Amanda Makes Things

Junk Journaling, by its nature, requires a lot of adhesives. And the one you use is going to vary depending on what you are doing. Attaching translucent washi paper with a heavy wet glue is going to end in tears, and wrinkled washi. But, what if you are new to the craft? What if you have a budget and can’t buy six different glues?

Fear Not.

I am here to help. The following summary is a general review of glues/adhesives that are good for a variety of applications, and, best of all, budget-friendly!

Starting from the left, we have Aleene’s Tacky Glue. This can be found at almost any big box/craft supply store, including Amazon and Walmart for a bargain price of between $3-$6 dollars per bottle. It lasts a good long time and a little goes a long way. It can be a little messy/heavy for more delicate projects so next in line is…

Art Glitter. The downside to this one is the price; but if I were only going to buy one glue, this would be a contender. That metal precision tip is your BFF for getting glue onto fussy cuts, without getting it everywhere else besides. It is available on Amazon; I paid about $14 for my bottle. They also offer larger “refill” bottles, which maybe helpful. But maybe you aren’t ready for that level of spendiness. (I totally understand)

Roller tape adhesive. There are quite a few brands; they vary in size and cost. I found a 4-pack on Amazon for $10. They can also be found at Walmart, Michael’s, Joann and office supply stores as well. Some of them come with refills so you can reuse the dispenser. This would be my other “go-to” adhesive, if I could only buy one. This works for almost any application and has excellent sticking power. I wouldn’t use it to stick “an elephant to a tree” (RIP Jeanne Robertson) but it will definitely hold your projects together.

Last but never least…

The Ye Olde Glue Sticke. If you have kids, you have probably bought about five million of these, only for them to vanish into the nether realms of an elementary school classroom. They come in colors, clear, plain white and tons of sizes. You can stock up on them when it is back to school time in your area, and they will last a good long while; as long as you don’t work in a classroom. These work for just about anything except heavier cardstocks and embellishments. A good workhorse, inexpensive and easy to find.

So, there you have it; a far from comprehensive but concise list of possible choices in glues. I hope one of them works for you. If you have a question, or an opinion or just want to say hello, I hope you will. Now, go forth and craft!