Paper crafts can be a messy hobby, regardless of how skilled a person is at it. This has led many people to wonder if there are ways to minimize this mess.
One of the primary ways that this can be done is through the use of the right stationery and other tools. There are a variety of things that many of us will use, with glue being the most obvious. Despite how common it is in the hobby, many people still have difficulty finding the glues for paper crafts.
Much of this is because of the volume of available products, as well as their overall quality of them. Some people may also find that while one glue may work for standard paper, it mightn’t for other types.
That doesn’t mean that the choice of glue for cardstock paper or other types has to be complicated. Instead, there are quite a few options that stick out from the crowd.
As experienced paper crafters, we’ve gone through many of the glues and compared many features, including how long the glue lasts, how easy it is to apply, and much more. There are several that jumped out much more than others.
Best Glues for Paper:
1. Elmer’s Glue Stick (E579)
Different papers can need different glues, which means that many people may want to find the glue for glossy paper. There are a variety of features that make Elmer’s Glue Stick stand out in this regard.
The first of these is that it offers a smooth application, with the glue itself drying quickly and clearly. This can make it much easier to use than many others, especially for children. Alongside this is the fact that it’s quite easy to wash off your hands, which is a benefit that many people will love.
People who’ve bought Elmer’s Glue Sticks in the past have noted that there are a few disadvantages to it, however. While many have praised how quickly the glue dries, for some people this may be too fast to use.
Alongside this is the fact that it doesn’t have as much hold as many other products. As such, buyers have recommended that it isn’t great for holding anything with any weight.
If you’re looking for a child-appropriate glue to use for school projects or homework, then this is worth buying.
Pros
- Smooth application.
- Easy to wash off.
- Dries quickly and clearly.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer much hold.
2. Amazon Basics Purple Washable School Glue Sticks
This is a major standout when it comes to the glue stick for paper, with this primarily being driven by a large number of features, the majority of which make it as easy to use as possible. There are a few noteworthy examples.
The first of these is that the glue sticks are larger than many others, so you should be able to get a significant amount of use with them. The AmazonBasics glue also provides a much stronger bond than many of its competitors, so you shouldn’t have to worry about holding power.
Being easy to wash off your hands is another benefit that many people should like. However, people who’ve bought the AmazonBasics glue have noted that there are a few drawbacks to this.
One of the most noteworthy of these is that the glue can dry out much faster than you might like, especially if left open for any length of time. As a result, you’ll need to keep an eye on it to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
If you’ve got a large project to stick together quickly, then this is the right choice for you and is recommended.
Pros
- Reliable bond.
- Easy to wash from hands.
- Larger than others.
Cons
- Dries out quickly.
3. Avery Glue Stick
When it comes to quick and easy application, the Avery Glue Stick stands out from many others. The product has been designed to offer a smooth application that doesn’t cause any wrinkles or issues when you’re using it on paper.
Furthermore, this dries out much faster than many other products, so you shouldn’t have to worry about waiting around for it to do so. If you’re concerned about getting glue on your hands, then you shouldn’t here; while many adhesives will be easy to wash off, it’s much easier to do so here than in many others.
However, people who’ve bought an Avery Glue Stick in the past have noted that there are a few drawbacks. The most notable of these is that it doesn’t offer a strong bond, with many noting that it should only be used when gluing paper to paper.
If you’re looking for the glue for gluing paper to paper, then this is the right choice for you.
Pros
- Applies smoothly.
- Easy to wash off hands.
- Dries quickly.
Cons
- Not a great hold.
4. Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Many superglues have a tendency to run when they’re being used, which typically means that they can’t be great for vertical surfaces. This can often be a problem when doing crafts, although this shouldn’t be the case with the Gorilla Super Glue Gel.
The formula behind this has been designed to ensure that it doesn’t run while still offering a large amount of adhesion. There are a few other features to capitalize on, such as the fact that it’s quick-drying, which further enhances the anti-run formula. An anti-clog cap also ensures that the glue shouldn’t dry out quickly.
Buyers have praised many of these qualities, although they have noted that there isn’t a stronghold available with this. This can be a large issue for many people, as it could mean that you mightn’t be able to glue slightly heavier papers or other materials effectively.
When it comes to traditional paper, however, buyers haven’t seemed to notice the problem.
When it comes to finding the glue for paper crafts that don’t need much hassle or time to use, then this should be the one that you buy.
Pros
- Anti-Clog cap.
- Quick-drying.
- Doesn’t run.
Cons
- The hold isn’t very strong.
5. Scotch Permanent Glue Sticks
Many of us will use a wide variety of papers when it comes to crafts. As a result, we often need to figure out what the glue for construction paper and other materials is. This is a standout for this, as it’s one of the more effective for this, as there are a variety of features on offer.
The first of these is that it dries and bonds much faster than many other glues. The bond from the Scotch Permanent Glue Sticks also lasts much longer than its competitors. Lastly is the fact that it’s easy to wash off your hands and typically needs only warm water and some soap.
Many people who’ve purchased the glue have noted that there are a few disadvantages to this. The most common issue that people had a problem with was that it dries out too quickly. This can be an issue if you take your time when you’re gluing, as materials shouldn’t bond if you take too long.
For a glue that you’ll be able to use quickly and easily, then this is the right choice.
Pros
- Quick to dry and bond.
- Lasts longer than many others.
- Easy to clean off hands.
Cons
- Need to glue it quickly.
6. Bob Smith Industries BSI-130 Ultra-Cure Tire Glue
Bond strength is an essential factor for the majority of us, as we’ll often need something that can handle a certain amount of weight, depending on the weight of the materials we use. This is where Bob Smith Industries glue shines, as it offers considerably more strength than many of its competitors.
There are a few extra benefits that many people will love, with one of the more notable being how quickly it dries. Taking between five and ten seconds, you should have enough time to glue and then apply the material before it dries out. This is also one of the more long-lasting glues available.
Several people who’ve bought the glue have noted some problems, however. The most common has been that it can be difficult to get off your hands once it’s one. Part of this has to do with how strong the adhesive is. As a result, you should be careful when using it.
If you’re looking for a large amount of bond strength, this is a perfect choice, as you shouldn’t have to worry about anything not being glued effectively.
Pros
- Ultra-Strong hold.
- Dries quite quickly.
- Long-lasting.
Cons
- Hard to wash off your hands.
7. Sewline Fabric Glue Pen
Nobody wants to get glue everywhere when they’re crafting, although it’s something that many of us will have to put up with. The Sewline Fabric Glue Pen is a viable alternative to this, however, as it offers much more precision when you’re gluing, which can be a significant benefit.
The glue pen is also refillable, so you shouldn’t need to worry about getting replacement pens or sticks anytime soon. Lastly is the fact that it can be used on the majority of materials, which makes it one of the more versatile options available for papercrafts.
However, a few people who’ve bought the Sewline glue pen have noted several issues. The largest of these is that it doesn’t offer as much of a hold as you might want. This may be overcome by refilling the pen with a different brand of glue, although this may not be recommended.
If you want a certain amount of precision when you’re gluing, then this is the right choice for you.
Pros
- Much easier to apply the glue.
- Can be refilled easily.
- Can be used on most materials.
Cons
- Doesn’t stick as much as others.
8. UHU Stic Permanent Clear Application Glue Stick
One of the main problems that many of us have with glue sticks is that they can dry out much faster than we might want. As a result, we mightn’t get as much use out of them as we thought. The UHU avoids this through a cleverly designed cap that ensures that this doesn’t happen.
Alongside this is the fact that, when applied, it dries quickly and smoothly and offers a much more long-lasting bond than many of its competitors. Many people will want to take advantage of both of these features.
What many buyers of the UHU glue have noted, however, is that the hold isn’t as strong as many might like. This could be an issue if you’re using materials that have any weight.
Anybody looking for a no-hassle gluing experience should take advantage of the features that this has to offer, as it stands out from many others.
Pros
- Dries clearly and smoothly.
- Cap design avoids drying out.
- Long-lasting bond.
Cons
- The hold isn’t very strong.
9. Tombow 52180 MONO Aqua Liquid Glue
There are quite a few features that are available with this Tombow glue, which should make the majority of paper crafts enthusiasts happy. The first of these is that it has a choice between two tips, with one offering a broad application while the other is much more precise.
Alongside this is that the Tombow glue offers a much stronger hold than much other glue currently on the market. Lastly in fact that it’s quite easy to wash off your hands. People who’ve used the adhesive have praised these features, although they’ve pointed out a few negatives.
The largest of these is that it can leave paper wrinkly, although this problem doesn’t seem to apply to other materials.
If you’re looking for glue for papercrafts, then you’re going to need a certain amount of precision and versatility, with this being highly recommended.
Pros
- Precision gluing.
- Easy to wash off hands.
- Stronghold.
Cons
- Can leave paper wrinkly.
10. Crayola Glue Stick
Many of us will need to pick up glue for our children’s crafts class, which can often be a difficult choice. One of the standouts among the options is this Crayola Glue Stick, as it’s been specifically designed for a schoolchild’s use. As such, there are a few features that it offers.
The first of these is that it’s quite easy to apply, and the cap of the stick also doubles as a stand so they shouldn’t leave it rolling around the table. Alongside this is that it’s quite easy to wash off hands, which is something that many parents will want. The glue also lasts a significant amount of time.
People who’ve bought this before have noted that it doesn’t offer a stronghold, which may be a slight issue. This is the craft adhesive for kids currently on the market, which makes it the recommended choice for school children.
Pros
- Easy to apply.
- Long-lasting.
- Easy to wash off hands.
Cons
- Weak hold.
Conclusion
When you’re looking for glue for paper crafts, the key is to know what you need before you start looking. While some of the adhesives will be a wise choice for specific areas, they may be lacking for others.
As such, choosing the right one can often mean knowing your requirements so that you can find one that meets them. That doesn’t mean that you should pick just one of the products. Instead, you could try a few and test them to determine whether they’re the right choice for you.
