A Guide To Choosing The Right Craft Glue

The fact that so many craft projects require glue and there are so many to choose from makes picking the right one a little nerve wracking. A craft glue that works fantastic on wood can leave a lot to be desired on fabric. Even when there are several types of glue available for a particular medium, the strength that you need can determine one glue over another. With all of the factors that go into choosing the right craft glue, I came up with this handy guide to help make the decision a little easier.

How To Choose The Best Craft Glue

Although there are a lot of choices of glues out there, a handful of them are really all you need to outfit your craft room. The following come straight from my craft room and work for a variety of projects.

The Strongest Multi-purpose Craft Glue

E6000 craft glue
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This industrial strength glue is my go to whenever I need a strong durable bond. It works on glass, clay, rock, beads, fabric, ceramic, wood, glass and metal – really anything! It comes out of the tube a little thick so for smaller projects I insert a toothpick and apply a smaller amount of glue that way. I have used this glue to make an outdoor sign. It worked great to glue branches, to form a word, on an old paddle. My husband thought it would never withstand the weather. I assured him that it would work perfectly with my E6000 glue and the sign is still in great condition after hanging outside for several years – in all kinds of storms! If I had to just have one glue, this would definitely be it!

Durable Craft Glue For Smaller Projects

loctite stick n seal indoor adhesive
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I first became a fan of Loctite when I used their construction adhesive to apply thin brick to our cabin wall. It was by far the quickest bonding and easiest to use construction adhesive that I have ever tried. I was also not disappointed with the Stik ‘N Seal Indoor Adhesive for craft projects. It provides a strong bond as well. This is a high strength acrylic that is solvent free and non toxic. I like to use this for smaller projects, that need a durable bond, since it comes out of the tube a little creamier and less goopy than the E6000. This makes it a little less messy for tiny areas. It’s also a great craft glue for bonding brick, cement, ceramic, glass, leather, rubber, wood, tile, and fabric.

Best All Around Tacky Glue

aleenes tacky glue
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For a great all-purpose tacky glue, Aleene’s is a great quality. I use this for a wide variety of craft projects where a strong bond is not necessary. For styrofoam or floral projects, I used to use Styro-glue. However, this tacky glue works just as well if not better. The glue also holds up very well and gives a quick clear bond. It really is the only tacky glue that you need.

Spray Adhesive For Paper Crafts

elmers spray adhesive
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I have been very happy with Elmer’s spray adhesive for my paper projects. The glue hasn’t clumped up on me and I have gotten a nice even spray. It has a very fast tack so you have to be a little careful when placing your photo or paper or other material. The glue is acid free, dries clear and resists bleed through. I have also used this craft glue for adhering fabric to the inside of a vintage suitcase and it worked great for that as well.

Craft Glue For Furniture Makeovers

elmers wood glue
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Another Elmer’s product that I really like is their new formula interior Wood Glue. I found it to set very fast and provide a strong bond. It dries clear and is sandable and paintable – just perfect for those furniture makeovers!

Hot Glue For Quick Bonding

A definite must for the craft room is hot glue and a glue gun. Although I don’t like to use hot glue if I don’t have to, it works the best for projects that need securing quickly. For instance, I use hot glue to adhere branches to picture frames and candle holders. Since I need one branch secure before I can weave another branch through, hot glue is a must. No other glue will bond as quickly. The reason I don’t like to use it if a quick bond isn’t necessary is because it can be a little hard to work with. I quite often have to go back with tweezers to pull out any loose strings of glue.

a guide to choosing the right craft glue
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Creating rustic styling on a budget by giving new life to old things and using the beauty that is already found in nature. Read more about me.
7 comments
  1. Thanks for all the info.!!! Really helpul:)
    Bev

    1. You’re welcome Bev – I’m glad it helped!

  2. merci je cherchais les meilleurs colles pour tout mes projets

  3. Thank you for this list. Your descriptions are really helpful. This will probably save some of us money and frustration from using the wrong product. This is a keeper!

    1. You’re welcome Wendy! I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂

  4. Great list! I use all of them except Loctite and Styroglue.

    For fabics you must try Fabri-tac. Costs an arm and leg so use your coupons but this stuff is awesome and durable. It bonds jewels to fabric and won’t let go, lol. Dries clear and it’s easy to peel off if you get oozie.

    1. That’s good to know Tee – thanks for the tip!

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