Please help - Advice needed for covering journals

[marissa's_mom]

I have just begun making journals with the composition books and want to make a bunch for an upcoming holiday craft fair that I will be in. I have been trying out different adhesives and was wondering what you use and why. I have used ZipDry and MonoAdhesive so far. I like the shiftability of the ZipDry, but the Mono seems to lay better. I made one with the ZipDry for my 4 year old (one I flubbed up, so I doctored it for her) and the covering started to peel up. I don't want to do tons of work and sell them for a nice price and then find out that they started to come apart.

Thank you in advance for your comments.

*** P.S. ***
Do you cover the inside of the cover too or just leave it as is?

[garkarlon]

I've used the red sticky strip for covering my journals. I started out using Zip Dry, but found that it just didn't adhere long term. Sticky strip is literally indestructible. Hope this helps!

[garkarlon]

Oh, and yes, I cover the inside front and back of my journals. I feel it looks more finished.

[thecountryrose]

I run my papers through my Xyron and use my bone folder to make sure there are no air bubbles. I also cover the inside of my journals.

[lcmdws]

Just did about 40 of them with cancer survivors, many non-crafters, and glue stick didn't work, ATG ran out, and CM tape runners all fell apart... I haven't been able to find my sticky strip since I bought it last year.... being out in the boonies at a camp, we plugged in the glue guns from the wreath making group and used them.

For resale, I would definitely do sticky strip - although I did have success with ATG gun, which for me is quicker.

Does the Xyron put adhesive on the back? Cool!!!

We definitely covered the inside, but do it last, as we made one upside down cuz we covered the inside first...the wide margin of the paper was on the bottom.

I used a tutorial found on SCS by Trisha deFoggi (sorry if I didn't spell that right). I modified it by adding a ribbon all around, under the binding cover, to tie up the book. The campers LOVED them.

[airbornewife]

I use Red Sticky tape along the outer edges and I put it on the book, put either some mono adhesive in the inner area or some Tombow Multi.. and then lay the paper on the book and take a hobby knife and trim it.. and then sand the edges. Pam

[teacher4416]

I use Food For Craft/Club Scrap glue. Once it's on you will not be able to reposition the paper, so you need to "get it right" the first time. Clutz that I am I rarely have a problem, so I highly recommend it. You use very little, start in the middle of your cover (not the paper), circle a thin stream outward. Use a foam brush, brush glue outwards. Place paper. it dries pretty quickly so be fully ready with the paper and such before you begin.

I have even used thin paper on cheaper/thinner chipboard covers (6x6 thourgh 12x12) and have had no bubble issues, no seepage, it was great everytime. And I have not had anything lift...some books are 2 years old.

HTH

[maine_girl]

I sell my journals at fairs and on Etsy and I use Mod Podge! It can be a bit messy, but it goes on great, dries nicely and I think it's cheaper then using up my Xyron or red-sticky tape.

[Novell]

I am really liking Martha Stewart's Decoupage Glue. It comes with a brush in the lid (like rubber cement does) but when the stuff dries it doesn't leave brush marks and it isn't tacky like Mod Podge. It's very thick stuff so you have to be sure to spread it out to be a thin layer. I use it as an underlayer to attach the paper to the alterable book. Once it's dry, I add a layer to the top to seal all the edges and protect the paper from getting dirty from handling.

[hauction]

I must be from the dark ages. When I made mine, I used old fashioned Elmers Glue. I painted it on with a paint brush on the cover and added a little extra around the edges. If you use good heavy paper there are no bubbles. Unfortanetly if you use less than quality paper sometimes bubbles haunt you. Just put something pretty over it!