Are you in the market for the most suitable glue for glitter? Have your kids recently discovered the wonder that is glitter? If so, you are probably looking for a good glue for setting glitter in. The reason could be not just that you want your kids’ artwork to last for as long as possible but also to prevent stray glitter from getting all over the house.
There are so many different types and brands of glues in the market these days, but not all are ideal for glitter projects. Some glues may hold the glitter in place for a while but what you want is one that holds the glitter in place permanently.
In this article, you will learn how to pick the right kind of glue that will make you and your kids happy.
Top 7 Glue for Glitter Reviews
1. Mod Podge CS11201 Waterbase Sealer Glue
Mod Podge is the most popular glue and sealer among most arts and crafts enthusiasts for many reasons. For one, this glue dries clear and glossy without the need for other finishes. If you will be working with glitter, you want it to show clearly through the glue you mixed it in. This is exactly what you will be getting when you use Mod Podge.
This product works well on wood, paper, and of course, other porous materials. I have also been using this glue/sealer on plastics and even on glass, and it has held on quite well.
I also found that this is one incredible option for suitable glue for glitter on shoes. If you let the glue dry and cure for the required amount of time, this will last almost forever. Once the glue is completely dry, it will also be waterproof.
Speaking of lasting forever, I have a lot of projects where I used this product over the years and they are still doing just fine. I have used this on projects that used a lot of glitters, including water bottles.
I just used several layers of this product to completely seal the glitter on the surface, and not even one piece of glitter has come off. This truly is a good glues for cardstock paper.
The only problem that I have with this product is that it has quite a strong smell. However, even though this product smells quite bad, it is not noxious at all. If you have asthma, it may be best if you use it in a well-ventilated area because the smell might trigger your condition.
- Dries clear and glossy
- Easy to use and clean
- Pretty much permanent once dried and cured properly
- Can adhere to pretty much any material
- Smells horrible but not noxious
- A bit on the expensive side
This is the glue/sealant that most long-time crafters use. This company has been in business for more than 50 years, which is a testament to how good this product is. However, since you will mostly be using a brush applicator, you may need to supervise young kids when using it.
2. Art Institute Refill Bottle Adhesive Glue
Whatever material you will be working with, you can be sure that Art Institute adhesive will stick to it. Of course, this glue will work well on card stock and even on wood. I have also used it on glass and even ceramics.
Even without scuffing the surface, this glue will still adhere well to it. This is a good glue for glitter on fabric, but it is not permanent.
The most important thing about using glue for setting glitter is that it needs to dry clear. This product certainly does dry clearly, almost like clear glass. I have used this on certain projects where I used several layers, and it is absolutely clear. I could see the bottom clearly even without polishing the surface.
If you will be creating a project that you intend to leave outside, like painted rocks, this glue is ideal. You can easily wash this glue off your hands while it is still a bit sticky. When it is completely dried, the finish is completely waterproof. I have used this material on a couple of flower pots and the finish is still intact.
I do not have that many complaints about this glue when it comes to performance, but I wish that this is a bit more affordable. If you will be using this product on glitter, expect to use quite a lot of it, especially if you will be using several layers to seal the surface. In other words, you will be spending quite a lot on this quality product.
- Can be used on almost any surface, porous or non-porous
- Can hold glitter almost permanently
- Dries clearly and leaves a glossy finish
- Waterproof once dried
- A bit expensive
- The nozzle applicator clogs easily
This glue is specifically made for holding glitter, so you can be sure that this will do what it promises to do, and it does it well. Yes, this is a bit on the expensive side, but you will be getting your money’s worth. If you want your glitter to stay put on the surface you applied it on, you need to use this glue.
3. Beacon Adhesives Beacon Glitter
If you are primarily working with glass and other non-porous surfaces, this most preferred glue for glitter on the glass will serve you well. I have been using this for making glitter glass Christmas ornaments, where I spread the glue inside the glass globes.
It adheres to the inside surface of the glass perfectly without prior prep work. Also, I noticed that when it dries, it bonds to the surface permanently. It does not crack or chip.
Beacon Glitter It glue also has the perfect consistency for glittering the insides of bottles and jars. This is not like other glue brands where you may need to dilute them with a bit of water. This glue is ready to use straight out of the bottle. Just pour a bit of this product inside the container and slosh it around to get an even coating.
Another nice thing about this glue for glitter ornaments is how quickly it dries. In just a minute or so, the glue starts to get really tacky. When you are using this to set glitter on any surface, it will not run. As I mentioned earlier, I have been using this to make Christmas ornaments, and I am quite impressed by how evenly it applies.
I do not have any complaints about the product itself, but I do wish that Beacon would invest more in a better container. Almost every bottle of Glitter It that I have owned leaked. The nozzle does not create a good seal around the opening. In addition, the included nozzle applicator clogs up easily.
- Specifically formulated for use on non-porous surfaces
- Dries quickly and clearly
- Washes easily while still tacky
- Has just the right consistency for coating the insides of glass vessels
- The bottle leaks easily
- The nozzle is not that effective
This is the most suitable glue if you want to create your own glass ornaments. It has just the right consistency that makes it easy to spread inside bottles, glass balls, and other containers. It also works great for general adhesive purposes, so this product is well worth the price.
4. Aleene’s Tack-It Over & Over Liquid Glue
This is a stay-tacky glue that can stick on many different surfaces, even non-porous ones like glass and plastic. If you will be attaching plastics to plastics, this glue is a good choice for adhesive. The nice thing about it is that you can peel it off and reapply it on another surface. It might not be good for applying glitter to your projects.
This glue also has an “adjustable” nozzle. This just means that the plastic nozzle is soft enough that you can cut the opening as wide or as narrow as you want. The other glues that I have been using so far have such hard plastic nozzles.
This prompted me to use a small saw to make the opening a bit bigger. I use this glue for making glue dots (clear Blu Tac) so I cut the nozzle a bit bigger so I can make bigger dots.
Another nice thing about this glue is that it dries clearly. Even though this takes a while to completely cure, this will already turn clear once it dries a bit. This is great for when you need to stick together light-colored materials. The glue will not discolor the surface even one bit.
This is not that ideal for glitters because this is an always-tacky glue, which means that it takes a very long time for it to completely dry. Even after a couple of days, it will remain sticky, which is not what you want for your glitter projects. If you want to make glue dots or stripes for office or school use, this is one of the best glues to use.
- Can stick to porous and non-porous surfaces
- Customizable applicator tip
- Dries clear
- Gets tacky quickly
- A bit too thick in consistency
- Takes a long time to cure completely
Aleene’s Tack-It liquid glue may have dozens of other uses but it might not be the best choice for glitter. This glue stays tacky far too long so it might not be a good choice to use it with glitter. On the other hand, if you want to make glue dots or stripes with glitter, you can probably make use of this product.
5. RANGER Star Dust Stickles Glitter Glue
Rather than purchasing your glue and glitter separately, you can just buy a bottle of Stickles instead. This is, in my opinion, the most preferred glue for glitter on paper. This product is already a glue and glitter mixed, so you can already use it straight out of the bottle.
You also do not need to worry about the quality of the glitter used. It is quite sparkly and brightly colored. Your kids will surely love how pretty this glitter glue looks.
One of my concerns when using pre-mixed glitter and glue is how evenly the glitter will be spread evenly with every application. I have used other brands of glitter glue and their glitter would usually settle at the bottom so you need to shake the bottle. This is not the case with this product. The glitters will always be suspended in the glue.
Speaking of the glitters, I like the color of the ones used by Stickles. I was able to use it on both dark and light backgrounds and the glitter is still very visible. Not only are the glitters quite shiny, but the metallic colors also contrast well with all background colors. I’ve tried using it on black cardboard, and it showed quite well on a dark background.
The problem with this glitter glue, though, is that you can only use this on thin and porous materials. It means it is only usable on paper and card stock. I tried using it on glass and plastic, and what I discovered is that the glue would peel off cleanly. It is also not the a good glue for glitter on wood, but the thin glue just seeped through the grain.
- Already has glitters suspended in the glue
- Glitters always apply evenly even without shaking the bottle
- Glitters are quite sparkly, ideal for crafts and for adding highlights to drawings
- The glue dries fast and turns completely clear
- Only useful on paper and card stock
- The glue will peel off when applied to non-porous surfaces
Although this glue is only meant for use on paper and cardboard, it is very good at its job. Regardless if you use this glue on a light or dark surface, the glitters will be completely visible and contrast well. If you are looking for a good glitter glue for porous materials, this is a good buy.
6. Elmer’s Swirl Glam Glitter Glue
The nice thing about this product is that you are getting 31 colors of glitter glue in the set. This set is ideal for young kids because the huge variety of colors will allow them to let their imaginations just run wild. However, just because this is marketed towards kids, that does not mean you cannot get in on all the fun.
One thing I liked a lot about these glitter glues is the uniform consistency of the glue used. It has just the right thickness so that it can hold its shape when applied on paper or cardboard.
Even when wet, the glue will not run. This makes it the ideal glitter glue for adding highlights to drawings. However, this is not the top glue for glitter on plastic.
I also liked how the glue itself comes pigmented to match the color of the glitter. This made each tube of glue a lot more vibrant. It is like you are painting with glitter paint. However, the glue is still quite easy to wash off if you ever get some smeared all over your hands. Even on your clothes, regular soap and water will do the trick.
However, just like many other glitters glues out there, Elmer’s Swirl Glam is ideal for use only on paper or thick card stock. The glue is not thick enough to stick on wood without seeping through the grain. It is also not that adhesive that sticks to non-porous surfaces.
- Contains 31 colors of glitter glue
- Boasts of good consistency – It will not run easily
- Colored glue, making it look even brighter
- Easy to wash if not completely dried
- Useful only on paper and card stock
- Some colors changed their color shade upon drying
However, just like many other glitters glues out there, Elmer’s Swirl Glam is ideal for use only on paper or thick card stock. The glue is not thick enough to stick on wood without seeping through the grain. It is also not that adhesive that sticks to non-porous surfaces.
7. SoJourner Chunky Holographic Body Glitter and Glue
This is not exactly a glue for glitter but technically it can be considered the suitable glue for glitter tattoos as it does contain body glue. This product is a set of glitters meant for body painting. If you have young kids who like to play dress-up, they would surely love this.
The glitters are bright and shiny but they are not so fine that they would easily get into your eyes. In addition, the glue that comes with the kit is completely safe for the skin. This glue is hypoallergenic and will not cause any kind of irritation. It is also easy to wash off using just soap and water.
Aside from being one of the most remarkable choices for a good glitter glue for the face, you can also use it for arts and crafts projects. Even with the small amounts of glitter available for each color, it is not ideal for large art projects.
You cannot use the included glue for crafts though as it is not strong enough to adhere to surfaces, even on paper.
As mentioned earlier, this is not a glue for glitters but rather a set of body paint glitters. Although the glitters are usable for crafts, you will still need to use another glue to make them stick to the surface. In addition, the glitters may not be as fine as you would like for your project.
- Contains 16 different colors of glitter
- Comes with non-toxic body glue – I find it easy to wash off
- Can also be used for arts and crafts
- Has a lot of different uses
- Included glue is for body use only
- Does not come with an applicator
Technically, this is not just glue for glitters, but a kit for body glitters. However, the included glue is not ideal for crafts, the glitter selection is still great. If you want glue to use for your glitter crafts, this might not be ideal for your purposes.
How to Choose Tape for Glue for Glitter
When shopping glue for glitter tumblers and other similar projects, I have to be very particular, so I had to come up with a priority list of features to look for. Some of the things I kept an eye out for include:
- Bond Strength
- Works on All Surfaces
- Dries Clearly
- Dries Quickly
- Waterproof/Weatherproof
- Good Consistency
1. Bond Strength
The glue should be able to adhere and bond to the surface permanently. The reason why you are putting glue over the glitter is to hold it in place. If the glue does not have strong adhesion, it will just peel off the surface and take a good chunk of the glitter with it. This is not what you want to happen.
The glue should be solid once it dries and cures. If you press on the surface, you should not be able to leave an impression. It should feel like a hard plastic sheet, and you should not be able to peel it off easily using your fingers.
2. Works on All Surfaces
The glue you buy should not just adhere to porous materials, which could mean that it only sticks on paper and cardboard. If you want to get your money’s worth, get glue that can also stick to smooth surfaces.
Lots of arts and crafts projects require that you coat the surface with glitter, and the only way you can do that is by applying a layer of glue on it. If the glue will not stick to the surface, then it will not work.
Ideally, the glue you pick should be able to adhere to the surface even without scuffing it. In addition, once the glue has dried, it should bond on the surface permanently. It should not peel or chip off the surface.
3. Dries Clearly
Aside from sticking the glitter on the surface of your project, you should also use glue to seal the glitter. This means using it over the glitter to keep it from falling off, “sealing” the glitter onto the surface, like the top coat of clear on a car that protects the paint underneath.
With that said, the glue should be completely clear once dried so you can still see the glitter underneath. Many brands of glues out there are opaque white while still wet, but then dry to a clear and glossy finish once dried, like PVA glue. It would be best to try a small bottle initially to test if the glue does dry as clearly as you thought it would.
4. Dries Quickly
The glue you pick should also dry relatively quickly. This does not mean that the glue should dry within seconds as it will not give you nearly enough time to work. What I meant is that the glue should turn tacky quickly so that you can apply the glitter over it as soon as possible.
Another reason why you want fast-drying glue is that it will allow you to layer the glue properly. Ideally, before you apply the sealing coat of glue over the glitter, the initial glue layer should be completely dry.
If the glue underneath has not dried completely yet and you put another layer on top of it, it will take even longer to cure. Ideally, the glue should be dry to the touch after 5 minutes or so.
5. Waterproof/Weatherproof
If you will be adding glitter to things that will be getting wet or exposed to the elements, then the glue should be completely waterproof. This means that the glue will not deteriorate even when submerged underwater.
For instance, if you will be adding glitter to a water bottle, the condensation that will undoubtedly form outside it should not cause the glue to peel off. The moisture should not be able to get underneath the glue, but instead, form on top of it.
This is also the case if you will be using glue on things that you will leave outdoors, like flower pots and painted rocks.
6. Good Consistency
The glue should be just the right consistency for applying glitter. This means that the glue should not be too thick that it would be hard to spread evenly over the surface. However, the glue should also not be so loose that it runs readily right after you brush it on the surface you will be coating with glitter.
On the other hand, it is better to end up with glue that is a bit too thick as you can just dilute it a bit using some water. If you got one that is too thin, it would be impossible to thicken it without messing it up.
7. Fair Price Point
Unlike when you are using glue for sticking parts together, using it on glitter means you will be using a lot of it. This means you should buy a good quality glue that is also easy on the pocket. This is especially true if you have young kids who will be sharing your hobby with you.
Conclusion
The best glue for glitter is not that hard to find, but you need to know that not all glues work well. You have to take a couple of factors into consideration while shopping, and knowing what to look for makes the process a bit easier.
Choosing the right glue will make your glitter projects look a whole lot better and make them last so much longer. These things alone make the additional effort worth it.