Someone needs to write this book...

[Rachelrose]

It would be called: How Not to Screw Up When You Glue Up.

I cannot count the number of times I have ruined a card in the assembly phase. I won't even tell you how many of the cards in my gallery are complete re-do's. Every time it happens, I try to pretend I'm "learning something from this." And of course the second time goes much faster. But still. You know how painters often hire someone to stretch their canvases? I wish I could hire someone to come in once I'm done designing and glue together my cards!

I've finally gotten to the point where I remember to check my card orientation BEFORE I start to put on the card front. (Hard to forget since I've got it written in Sharpie on all my stamping mats.)

Today's tip... use a cosmetic (pointy tipped) swab to apply the Tombow Mono Multi to your die cut or be prepared to do a lot of adhesive removal, especially in really small and difficult spots. Sure, it says "Pen Tip" but none of my pens dump ink out in globs. Without warning.

One of my biggest conundrums: what IS the best way to trim something that is longer than the card front and hanging over. If it's really narrow, scissors. But if not, then what? Sometimes I turn the thing over and trim against the edge of the card front with my craft knife. Sometimes I try to align a ruler with the edge of the card front and trim with a craft knife. Sometimes I try to align the edge of the card front with the edge of my guillotine cutter. Sometimes these things work and sometimes I end up with a little wobble in the straight line of the card front, or a sliver too small to trim hanging over the edge.

Really, all of you have it completely figured out when it comes to putting together a card perfectly in one go. So, give it up and share!

[SophieLaFontaine]

Huh! I have never used a liquid glue to adhere my cards together!! I have always used tape. At first I used double-sided tape, but then Walmart raised their prices. So I shopped around and went with the ATG gun and tape. So now I use that.

I also assemble the card BEFORE it's glued, to see if anything needs trimming. I almost never use the craft knife 'cause I'm scared of it (also why I never learned to cook: scared of knives). I always trim using a paper trimmer. If it's something like ribbon then I'll use scissors.

I think someone on SCS did actually write a book on glues, tapes and all kinds of adhesives!! Dang it, I forgot who, though I have the very vague, foggy impression that her name is Nancy???

Edited to add: I also use the ATG for intricate die-cuts. Before adhering, I sit patiently after rolling on the tape with a pin or needle to move the adhesive all to the backside of the shape, so none is visible from the front. I've seen other stampers use a Xyron (?) for their intricate die-cuts. I don't have a Xyron though.

Edited AGAIN to add:
Now that I think about it, I HAVE used Crystal Effects (liquid glue) to glue tiny bits of jewels to a card. My "pen tip" clogged up eons ago, so what I do is scoop out a tiny bit with a needle, and put that on a scrap. Then I use a needle to get the exact tiny bit that I need for the jewel. I'm thinking that if you don't have a pointy-tipped Q-tip handy, you could always try a pin or needle...

[Juble]

I feel your pain Rachelrose! I know many people swear by mono glue but I always had trouble with it. A couple of years ago I found some "Best Glue Ever" by ScraPerfect at my local lss. I bought a bottle and am still using it. It has a small opening and doesn't blurp out. I use it on all my small pieces w/o using swabs, toothpicks, etc. I really like it. Just another option for gluing.
But yeah, you still have to do assembly

[craftdesigns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SophieLaFontaine

Huh! I have never used a liquid glue to adhere my cards together!! I have always used tape. At first I used double-sided tape, but then Walmart raised their prices. So I shopped around and went with the ATG gun and tape. So now I use that.

I also assemble the card BEFORE it's glued, to see if anything needs trimming. I almost never use the craft knife 'cause I'm scared of it (also why I never learned to cook: scared of knives). I always trim using a paper trimmer. If it's something like ribbon then I'll use scissors.

I think someone on SCS did actually write a book on glues, tapes and all kinds of adhesives!! Dang it, I forgot who, though I have the very vague, foggy impression that her name is Nancy???

Edited to add: I also use the ATG for intricate die-cuts. Before adhering, I sit patiently after rolling on the tape with a pin or needle to move the adhesive all to the backside of the shape, so none is visible from the front. I've seen other stampers use a Xyron (?) for their intricate die-cuts. I don't have a Xyron though.

Edited AGAIN to add:
Now that I think about it, I HAVE used Crystal Effects (liquid glue) to glue tiny bits of jewels to a card. My "pen tip" clogged up eons ago, so what I do is scoop out a tiny bit with a needle, and put that on a scrap. Then I use a needle to get the exact tiny bit that I need for the jewel. I'm thinking that if you don't have a pointy-tipped Q-tip handy, you could always try a pin or needle...

Wow...how in the world did you remember me? The book was The Complete Guide To Glues & Adhesives, and it was published in 2001. Since then, a lot of new glues and adhesives have come out, but the basics of sticking one thing to another really hasn't. So...if your library has a copy, read away!

[Cook22]

I'm a wet-glue gal all the way, Rachel, so I feel your pain . (Well, almost all the way - not with vellum, or very thin paper).
In my personal experience, the best way to trim overhanging paper is with a steel-edged ruler and a sharp blade. Sure, I tell myself that I can just use a sharp blade along the edge of the cardstock, but then the knife slips...I'm sure you know all about that.
I know I have a super-fine tip for applying glue for fine detail, (I think it came from Art Institute, for putting glitter in small areas) but it's such a fiddle to clean that I find a cocktail stick or a darning needle is what I use most of the time!
I've always read the tip of using dental floss to remove something - I tried it for the first time the other day and it did, pretty much, work.

[Rachelrose]

Yes, I know the slipping knife all too well! The steel ruler is what I usually use, but I tell you, I am at a point where I have to wear my jeweler's optivisors to be sure the ruler is lined up dead straight along the edge and even then I am sometimes off by a hair and it drives me crazy. My eyes are getting old, and I'm in that annoying place where they can't completely correct my vision with glasses and I'm not quite bad enough to get cataract surgery. So I'll cut something, it will seem fine, and later I'll look again and it will be a hair off, a tiny bit crooked, and I'll want to chuck the card!

I think card assembly is a special kind of challenge - You've labored over the design, you're finally happy, and you're excited and want it done. But you have to make yourself stop and slow down. Or wait until the morning, when you're fresh and won't do something dumb, hopefully.

And I do like my wet glue, but I don't only use wet glue. Some things get Scor tape, or snail (yes, I know snail is not very permanent and I should get an ATG gun, but I'm not ready to deal with it yet.) Wet glue is nice because you have a moment or two after you stick it down to make a slight correction. Always a plus for me!