Archive for July, 2007

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Using the right sticky stuff

When making your wedding stationery, using the right adhesives for the job will ensure your results look professional and save you time. Nothing looks more “homemade” than a card with bits falling off.

Fortunately there is a wide of range of products available to ensure everything sticks firmly.

Glues - includes PVA craft glue, glue sticks (like Pritt) and glue guns.

Tape - double sided tape and adhesive tape pens

Sticky pads - use to create a 3D effect

Glue Dots - little dots of adhesive, great for saving time and avoiding mess.

In the following articles we will look at each of these and guide you on which to choose for each task and how to use them effectively.

Double Sided Tape

Double sided tape is a very strong adhesive that is almost clear. Place it on the back of the card, insert or topper you want to attach and peel away the backing before placing it onto your card. It is perfect for gluing layers of card and paper or for attaching toppers to the front of your card and creates an instant sturdy bond. 

Double sided tape is less effective on handmade papers where it is better to use a small amount of PVA glue or glue dots, and it can show through vellum so we recommend the adhesive tape pen/runner for this.

Double Sided Foam Pads

Double sided foam pads are perfect for adding dimension to the layers of your stationery. If you have layers of paper or card on the front of your design they can be raised up using these sticky pads. Place them on the back of the card layer or topper and peel off the protective backing before placing where you want on the card. At the wedding crafter we recommend using a foam pad close to each of the corners and a couple in the middle of a small topper. If you want to raise up a larger piece of card spread the foam pads out over the back so they support the whole layer. With 440 in each pack you will have plenty to go round.

PVA Glue

PVA is liquid glue that dries clear with an extremely strong bond. It is perfect for gluing embellishments like wire hearts or skeleton leaves which cannot be stuck with Mini Glue Dots. Once the embellishment is attached with the wet glue it must be left still and lying flat to dry, which takes from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the amount you have used and the temperature of the room. Resist the temptation to lift the embellishment to check it is dry as this will break the bond. Always leave plenty of time, perhaps go and pamper yourself for an hour while your embellishments dry!

“Should I attach inserts to the left or right side of the card?”

Here at the Wedding Crafter we nearly always attach inserts to the left hand side of the card, near the spine. When fixed like this, the insert will fall open when the card is opened, allowing people to read the contents of the invitation or order of service straight away.

The exception would be for an order of service if you wish to print on both sides of the front page. Some couples like to put their names, the date and venue details on the first page leaving the 2 middles pages for the service details. In this case you would attach the insert with the adhesive on the right hand side of the spine.

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