adhesive coverage when applied to the paper prior to die cutting making them the perfect choice when working with very detailed dies. This literally turns your die cuts into "stickers"
As you can see, every adhesive has it's specialty and purpose. However, while you are building your supplies, the most "well rounded" adhesive of them all is the Multipurpose Liquid Glue as it is a great general purpose glue that is effective in most situations. I hope you found this helpful in choosing the right adhesive for the job at hand. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me and I will be sure to get you an answer. If you found this helpful and would like more information like this, join my mailing list for lots more tips, tricks and ideas along with lots of news and information!
Happy Stamping,
