Looking for the best crafting adhesives? We share our tried-and-true favorites and tips for using them in every craft project.

When it comes to crafting, the right glue or tape can make or break a project! From paper crafts to sublimation and laser-cut items, different adhesives have different strengths—and we’ve tried a LOT of them! In this post, we’re sharing our favorite craft adhesives and why we love them, so you can skip the trial and error and get straight to creating.

Why the Right Adhesive Matters

Using the wrong glue or tape can lead to peeling materials, wrinkled cardstock, or seeping layers. Choosing the right adhesive not only makes your project look professional but also saves you time and frustration!

Watch the Video

Want to see me and Paula yap about our favorites? Hit play below! Or read on for our favorites and links to buy.

Our Favorite Craft Adhesives

We’ve broken these up by category so that you can find the perfect adhesive for your needs. There is, however, quite a bit of overlap in these categories, so make sure too check out all of our suggestions because you might find a better solution for your needs in a different category!

General Crafting

HOTO EasyFlow Hot Glue Gun: We actually did a full review on this glue gun! This is an expensive buy, but it’s worth it for people who have hand issues or who hot glue a lot and want the ease of the automatic dispensing with this glue gun.

Surebonder Hot Glue Gun: A total workhorse—reliable, affordable, and gets the job done every time. This one isn’t automatic like the HOTO, but it’s a very solid choice for most crafters.

Hot Glue Roll: This one is a game changer for high-volume crafting—no more constantly swapping glue sticks. If you’re doing markets or big projects, a hot glue roll saves time and keeps your workflow moving.

Glue Dots: These are perfect for quick, mess-free adhesion when you don’t want strings or dry time. We love these for paper crafts and lightweight projects. We also love that Glue Dots come in several different sticky levels, from repositionable to permanent.

Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue: This glue dries fast but still gives you a little wiggle room to adjust—best of both worlds. It dries clear and holds strong, making it perfect for detailed or delicate projects. A true staple for any crafter’s toolbox!

E6000: When you need something to really stay put, this is your go-to. It creates an industrial-strength bond on all kinds of surfaces, from metal to glass to fabric. Not the prettiest glue—but absolutely one of the toughest.

Paper Crafting

Bearly Art Precision Glue / Art Glitter Precision Glue: These are basically the same style of precision glue—super fine tip, smooth flow, and perfect for detailed work. Cori reaches for Bearly Art, Paula grabs Art Glitter, but you really can’t go wrong with either—it just comes down to preference!

Washi Tape: Washi tape is one of those supplies that’s less functional but more fun. It’s perfect for paper crafts, but we also use it all the time for temporary holds, labeling, and adding a decorative touch to just about anything.

Double Sided Foam Squares / Double Sided Foam Tape: We love using foam adhesives to instantly add dimension to your cardstock projects. Foam squares are perfect when you want something quick and ready to go, while foam tape gives you the flexibility to cut custom sizes for your project.

Glue Pen: A glue pen is another solution for those moments when you need a small, controlled amount of adhesive. It’s especially great for paper crafting, but we find ourselves reaching for it anytime a full-size glue bottle would be too much.

Tape Runner: Tape runners are one of the easiest ways to keep your projects moving since there’s no drying time involved. We use them constantly for paper crafts because they’re quick, clean, and super reliable!

Xyron Mega Tape Runner: Take a tape runner but make it BIG! The Xyron Mega Tape Runner is ideal when you’re working on bigger projects or doing a lot of batching.

Spray Adhesive: Spray adhesive is great when you need to cover a larger surface evenly without dealing with streaks or glue lines. It’s als really great for delicate surfaces.

Fabric

Fabric Fusion: Fabric Fusion is one of our go-tos when we want a strong hold without sewing. It dries flexible and holds up really well, making it perfect for everything from quick fixes to full fabric projects. Yeah, we’ve both fixed a hem with it too!

Beacon Felt Glue: This is our favorite for felt because it grabs quickly without soaking through the felt layers. It keeps everything soft and in place, which is exactly what you want for clean, polished felt projects.

Fray Check: This one isn’t really an adhesive for putting two things together like pretty much everything else on this list, but it is liquid glue product! Put a thin layer on any fraying edges and that will stop your fray from getting worse.

Laser Crafting

Double-Sided Sheet Adhesive: This is, by far, our favorite adhesive for layered laser projects. Put it on the back of your top layers before cutting and then peel and stick to your lower layers. Because materials like wood and acrylic don’t soak up any glue, you almost always get seepage with glue. With double-sided adhesive sheets? No seeping at all!

Which Adhesive is Right for You?

Really the question should be—which adhesive is right for your project! Having the right adhesives in your craft room can make all the difference. These are the products we reach for most often, but everyone’s needs are a little different—so feel free to experiment and find your own favorites too! If you have ones we missed, make sure to leave those down in the comments!