If you are new to the arts and crafts world then you are most likely having trouble getting sheets of paper to stick onto fabric. It is a struggle that all crafters went through at least one time in their lives. Here, you will learn how to glue paper on fabric, and you will be surprised at how easy it is.
This article will be teaching you a couple of techniques that you can use to glue paper to fabric. You will mostly be using tools and materials that you already have at home while the others are readily available in any arts and crafts supply store.
Step-by-Step Guide
Are you looking for ways in terms of attaching paper to fabric, like for a cloth backdrop, or whatever use you need it for? You have tried everything that you can think of but you still can’t manage to keep those pesky pieces of paper to stay put.
To help put an end to your frustrations, here are some techniques that you can try.
Using Glue Sticks
Glue sticks are great for sticking paper to fabric because they are already tacky enough that the paper will immediately stick.
What to prepare:
- Glue stick
- Fabric
- Paper
Detailed steps:
Step 1: Clean the surface of the fabric thoroughly. If you have one, use a lint roller to get rid of any loose fibers that can affect how much the glue will adhere to the fabric.
Step 2: Apply glue to the back of the paper. Take your glue stick and apply a liberal amount on the back of the paper. Cover the entire back surface of the paper to ensure good adhesion.
Step 3: Stick the paper on the fabric. Using uniform pressure, stick the paper on the fabric’s surface. To make sure that the paper is stuck securely and will not wrinkle, place a couple of books on it to weigh it down and keep it flat while it dries.
Step 4: Wait until the glue dries. Depending on the brand, the stick glue can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to completely dry. Do not set up the fabric while the glue is still wet.
Using Hot Glue
If you need a solution that is somewhat permanent immediately, I highly encourage you to use hot glue. Here’s how.
What to prepare:
- A hot glue gun
- Enough glue sticks for your project
- Paper
- Fabric
Detailed steps:
Step 1: Wait for the glue gun to heat up. Load your glue gun with a new glue stick, plug it in, and wait for it to get up to the required temperature. You will know when it is hot enough when a bit of glue is starting to drip out the nozzle.
Step 2: Apply glue on the back side of the paper. You do not need to cover the entire back side of the paper, especially if you are using thin paper. Just a couple of globs on the sides will do.
Step 3: Immediately stick the paper on the fabric. You need to work quickly when you are working with hot glue as it cools and hardens in mere seconds. While the glue is still somewhat liquid, apply it to the fabric. Make sure that you place the paper pieces in the right place as you will not be able to reposition them once the glue dries.
Using Iron-on Adhesive
Unlike the first two methods, this will create an almost permanent bond between the paper and the fabric. If you will be doing this method, I suggest that you use thick paper stock as regular paper deteriorates rather quickly.
What to prepare:
- Iron-on adhesives
- Clothes iron
- Paper and fabric
Detailed steps:
Step 1: Cut the adhesive to size. Place the paper on top of the adhesive sheet and trace around it using a pencil. Cut the shape out and place it on top of the paper.
Step 2: Iron the adhesive to the paper. Remove one side of the backing paper of the adhesive sheet, the one that will be facing the paper, and set it on the bottom side of the paper. Set your iron to medium-high and proceed to give a couple of passes on the paper side until it has bonded.
Step 3: Iron the paper and adhesive to the fabric. Remove the other backing paper to expose the other side of the adhesive and stick it onto the fabric. Turn the fabric over and iron the part with the paper and adhesive. It should only take a couple of passes to activate the adhesive and make it stick to the fabric.
Using Glue to Repair Fabrics
If you are like me and are not particularly skilled with thread and needle, can you use glue to repair rips and holes in your clothes? Yes, there is a product called fabric glue that you can use instead of stitches.
How does fabric glue work? Fabric glue is an adhesive specifically formulated for sticking fabric to fabric. Unlike most other types of glue, fabric glue is very flexible, which is important as clothes are constantly stretching, bending, and repositioning.
In addition, fabric glue does not get brittle when it gets older or when you expose it to direct sunlight. And yes, there are fabric glues that can work on heavy fabrics like denim. If you accidentally ripped a hole in your favorite pair of jeans, you can use denim fabric glue to patch it. You can be sure that your quick repair can last a very long time.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to glue paper on fabric, you essentially opened a lot of crafting possibilities. There are many applications of this technique, from creating a backdrop to adding temporary embellishments on clothes and costumes.
It may take a bit more work to get the materials to stick to each other, but the results will be worth the effort.