I'm classifying wet adhesives as the wet glues, and the
hot glues. There are several types of each - but the one
thing that is important to keep track of is the "acid-free"
requirement - if you are making archival projects.
Firstly, I know we all grew up with Elmer's, but I have
seen first hand the destruction of family photos - that
we'll never get back. The glue literally burned the photos
(over several years), and they are gone forever.
Even all the cool new glitter glues aren't all 'acid-free'. If
they're used for art that no one intents to keep - then go
ahead. But when it matters - it matters - trust me!
Aleene's has a very large selection of glues and
adhesives. But, again, you'll want to check on the type.
Her Memory Glue is photo safe and acid-free. It is also
thick and rich, and even though it takes a little while to
completely cure - it's worth it. It will glue down beads
and sequins, etc!
My favorite quick glue is Zig's glue pen. They come in
several sizes. They go on wet, but dry quickly, and
adhere with a solid bond. When wet they are still
repositional, after they dry, they form a permanent bond.
The sizes are nice, too. The wide base for larger areas,
the small marker for edges, and the ballpoint glue pen -
for small detail work - and you know what I mean - when
tiny corners come creeping up!
UHU has two wet glues that I've tried recently, and I
really liked them. The Scrapbookers Pen lays out a small
stream of glue on a bevelled edge, and allows the glue to
spread evenly as you pull it along. It's the perfect size
for gluing around the edges of a mat or photo. The other
one comes in a neat container. It's called "twist & glue"
and you pull off the cap and see a tube - you can squeeze
the glue out from that, for pinpointing where you want
the glue to go. Or, you can twist the base and the tube is
now in the middle of a large oval, and you can smear
glue over a larger surface area. Nifty!
Hot glues are actually going to make a comeback, I
believe, because nothing can adhere a bead or sequin
more firmly than hot glue. The paper will rip before the
beads will come off! They need to develop some
especially for paper crafting, and I believe the new tips
will prove worthwhile. I'd also like to see some that dry
completely clear, and can be used to imitate acrylic dots.
Wet Adhesives
