I’m wrapping up Adhesive Week with a spray product. I hope you’ve found this week informative! Make sure you go back and read the other reviews if you’ve missed them!
There have been at least 3 times in the past month when I’ve been in the middle of a crafting dilemma- what glue to use? Wet is too WET sometimes, and there is only so many feet of dry adhesive you can use on one project. There are times when only a spray will do! And this month, Elmer’s Craft Bond Spray Adhesive bailed me out!
Here’s the low-down: it’s an acid-free spray glue in an aerosol can. If you spray the glue and press your surfaces together immediately, it’s a permanent bond. If you let it dry, it goes tacky…so then it’s repositionable. Versatile, right? You betcha.
Here’s the product info from the Elmer’s website:
Acid-free and photo safe. Allows for repositioning. Dries permanent. Fast tack – dries clear. Specially formulated for mounting items to a variety of surfaces, including plastics, photos, fabrics, paper, foil, cork, metal, wood, films, felt, foams, canvas, leather, glass, cardboard and foam rubber. Sprays wide to cover large areas. Resists “bleed-through”.
First a word on how to use it. While I followed the instructions on the can, it’s pretty basic: shake the can, open a window, put down newspapers. YES, it is an aerosol and there WILL be overspray. Sticky, sticky, sticky overspray. You are duly warned, so take precautions to protect the surrounding area, OK?
So here’s how I decided to swatch this product- I sprayed a sheet of corrugated cardboard with Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive (henceforth to be known as MPSA) and attached various items when wet (from l-r: lightweight paper, metal charm, handmade paper, wood checker, cardstock, pom-pom, polymer clay button, and chipboard piece. (Which, by the way, I first sprayed with MPSA & then glittered.)
Now, after this swatch sat for 15 minutes, it was still sticky to touch. So I decided to glitter the background, too:
After an hour, I took this swatchboard and held it upside-down. Nothing fell off. I even tried pulling gently on everything, and all held fast. Even with moderate effort, the only thing that gave way was the polymer clay chip.
On ward to repositioning! This smaller swatch I sprayed and then left to dry. Again, it was tacky to the touch, so I tried the repositionable aspect- I tried sticking circles of cardstock on & re arranging. I also tried foiling:
As you can see, it’s OK as a temporary adhesive, but it doesn’t stay tacky enough to grab the foil, even with burnishing. (No mind- read my review of The Best Glue Ever if you want a foiling glue.)
Curious how I’ve used it in the past month?
I used Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive to bling-out these wood decor cut-outs from Total Class Creative. A quick spray, some gold hologram glitter, and viola- instant centerpiece.
When I made this book using the Grand Calibur and Grand Nestabilities, I wanted to use this pretty flocked paper over cardboard- but I didn’t want it to warp. So I sprayed cereal-box cardboard with MPSA, applied the flocked paper, then flipped it over and again, spray-glued and then covered the back side with some plain cardstock. THEN I cut it out- so I didn’t have to worry about getting adhesive all the way to the edge or glue seeping out the sides. Perfect.
Lastly, I used it to refresh my Cricut mats. So often I’m knee-deep into a project only to discover that my mat has lost it’s sticky. So I sprayed my mat lightly, let it dry and holy hallelujah, my mat lives to cut another day!
Here’s my breakdown of the positive and negative:
Pros:
- Truly multi-surface- good for porous and non-porous materials.
- Won’t wrinkle paper.
- Acid-free, so it’s OK for heirloom projects.
- Dual use of permanent AND repositionable.
- Cleans off of skin with a baby wipe. (No special cleaners necessary.)
- Aerosol application makes it super-convenient.
- Comes in 4 oz or 11 oz cans, so you get a choice how much to buy.
- Readily available at big box stores, craft stores, and online.
Cons:
- Overspray- make sure you have newspapers or a big box to spray in.
- It’s sticky. (See above.)
- It’s an aerosol- not so earth-friendly!
- Flammable, so there are storage concerns for institutional crafters.
- Buying online is costly, due to shipping issues.
To sum it up, this is a product that is a MUST in my studio. I may not use it every day, but when you need it, you NEED it, know what I mean? You just might want to have a can handy!
- Spooky Spider Halloween Bookmark Craft - October 24, 2018
- Review and Demo of LDRS Hybrid Ink Pads - October 15, 2018
- Review and Demo of Nuvo Hybrid Inks - October 1, 2018
- Craft Studio Tour and Organization Ideas - September 20, 2018
- Wax Paper Resist Background Technique - March 20, 2018
- Comparison of Liquid Watercolor Markers/Pens - March 16, 2018
- SAI Japanese Traditional Watercolor Brush Markers- Review & Demo - February 23, 2018
- Rinea Metallic Foil Paper & Ghost Ink Review - February 21, 2018
- Jane Davenport debuts at Creativation 2018 & Watercolor Card - February 13, 2018
- Creativation 2018: New Product Showcase - January 20, 2018
beulahmom says
I just bought a can of this adhesive last week and now, lo and behold, you write a review on it! I wasn’t sure what I was going to use it for (thought about using it to cover my Bind-it-all book covers though) and now I know it will work for that. Thanks for the review! Glad for the heads up on how sticky it is and to watch for over spray.
Amy says
If you’d like to re-sticky your Cricut mat a repositionable glue without the mess and hazards of a spray, you can use The Best Glue Ever which was reviewed previously. Here is a video detailing how to do this:
Best Glue Ever: Making a Cricut Mat Sticky Again
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HoF3O9xEuk
Jenny says
Thanks for the info, Amy! But I like a spray for the mats- trying to brush on a coat of liquid glue is just too fussy and time-consuming.
Ty says
Hi thanks for the review helped out a lot 🙂 I know it said metal but have you tried it on metal specifically soda can tabs ?
Again thanks for the review
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Jenny says
I’m going to be honest….no, I didn’t try it out on soda can tabs. (??!!!!??) If it were me, I’d spray the background substrait and then place the tabs on top. Good luck!
Stefanie says
So I’m searching for an option for a project I’m finishing up and found your post. Realize it’s old, but maybe you can help me!
I put together the wine cork bath mat I’m sure you’ve seen all over the internet. It’s a wedding present for a friend, and I’m worried about the corks popping off, so I’m looking for a way to make them stay put. Monica on Crafty Nest posted that she sealed half her mat as a test, and it was sticky and collected pretty much everything. I’m trying to avoid that while still holding the corks in place. I glued them down with wood glue, which seems to be holding well, but I’m still worried. If I used this spray on top of the corks, would it stay sticky once it was completely dry? I’m assuming yes. Do you know of any other options that might work? Hoping not to change the look of the corks, and not to make them sticky. Just paranoid!
Jenny says
Stefanie- I’ve sent you an email. I need a little more information before I can give you solid recommendations!
Debbie says
Hi Jenny, I wanted to use this spray adhesive to adhere two large pieces of minky dot material so they would not shift during sewing a bedspread. I tested on smaller piece, noted the smell, wondered if it would go away and if it would be safe to use for this purpose for a baby? I did not want to use anything that would retain the smell or vapors linger. Thanks for your help.
Jenny says
Debbie- You have a bigger issue to sort out first before you worry about the smell. I would NOT use Elmer’s Spray Adhesive for fabrics that you are intending to sew- it will gum up your needle quite badly! What you need is a “spray baste” product like the one from June Tailor or from Sullivan’s. If you cannot find these brands, make sure the one you choose is A) marked for fabric use and that B) it will not gum up your sewing needle and C) will wash out of fabrics. These products have virtually no odor. So see? If you fix the “right-adhesive-for-the-job” problem, the “smell” issue disappears! Happy to help, -Jenny
Lauren says
Do you think this would work as a sealant as well?
Jenny says
No, not at all. The adhesive would be sticky, but would not protect your surfaces at all. If you are looking for a spray sealer, try Krylon triple-thick.
jeanette says
Hi…Thanks for all of your information. I’m looking for an adhesive to attach a nylon backed fabric to a cork board. The board has glass doors that swing open, so it’s important that the adhesive is strong. There is no frame around the edges of the cork. I plan to staple around the edges and cover with fabric tape. Wondering if you have had luck with this adhesive attaching fabric to cork.
Jenny says
Jeanette- Craft Bond should work very well for this- test a small sample first, though, just to be sure. Good luck!
Rebecca says
Thanks for the info. I was going to use this glue to spray on fabric animal cut outs on onesies. I was concerned that it would not stick when I washed it. So I made a sample and washed it and the fabric animal cut out came out in the wash. This glue is not made for this sort of project, is that correct?
Jenny says
Rebecca- good for you for testing it a pre-washing!! I don’t recommend Craft Bond for anything that you might either wash or sew. For the best non-sewing method of adhering fabric to onsies, I suggest using an iron-on fusible adhesive like Wonder Under or Heat and Stick. I have a blog post about making fabric appliques that might be helpful to you! http://www.crafttestdummies.com/craft-projects-2/how-to-cut-fabric-with-the-cricut-die-cutting-machine/
Jan says
I would like to adhere a circle of felt to a child’s sweatshirt for a Halloween costume. Afterwards I would like to remove the circle with no damage to the sweatshirt. Would the MPSA you have been discussing be a suitable adhesive to use to get the results I am after?
Jenny says
Absolutely NOT. Spray adhesive would be a disaster!!!! However, you could use a spray-basting spray (found in the quilting aisle/store) that will wash out and release the appliqué without leaving a residue. Good old-fashioned basting with thread is the best. 🙂
Jan says
Thank you very much for your advice. I’ll look for the spray then I’ll decide which method to use. I know which will be the most economical.
Carl Shoemaker says
Hi! Is this glue strong enough to permanently bond 1/8″ glass to wood?
Thanks!
Jenny says
I wouldn’t think so- at least not permanently. I’d use Weldbond instead.
Samantha reynard says
So I have a question my mom is doing a craft project for Halloween using cardboard and paper and she is using the elmers adhesive spray glue but it keeps coming apart in some places is there anything to do about it?
colleen merreot says
I would like to use this glue for positioning a stencil on a painted board however everything I have read on line these adhesives leave a residue. And if there is a residue that remains can it be removed without taking the paint off?
Jenny says
Colleen- this product is a PERMANENT spray adhesive, so it’s NOT what you want! If you’d like to use a spray product, you can use a stencil positioning spray (yes, those exist- Martha Stewart Crafts has a version made by Plaid) OR you could use a temporary basting spray for quilting. Remember to spray the stencil lightly, (not the surface) and as long as the painted board is fully cured there shouldn’t be a problem. Good luck!