Information

[AnniePee]

Hi Cherries, No Fooling, I must be a little over-anxious about sticking down alphabet letters and other embellishments on my cards and layouts, along with photos and accent papers.  I hate for things to curl up or come loose. Some of the worst items are the mini puffy alpha stickers and wee decorations; it doesn't matter which manufacturer it is. I use a glue with a fine tip to adhere them with the help of tweezers, though it takes forever and I constantly have to run to the bathroom to wash glue off my fingers. Any insights, advice, sympathy? Thanks!  Annie P.

[VickiR]

I use a Fineline Applicator for those little alphas.  Hold the letter with a tweezer, add the glue on the back and add to LO.  I also use it under the edges of already adhered pieces that used a tape runner both on cards and LOs.
Fine Line Applicator

[Monroe1218]

I keep alcohol wipes in my room to wipe my fingers off and to wipe the tweezers off.  I wish there was a  way to make sure that things stayed put without all the extra effort - but I have not figured anything out in over 20 years!

[pawprints]

Lol I feel your pain. What I do when something is really small like little letters or dots is instead of putting the glue directly on them, I put a small puddle of glue on a mat and then take the item in my tweezers and gently touch the back of it to the glue puddle, then place it on my layout or card. Yes I do get a bit of glue on my tweezers but I usually wipe them or rub it off, and eventually wash it off if need be. I hope this helps.

[stinkerbelle]

i do this too; all stickers, enamel dots, foam adhesive dots, everything.

sometimes i will put glue on the back of my hand and dip the letters in it; then you only have to wash once!  or you can put some on a scrap of paper instead 

[GinniG]

I totally understand Annie!  Plus the glue can tend to clog in the small tip and that's annoying too!   For things that aren't 3D (puffy alphas that aren't too puffy should work) I use my Xyron X.  It works great with alphas that have been die cut too.  The only thing I do with it that I'd recommend is using something to outline the letter before you take the top layer off because sometimes the adhesive can stay with the letter.  I use an old embossing tool but a rubon tool would work too.  Just something to get into the corners and tight spaces.  

I also use the Nuvo glue for more 3D type things.  It doesn't take very much and it's really good glue.  And it LASTS!!!  


To keep my hands and other things clean I use baby wipes.  My favs are the Huggies Natural Care which I use for lots of things.  I keep a pack on or near my desk so they're always handy.  

I hope this helps!!!

[SandyK1967]

I discovered these Nuvo glue pens, they are great for tiny things or letters/diecuts.  I also use tweezers or a pick-me-up tool to help.

[Donna_Coughlin]

I am the same problem ANnie, i hate . I've been relying a lot on my xyron.Sticker maker similar to this one at ACOT. 
https://www.acherryontop.com/shop/searc ... er%20Maker

[Donna_Coughlin]

I also use this idea I found online. Works really good. 
https://youtube.com/shorts/Cv45XBhs-Z8? ... _Qs1OaiXdc

[Breauxlabs]

I also use the Nuvo glue. It works great. I'm going to have to add the pens to my wish list!

[lisn2cats]

There's a little comfort in knowing this is a common issue. A couple of years ago, I was leafing through my albums only to find most of the embellishments on the botton of the sleeves and, worse, whatever "archival" tape I was using at the time didn't just not keep the photos in place - they left horrible brown tape stains on the paper and, in some cases, bled through the photos. Upside is I have more photos to re-scrap than I have time!

I keep a few needles and pins nearby to unplug the little glue plugs that keep building up. I also a small box of fine tip glue tops and exchange the tops when I can't be bothered (and later rinse out the plugged icky tops). The glue pens are a game changer - I use those a lot! Why can't stickers just ... you know... stick? 

[AnniePee]

Thank you, everyone!  It's nice to know I'm not alone in my sticky struggle. I appreciate all your kind words and suggestions. I agree, why can't sticky things just STICK? It's not just my older stash stuff that have lost their stickum, the worst culprits are the adorable teeny puffy alphas. I have a bottle of Nuvo which tended to barf out glue all over my fingers, alphabet letters, etc.  I should try the skinny pen. Lately my favorites are the Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue and the Gina K. Connect Matte.  Nice & thick, no barfing.

On another note, does anyone have an opinion about using sticky tape generously on photos versus just dabbing a couple spots? I tend to use my tape runner on all four sides of a photo plus a dab in the middle for a 4 x 6" or larger . . . I remember my first scrapbook instructor, a Creative Memories consultant, told me that photos need to "breathe." Of course, they covered finished layouts with snug-fitting page protectors.

Yesterday I watched a video of the lovely and talented Paige Taylor Evans unboxing her newest line with Pinkfresh, "Crafted Moments." She then put together the cutest layout.  I noticed now little stickum she used on each page element. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? Am I an oversticker?

[pawprints]

Thank you, everyone!  It's nice to know I'm not alone in my sticky struggle. I appreciate all your kind words and suggestions. I agree, why can't sticky things just STICK? It's not just my older stash stuff that have lost their stickum, the worst culprits are the adorable teeny puffy alphas. I have a bottle of Nuvo which tended to barf out glue all over my fingers, alphabet letters, etc.  I should try the skinny pen. Lately my favorites are the Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue and the Gina K. Connect Matte.  Nice & thick, no barfing.

On another note, does anyone have an opinion about using sticky tape generously on photos versus just dabbing a couple spots? I tend to use my tape runner on all four sides of a photo plus a dab in the middle for a 4 x 6" or larger . . . I remember my first scrapbook instructor, a Creative Memories consultant, told me that photos need to "breathe." Of course, they covered finished layouts with snug-fitting page protectors.

Yesterday I watched a video of the lovely and talented Paige Taylor Evans unboxing her newest line with Pinkfresh, "Crafted Moments." She then put together the cutest layout.  I noticed now little stickum she used on each page element. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? Am I an oversticker?

I do what you do with my photos… tape runner on all four sides, and sometimes a dab in the middle if the picture is large. It holds them down well.

[AnniePee]

Thank you, Sticky Sister Barb!

[MTCanuk]

Thank you, everyone!  It's nice to know I'm not alone in my sticky struggle. I appreciate all your kind words and suggestions. I agree, why can't sticky things just STICK? It's not just my older stash stuff that have lost their stickum, the worst culprits are the adorable teeny puffy alphas. I have a bottle of Nuvo which tended to barf out glue all over my fingers, alphabet letters, etc.  I should try the skinny pen. Lately my favorites are the Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue and the Gina K. Connect Matte.  Nice & thick, no barfing.

On another note, does anyone have an opinion about using sticky tape generously on photos versus just dabbing a couple spots? I tend to use my tape runner on all four sides of a photo plus a dab in the middle for a 4 x 6" or larger . . . I remember my first scrapbook instructor, a Creative Memories consultant, told me that photos need to "breathe." Of course, they covered finished layouts with snug-fitting page protectors.

Yesterday I watched a video of the lovely and talented Paige Taylor Evans unboxing her newest line with Pinkfresh, "Crafted Moments." She then put together the cutest layout.  I noticed now little stickum she used on each page element. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? Am I an oversticker?

I am the crafter that probably overdoes adhesive.  I use a generation application of tape runner on photos. Like you, down all 4 sides.  I do not want them lifting as I live in a very dry climate.
 

[lisn2cats]

My photos need to breath?!?! Hmmm. Looks like I will be going on a resuscitation marathon in the coming weeks. I have photos that haven't seen the light of day in years now.,

[wimom]

I see you already are trying the Bearly Arts glue. It is what is working best for me. I hold the little embellies and puffy bits with tweezers and apply tiny dots of glue using the fine point tip and have found just those little bits of glue hold really well! I just leave the fine point tip on with the pin stuck in it between uses. And yes, I am an adhesive maximalist -- all four edges and more in the middle for bigger stuff!

[Aztam]

Keep a water spray bottle and paper towels (I have a microfiber cloth) in your room to clean up between glueing projects.

[amysolovay]

I used to use a Xyron sticker maker, years ago, and that thing precisely covered the entire back of any flat item with adhesive. The layouts I made with it held up well over the years. I never got the newer, updated version of that machine, but if it works the way the older version worked, it might help. Only thing it wasn't good for: If your item has holes in it (like a lacy border die or something like that), the adhesive would get in the lace holes and then dust + cat / dog hair (if you have a cat / dog) will stick to it.