You can add memories in all shapes and sizes to your layout with the proper adhesive.
At a recent crop at my local scrap booking store I began to notice all of the different types of adhesives available. I was working on pages for my last WDW trip album, and was busy trying to affix my keycards, receipts, and napkins to my pages and realized “there must me a better way to do this.” I went on a search around the store and was thrilled to see all of the choices available to me.
First, I must state that when I find a product that I like it’s hard for me to try new ones. (if it isn’t broke, why fix it?) But, I also know that sometimes what I reach for out of habit isn’t always the best choice for me or my layouts. The first thing I looked for was glue dots in a different size than what I had in my scrap chest. Glue dots are little blogs of glue on a strip of paper that come off and are fabulous for adhering ribbon, flowers, and yes, “Key to the World” cards to your layouts. The ones I had were large, and I often need to cut them with scissors to make them the size I need. Doing this usually gums up my scissors and causes many more problems than necessary. I was able to find glue dots in sizes ranging from mini, small, etc, and I saw other types in pages (not strips) that are good for adhering vellum to your layout.
Next the instructor for this crop asked if we wanted to make these amazing little flowers out of strips of paper. Always eager to learn a new technique I immediately said yes. These flowers are very cute, and I will post on a later blog how to make them. My initial worry, however, was how to stick my flower to my layout. The instructor showed us some amazing glue-like product that I actually had in my box of scrapbook tools, but I was using it for another technique. Called “Crystal Effects Clear Craft Lacquer,” I use it for it’s original purpose which is to make a matte paper product like a die-cut, or a part of a piece of paper look glossy or embossed. What I didn’t realize is that it makes a fabulous adhesive.
I also saw spray glue and glue sticks which are self-explanatory, but where we scrapbookers seem to vary in our preferences is on tape runners and double sided tape. My scrapbooking friend who crops with me most Sunday evenings prefers the double-sided tap she peels each tab off individually, but most people at my local store purchase tape runners that hold the double-sided tape in a plastic holder that releases the tape onto the page or product where you place it. I admit, when I first started scrap booking and my only source for products was Creative Memories, I was a huge fan of their tape runner. I liked how (at the time) I could purchase refills for the runner. I don’t buy much from Creative Memories anymore due to not being able to find a local representative. Also, I enjoy the social aspect of going to my local store and visiting while I shop. There are many other companies that make tape runners, and I have tried a few but haven’t like any as much as I liked the one I once use from CM. Now I buy a simple roll of double-sided tape designed for scrap booking and rip off as much as I want as I use it. The company that makes the one I like is “MultiCrafts and Gifts,” but I have seen other brands available.
With my tote filled with new adhesives, I will boldly try new techniques. Nothing will be off limits to be added to my layouts. I will place flowers, ticket stubs, and, yes, Mickey confetti with confidence as I record my family’s memories, and I will hopefully do it without gluing my fingers (or anything else) together in the process!
Contributed by: Marybeth Caliciuri (NDM#6) Marybeth is the DDL Scrapbooking Blogger.
