Let’s talk adhesive for a moment or maybe a few. I am always on the lookout for the best quality items for my scrapbooks. Adhesive is no exception. There are so many types and brands it can be overwhelming. If you want to do your own research for that perfect adhesive just make sure you find one that’s photo safe. You don’t want your photos to deteriorate because of the type of adhesive used to preserve them in your albums.
The first adhesive I want to talk about today is the one I use the most. It’s the Tombow 62165 MONO Adhesive. I get mine from Close To My Heart because I am always placing an order, but you can also find it on Amazon or other online retailers. I love this specific adhesive. I know Tombow has a few styles out there, however none of them work quite as well as this one. It goes on nice and smooth and it is permanent which is important for me. I don’t want to be able to pick it up and re-position my work. Once it is down it’s done in my book so this adhesive is great! I never have to worry that it is going to come off. It doesn’t cost an arm and leg which is nice and since you don’t need a lot to adhere things it goes a long way. I also like that I can refill it. It allows me to do my small part in saving the planet from more plastic waste.
As a runner up I will say is a tie between the Close To My Heart Adhesive Runner and the Scotch Adhesive Dot Roller. I haven’t seen refills for this particular runner, however there may be one and I just haven’t run across it. The Close To My Heart Runner also does not have a refill. It is similar to the Tombow 62165 except that it is little dots instead of a flat tape and you can pick it up off the page if you need to reposition it right away. Don’t wait too long though or it will be stuck down for the forceable future like the Tombow.
When I am using die-cuts for my scrapbook titles I love my Xyron sticker maker. The little X does more than I could have ever imagined when I picked it up all those years ago! I love how simple it is! If you have a Fiskars, Cluzzle, or any other die-cutting system that leaves you with letters you need to glue down this little machine will get the job done in a flash. I don’t leave home for a crop without it.
When I make my scrapbook titles I use a lot of things from the computer to die-cuts and most recently my little Cricut Joy. The thing I have found with the Cricut is that my titles are sometimes very tiny or delicate. I don’t always think about how thin something will come out. When this happens the Tombow 62175 Glue Pen has been my saving grace with getting those very tiny cursive words glued down. It is basically a pen that instead of ink puts out glue. It’s perfect for those tiny titles or intricate die-cuts. If the words or die-cut is a little thicker but I still don’t want to put it through the Xyron due to adhesive waste or fear that I may tear it I will use my handy dandy ZIG Two-Way Glue Pens. I have them in varying thickness and I love them too. I’ve had them as long as I’ve had my Xyron and I got my Xyron the day they were available on the market. It was a perk of working at a scrapbooking store for a few years, back when they were EVERYWHERE!
I also use Glue Dots. When I want to adhere ribbon or anything other than paper it is my go to. Those little dots are CRAZY sticky. My bows, ribbons, and lace are not going anywhere that is for sure. I keep a few different sizes with me depending on the item I am working with and they always get the job done.
I do have to mention that there are many scrappers who use the various size ATG guns. For those of you who swear they are the best… Good for you! Very little plastic waste. You are definitely doing your part for the planet. I personally just can't get behind using them. I find them big, bulky, and annoying. However, it is the only thing my best friend uses so it deserves an honorable mention.
Lastly, I used to love and only use Creative Memories Squares. They had a little case you would put the box in, etc. I swore they were the best and then CM stopped making them. They never came back either. I haven’t tried their new adhesive runners, but I would wager like most of their products that it works well and is a good quality. This is just a matter of opinion and guessing though because, again, I have not personally tried it.
Oh, I have used photo squares when there is something I want to be able to remove from the album. Whether it is a photo, certificate, etc. Photo squares are one of the safest ways to put your photos or documents in an album. They just take longer to use.
I would love to know what works for you or what hasn’t. I am always on the lookout for good quality products! Let me know what you think!
Happy Crafting!