My “go-to” double sided tape is my handy ATG tape gun…I personally have the yellow 700 model as seen below, but I sell the slightly smaller red version that is also on the market.  They use the same refills and once you get over the initial investment of the gun itself, the refills are far more cost effective than most any other tape runner on the market.  I use my tape gun for making cards, mini albums, gift tags, etc…the list goes on and on. 

 For everyday use on a variety of surfaces, I turn to Tombow adhesives.  I use the Tombow glue stick on lots of things.  It is a really workable glue that gives a great bond on most things.  As I mentioned in this post, I often use a glue stick to adhere paper to projects that I am going to Mod Podge.  The glue stick offers a some wiggle room in paper placement, while not getting it wet, which will make the paper curl and makes it prone to bubbles underneath.  It is still important to use something like a credit card or kitchen scraper/spatula to gently go over the surface to ensure an even adhesion and to smooth out any bubbles that may have formed under the surface.

My other favorite Tombow product is the Mono Aqua liquid glue.  It is a clear glue that gives a great clean bond and it dries clear, so if you get a little too much in one spot, you can quickly wipe it off and it will not show up after the glue dries.  I use this often when I need to glue down letters I’ve cut from the Cricut, or punched shapes, etc.  A little goes a long way and it is very versitile.

Lastly, I also really like the Tombow Mono Multi adhesive, but it is a little more messy and requires a bit more care when applying.  It is very versitile in that it will create a strong permanent bond when two objects are placed together while wet, such as applying paper to a chipboard shape.  Alternately, if applied to a surface and left to dry, it becomes a repositionable glue and does not have as strong of a bond.  The biggest draw-back is that when it gets on your fingers, they become very tacky and it can mess up your project with gooey glue residue if you aren’t careful.  That being said, I ALWAYS use this glue to cover chipboard shapes…it works awesome. 

Well, if you know me at all, you’ll know I loves me some Mod Podge.  It gives a great protective finish to lots of different projects.  There are so many different types of Mod Podge on the market, for any type of crafty project you can think of, but I tend to stick with the original MP, in a Matte finish.  I also sometimes use the Paper Mod Podge, if it is something that I want to last for a very long time, such as the recipe box found here.  The Paper Mod Podge is acid-free and archival safe, but really it’s up to you, I haven’t found any difference in how they go on. 

 And last stop on our adhesive tour, are Glue dots…a staple for me.  I use all three of the Glue Dots seen below on a really regular basis.  They are great for when you have a small item that you need a really permanent bond for, such as buttons, 3-D flowers, gems, rhinestones, charms, etc…  I also use the Pop Up Glue Dots when I want to add some dimension to a card or hybrid project.  The minis are great for really small items.  I LOVE them, and they come in a resealable pouch on perforated squares, which makes them really convenient. 

 I couldn’t end this “Basics” post without including the Basic Grey Precision File Set.  It is a real must have for hybrid projects.  I use it every time I cover chipboard with paper or when I make a shaped mini album.  It comes with a variety of shaped files that are great for getting into any little corner or ridge and smoothing out rough paper edges.  Best of all, it is really reasonably priced for how easily it gets the job done. 

 I really hope you’ll try some of these wonderful products on your next hybrid project, I’m sure you’ll like them too.  Be sure to join me next time when we take a look at some “intermediate” level products that make hybrids so much fun!

Join us back here tomorrow for the next product spotlight (brought to you by Lu)!