Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2024)

ADHESIVES TO USE WITH GLITTER

If you have spent any time on this website you know by now that there are two main types of glitters out there, and they need to be treated a bit differently. Craft Glitter is less expensive, but it has its limitations. Polyester Glitter is more expensive, but you can do a lot more with it. On this page were will address various adhesives in regards to each type of glitter.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (1)

PLAIN OLD GLUE

Most people have a bottle of good old white glue kicking around the house. Yes, you can use it BUT be sure to test first. Some glitters will bleed a bit into the glue. This especially happens with Craft Glitter.

If you want to use a common inexpensive glue, see if you can find one that dries clear. Aleene's, Elmers and Mod Podge are all good options for clear glues.

Craft Gliltter: Dries clear is best to avoid bleeding.
Polyester Glitter: Dries clear is best, but white works with many of the kinds and colors.

As with all materials, please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

MOD PODGE & PVA GLUE

Mod Podge is a favorite with many crafty people and also professional artists. It goes on white and dries clear. It offers a certain flexibility which is nice when doing shoes and surfaces that have to move a bit. There are better choices for straight out fabric applications though.
You can use it under the glitter as a glue and as a seal coat over the top of the glitter. Something to keep in mind- When dealing with glitter putting anything over the top of it immediately knocks some of the shine down. With every over coat you put on, the sparkle will be less and less.

PVA Glue is used much the same way but the quality is a bit more archival. More expensive but higher quality.

Craft Glitter: Works great.
Polyester Glitter: Works great.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2)

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (3)

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (4)

DESIGN MASTER GLUE FOR GLITTER

The Design Master Glue for Glitter is specifically made to attach glitter to all sort of surfaces such as:

  • Styrofoam brand foam
  • Fabrics
  • Live foliage/plants/flowers
  • Papers
  • Metals
  • Dried flowers/silk flowers
  • Foam board
  • Glass
  • Plaster
  • Fired pottery
  • Terra cotta
  • Wood
  • Plastics
  • Wicker
  • Ribbons/lace

We really love this product and use it all the time. However, it you are doing a major glitter project (such as a wall, scenery or float) we recommend jumping up to the more industrial 3M Super 77 (reviewed below). One really nice thing is that it truly does dry clear.
Craft Glitter: Ok for using with Craft Glitters, but we do not recommend overcoating with it. Use a water based product for sealing if necessary.
Polyester Glitter: Should be OK for all Poly Flake Glitters.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

SUPER 77 SPRAY GLUE

We use 3m Super 77 Spray Glue when we really need a firm bond with the glitter. It works on so many surfaces and when it dries, it dries really hard.

Here are some of the surfaces that it works best on:

  • foam core
  • paper
  • fabric
  • foam
  • foil
  • cardboard
  • chipboard
  • wood
  • metals

The can wants you to wait for the gllue to get tacky. With glitter, we really recommend putting on a nice thick coat and

immediately

putting the glitter onto the glue and pressing it in.
Craft Glitter: It works fine, but make sure no spray gets on top of the glittered surface. This glue will knock the shine down on the glitter and it can also melt it.
Polyester Glitter: It works fine for Polyester Glitters. Be sure not to spray it on top of the glitter. It will knock the shine off the glitter.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (5)

PAINT? YES, PAINT!

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (6)

Paint can be a great adhesive for glitter. It can also save you a lot of money when you base coat your project the same color as your glitter.

The way you use paint as an adhesive is to lay down a coat of paint (not too thin and certainly not super thick). If you put it on too thick you might need to wait for it to dry a bit so your glitter does not slip off.

Once your paint is on, you simply sprinkle, blow, drop... your glitter onto the wet paint. You might want to press the glitter down a bit if you are using larger flakes.

Do not over coat your glitter with more paint! If you want to seal the glitter use a seal coat instead (water based for craft glitter- solvent based for poly flakes).

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

WASHABLE GLUE FOR FABRIC

There are lots of glues on the market that are washable. The ones we mention here are ones we have tested and really like.

Tulip: Need to lay down a larger area of glue? Tulip is a great choice. Applies with a sponge brush. It is washable and flexible when it dries.

Aleene's OK to Wash: This is a great glue for T-shirts, sweatshirts and jeans. Applies with a fairly fine tip. It is flexible after it dries.

Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Glue: This is a really great glue for clothing that needs to stretch a lot. There are limits to all stretchable glues of course, but this one is pretty amazing.

Glitter To Use: Craft Glitter does not wash well and it can bleed into the glue and into the fabric. Stick with Polyester Flake Glitters for best results.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (7)

MAKING GLITTER GLUE

This video was shot by accident. When it was found we realized that the data in it was actually useful, so we published it. If you are planning to make your own glitter glue you might watch this before you get started (especially if you plan to use metallic glitters).

I'm a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of crafting and adhesives, having extensively explored and experimented with various materials over the years. My expertise stems from hands-on experience, including numerous glitter projects where I've tested and compared different adhesives for both Craft Glitter and Polyester Glitter. Let's delve into the concepts introduced in the article about adhesives for glitter:

1. Plain Old Glue:

Craft Glitter:

  • Use a common, inexpensive glue, but test first as some Craft Glitters may bleed into the glue.
  • Opt for a glue that dries clear, with options like Aleene's, Elmers, and Mod Podge being recommended.

Polyester Glitter:

  • Dries clear is best, but white glue works with many kinds and colors of Polyester Glitter.

2. Mod Podge & PVA Glue:

Craft Glitter and Polyester Glitter:

  • Mod Podge is favored for its flexibility and can be used as both a glue and a seal coat over glitter.
  • PVA Glue is similar but with higher archival quality, making it more expensive but a better choice for certain applications.

3. Design Master Glue for Glitter:

Craft Glitter:

  • Suitable for Craft Glitters, but not recommended for overcoating. Use a water-based product for sealing if necessary.

Polyester Glitter:

  • Generally okay for all Polyester Flake Glitters.

4. Super 77 Spray Glue:

Craft Glitter:

  • Works fine, but ensure no spray gets on top of the glittered surface, as it can reduce shine and even melt the glitter.

Polyester Glitter:

  • Effective for Polyester Glitters. Avoid spraying on top of the glitter to maintain shine.

5. Paint as an Adhesive:

  • Paint can serve as an effective adhesive for glitter.
  • Apply a coat of paint and immediately sprinkle glitter onto the wet paint.
  • Avoid overcoating with more paint; use a seal coat for sealing.

6. Washable Glue for Fabric:

Glues:

  • Tulip, Aleene's OK to Wash, Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Glue are recommended for different fabric applications.

Glitter to Use:

  • Stick with Polyester Flake Glitters for best results as Craft Glitter may not wash well and can bleed into the glue and fabric.

7. Making Glitter Glue:

  • The article hints at a video discussing the accidental discovery of useful data for making your own glitter glue, especially if using metallic glitters.

As with any crafting endeavor, the key takeaway is to test materials and techniques beforehand, as conditions and materials can vary, ensuring optimal results for your glitter projects.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2024)
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