Kate's Paper Creations

It's time for Tools & Techniques Tuesday and today I am looking at Adhesives.  

Not so much what brand is better than another although I do have some opinions on that but more about what's out there and what works best for any given application.

When I put together a basic paper crafting kit for my classes adhesives are the main component.  Every kit I put together has 6 different types of adhesive.  Because I sell and use Stampin' Up! almost exclusively I am going to primarily talk about the items they offer.  However, as I said earlier, there are many different brands out there and in a couple of instances there are others I would use.

• Snail
  - also known as Tombow, this is a two sided tape in a dispenser.  This is a great all purpose adhesive.  It is refillable which makes it more economical and eco friendly too.  I have tried numerous other brands of double sided adhesive and have never found one I like better.
• Glue Dots -  super sticky, double-sided adhesive dots. Use on 3-D accents for cards, scrapbook pages, and other projects.  These little gems will give just a small "lift" to anything you attach with them.  They are great when you have an embellishment you would like to lift off the paper like a butterflies wings or the petals of a flower.  Great for attaching 3d objects to your project.
• Dimensionals -  two sided, super sticky, great for adding dimension to your projects.  Lift a flower off the page or just add dimension by creating raised layers.  Work a lot like the glue dots but these are thicker so more depth can be obtained.
  
• Anywhere Glue Stick -  this is the best glue stick I have ever used and believe me I've tried them all.  It goes on smoothly, dries clear and holds well once dry.  I use this when I need to be able to move what I am placing because it isn't instantly stuck it is more forgiving than Snail, Glue Dots or Dimensionals.
  
• Tacky Tape -  This super-strong adhesive will hold together a box or pouch like a dream! It won't lift, curl, distort, warp, or wrinkle. You can also use it to adhere other craft-related embellishments, such as beads, glitter, or embossing powder.   It is 1/4" wide which works for most projects.
  
• Zig Glue Pen -  This is the only non-Stampin' Up! adhesive I will list.  This is called the Zig Squeeze.  It has a squeeze ball that you squeeze to control the amount of glue that comes out.  I use this for a couple of reasons.  First of all it stays liquid for a while so placement is more forgiving.  It is also very precise.  I can put small dots right where I want them.  And once it's dry it holds really, really well!  I use this a lot when I'm building 3D objects where the conections are too small to fit Tacky Tape onto and it can't be beat when your attaching something really small.
  

All of these (except for the Zig Squeeze) are available through my

If you have a favorite adhesive that works for something in particular let me know.  I'd love to hear about them.  I'm always open to trying new things.  

Hello Everyone,

Today is Tuesday and time to look at a tool and see what it is intended for and explore possible alternative uses.

Today's tool is the Bone Folder.  It is called a Bone Folder because it has typically been made from cattle bone although some are now made from other materials.  The Stampin' Up! bone folder is indeed made from cattle bone.

So what about bone folders? They are a basic craft tool ideal for making great folds.  A bone folder makes anything you create from origami to invitations look more professional.  

They work great for creating a clean crisp fold but what else can you do with them?

• Add distress marks, dry doodles, or additional texture by "writing" with the bone folder as you would with a pencil or stylus. Ink over the "writing" with an inkpad, or apply chalks or paints for additional emphasis.

• Use the bone folder in place of a paper crimper if you prefer asymmetrical crimping or crimping that is unevenly spaced.

• They also work great when you are re-inking those new foam ink pads from Stampin' Up! (another lesson on that coming soon)

How much do they cost and where can you get them?

• You can get one from Stampin' Up! by ordering 24/7
• The cost is $6.95

Now I want to hear from you.  Is there some unique use you have found for your Bone Folder?  If so, leave a comment telling us about it.  I'd love to hear from you.