Scrapbookers have so many choices in scrapbooking adhesives. Manufacturers are offering more and more options to meet the needs of this hobby.  Scrapbooking techniques have continued to change over time, and now scrapbookers need adhesives that can handle the newest techniques and trends.

The key to scrapbook adhesives is that they must be photo-safe.  You need to be sure any product you are using on your scrapbooking pages, particularly on the back of your photos, will not cause damage to them over time. When it comes to adhesives, scrapbookers have a variety of options.

Photo Corners: These are the first adhesives used in modern scrapbooking.  They are still very popular.  Photo corners were a great choice because they allow you to remove the item from the page, giving you a temporary adhesive.  They would very for heritage photos, and any other page elements you don’t want to permanently glue to your layout.  Check your local scrapbooking store for the variety of photo corners available.  They come in different colors, including metallic colors.

Glue:  When it comes to versatility, glue is the best option for adhesives in scrapbooking.  It comes in pens, tubes or bottles, each suited to different types of gluing.  For example, use a glue pen for your smallest page elements.  Glues come in many varieties, including repositionable and permanent.  Specialized glues are available for metal or fabric.

Tape Runners:  These are double-sided adhesives that are sold in rolls or in dispensers.  They are a must-have supply for any scrapbooker.  Similar to glue, they come in permanent and repositionable varieties.  They are convenient and less messy than regular glue.  You run the tape along your photos, paper or any other surface that needs adhesives.  It leaves behind a continuous line of adhesive.

Glue Dots:  What would we do without glue dots for our heavy embellishments?  Glue dots are ideal for ribbon, fabric and textured items as well.  They create a strong bond, and are available in many sizes on either rolls or sheets.

Glue Sticks:  Glue sticks provide a convenient, easy-to-use alternative to glue, without the sticky mess. You can cover a large area quickly, making them a great choice for creating fast layouts.  Before you buy a glue stick, make sure it states that it is photo-safe.  Some varieties, like those use for school projects, are not.

Adhesive Spray: The advantages of adhesive spray are even coverage and transparency.  They work well with vellum, unlike some adhesives that will show through the paper.  You do have to be very careful with over spray. Always put down paper to cover your work surface before using adhesive spray.

Tape: Most scrapbookers prefer double-sided tape for adhering scrapbooking page elements. However, one-sided tape is useful on the back of brads or eyelets to keep paper from catching on the prongs.

Foam Tape: Foam tape comes in a variety of sizes and shapes, such as dots and squares.  The adhesive is double-sided, and the foam allows page elements to have a dimensional effect. This adds interest to small items and works very well with letters in scrapbooking titles.

With so many scrapbooking adhesives to choose from, you’ll want to stock up on your favorites.  Watch your favorite craft stores for sales.  Make sure you pack a variety of adhesive options for your next workshop or crop.  You’ll be sure to have the right adhesive for your next scrapbooking project.

Christine Perry is an avid scrapbooker and has over 10 years of scrapbooking experience. Her favorite scrapbooking subjects are her reluctant teenagers. She invites you to her website, http://www.intoscrapbooking.com for more scrapbooking tips and creative memories scrapbooking.