Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2024)

ADHESIVES TO USE WITH GLITTER

If you have spent any time on this website you know by now that there are two main types of glitters out there, and they need to be treated a bit differently. Craft Glitter is less expensive, but it has its limitations. Polyester Glitter is more expensive, but you can do a lot more with it. On this page were will address various adhesives in regards to each type of glitter.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (1)

PLAIN OLD GLUE

Most people have a bottle of good old white glue kicking around the house. Yes, you can use it BUT be sure to test first. Some glitters will bleed a bit into the glue. This especially happens with Craft Glitter.

If you want to use a common inexpensive glue, see if you can find one that dries clear. Aleene's, Elmers and Mod Podge are all good options for clear glues.

Craft Gliltter: Dries clear is best to avoid bleeding.
Polyester Glitter: Dries clear is best, but white works with many of the kinds and colors.

As with all materials, please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

MOD PODGE & PVA GLUE

Mod Podge is a favorite with many crafty people and also professional artists. It goes on white and dries clear. It offers a certain flexibility which is nice when doing shoes and surfaces that have to move a bit. There are better choices for straight out fabric applications though.
You can use it under the glitter as a glue and as a seal coat over the top of the glitter. Something to keep in mind- When dealing with glitter putting anything over the top of it immediately knocks some of the shine down. With every over coat you put on, the sparkle will be less and less.

PVA Glue is used much the same way but the quality is a bit more archival. More expensive but higher quality.

Craft Glitter: Works great.
Polyester Glitter: Works great.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2)

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (3)

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (4)

DESIGN MASTER GLUE FOR GLITTER

The Design Master Glue for Glitter is specifically made to attach glitter to all sort of surfaces such as:

  • Styrofoam brand foam
  • Fabrics
  • Live foliage/plants/flowers
  • Papers
  • Metals
  • Dried flowers/silk flowers
  • Foam board
  • Glass
  • Plaster
  • Fired pottery
  • Terra cotta
  • Wood
  • Plastics
  • Wicker
  • Ribbons/lace

We really love this product and use it all the time. However, it you are doing a major glitter project (such as a wall, scenery or float) we recommend jumping up to the more industrial 3M Super 77 (reviewed below). One really nice thing is that it truly does dry clear.
Craft Glitter: Ok for using with Craft Glitters, but we do not recommend overcoating with it. Use a water based product for sealing if necessary.
Polyester Glitter: Should be OK for all Poly Flake Glitters.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

SUPER 77 SPRAY GLUE

We use 3m Super 77 Spray Glue when we really need a firm bond with the glitter. It works on so many surfaces and when it dries, it dries really hard.

Here are some of the surfaces that it works best on:

  • foam core
  • paper
  • fabric
  • foam
  • foil
  • cardboard
  • chipboard
  • wood
  • metals

The can wants you to wait for the gllue to get tacky. With glitter, we really recommend putting on a nice thick coat and

immediately

putting the glitter onto the glue and pressing it in.
Craft Glitter: It works fine, but make sure no spray gets on top of the glittered surface. This glue will knock the shine down on the glitter and it can also melt it.
Polyester Glitter: It works fine for Polyester Glitters. Be sure not to spray it on top of the glitter. It will knock the shine off the glitter.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (5)

PAINT? YES, PAINT!

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (6)

Paint can be a great adhesive for glitter. It can also save you a lot of money when you base coat your project the same color as your glitter.

The way you use paint as an adhesive is to lay down a coat of paint (not too thin and certainly not super thick). If you put it on too thick you might need to wait for it to dry a bit so your glitter does not slip off.

Once your paint is on, you simply sprinkle, blow, drop... your glitter onto the wet paint. You might want to press the glitter down a bit if you are using larger flakes.

Do not over coat your glitter with more paint! If you want to seal the glitter use a seal coat instead (water based for craft glitter- solvent based for poly flakes).

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

WASHABLE GLUE FOR FABRIC

There are lots of glues on the market that are washable. The ones we mention here are ones we have tested and really like.

Tulip: Need to lay down a larger area of glue? Tulip is a great choice. Applies with a sponge brush. It is washable and flexible when it dries.

Aleene's OK to Wash: This is a great glue for T-shirts, sweatshirts and jeans. Applies with a fairly fine tip. It is flexible after it dries.

Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Glue: This is a really great glue for clothing that needs to stretch a lot. There are limits to all stretchable glues of course, but this one is pretty amazing.

Glitter To Use: Craft Glitter does not wash well and it can bleed into the glue and into the fabric. Stick with Polyester Flake Glitters for best results.

As will all materials please test! We cannot guarantee all conditions and materials will act the same.

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (7)

MAKING GLITTER GLUE

This video was shot by accident. When it was found we realized that the data in it was actually useful, so we published it. If you are planning to make your own glitter glue you might watch this before you get started (especially if you plan to use metallic glitters).

Best types of glues to use with glitter. (2024)

FAQs

Can you glue over glitter? ›

Mod Podge And Glitter: Using Loose Glitter

This is the process of sprinkling and gluing your glitter to the surface by hand which is much messier and more time-consuming. You can apply this method using mod podge or another glue for glitter. If you are gluing over fabric then you can use fabric glue as a sealant.

Does Mod Podge set glitter? ›

No, once completely cured, the glitter is sealed within the topcoat and should not flake off. Mod Podge Mega Glitter will dry to a hard finish with no tack.

What can stick to glitter? ›

Unlike normal Double Sided Tape, High Tack Double Sided Tape is super strong. So it gives the extra strength you need to stick glitter paper and glitter card. The strength of the adhesive means that it also works well to glue ribbon or fabric on to card.

How do you make glitter stick better? ›

Use hair gel to really make the glitter stick.

If you're applying glitter in areas that come into contact with a lot of different surfaces (like your butt), glitter artist Mia Kennington suggests using hair gel to really make it stick.

Does Vaseline make glitter stick? ›

Application Trick. If you are applying your chunky festival glitter to the body, Vaseline is said to be the best product for making your glitter stick. Spread the petroleum jelly evenly on the area of the skin, then press the glitter in with your hand or a brush and wait for it to dry.

Does Mod Podge dry clear on glitter? ›

Let me give you the short answer to the question “does Mod Podge dry clear?”: YES! Mod Podge looks milky in the bottle, but when applied properly, it dries completely clear.

Does Hairspray seal glitter? ›

If you need a quick fix, hairspray is a fantastic option for sealing glitter onto fabric. It is likely that you already have hairspray in your house, and it dries quickly. You can use hairspray as a quick fix to seal glitter to fabric, but it does come out with dry cleaning, so it is not a permanent option.

Can I use Elmers glue to seal glitter? ›

Some glitters will bleed a bit into the glue. This especially happens with Craft Glitter. If you want to use a common inexpensive glue, see if you can find one that dries clear. Aleene's, Elmers and Mod Podge are all good options for clear glues.

What liquid will suspend glitter? ›

Oil is the secret for glitter to float in the water. Add ultra-fine Bioglitter™ using a plastic funnel. Use as much glitter as desired but remember that too much of it can clump together and stick to the bottom.

Which Mod Podge is best for glitter? ›

If you love the look of sparkle but don't love the glittery mess, try Extreme Glitter Mod Podge. The blingy-ness is built in! It's used in a lot of holiday crafts in addition to day-to-day.

What Mod Podge can I use for gluing glitter? ›

Mod Podge CS15066 Extreme Glitter 8 Oz, 1 Pack.

How do you set glitter on crafts? ›

You want the glue as wet and shiny as possible for the best overall adhesion. Tap glitter onto the glue as close to the glue as possible to again avoid getting the glitter everywhere. Tap off excess glitter and immediately pour the glitter back into its original container. Let glittered surface set until dry.

What can I spray on glitter so it doesn't fall off? ›

Use hairspray for a quick fix on your glitter clothing.

Then spray a light coat of hairspray overtop of the glitter. Use unscented hairspray if you can. Allow the hairspray to dry completely before you wear the clothing item.

How do you make glitter stay on ornaments? ›

If glitter rubs off a Christmas ornament then stop it from happening by coating it with a thin layer or spray on glue or hairspray. You can use these items to add extra protection and prevent the glitter from rubbing off in the first place.

How do you glue glitter to dry? ›

Sometimes you may not have the time to wait for your glitter glue project to dry on its own, so you need a method that can help dry glitter glue fast. In that case, you can use a hairdryer, a fan, or the power of the sun to help speed up the drying process.

Can Mod Podge be used as glue? ›

Mod Podge essentially acts as a glue, sealer, and finish in a craft project. You'll be surprised at all of the things you can make: handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, fashion, and on and on.

Is glitter Mod Podge waterproof? ›

As I said before, no, Mod Podge is not waterproof. The longer answer has to do with the makeup of the product. Mod Podge is a craft supply made up of several ingredients, including vinyl acetate. The combination produces a product that is somewhat water resistant, but not waterproof.

How do you glue glitter to ornaments? ›

Squirt a generous amount of the adhesive inside of the ornament. Gently swirl the ornament around until the entire interior surface has been thoroughly coated. Turn the ornament upside down for a few minutes to allow all of the excess adhesive to drain out. Add the glitter to the inside of the ornament.

Can you use Elmer's glue for glitter ornaments? ›

Mod Podge (Gloss) and Elmer's Glue-All

Both Mod Podge and Elmer's Glue-All are decent options for making glitter ornaments, but neither were ranked among our most highly rated options.

Can you use Mod Podge as glue for glitter in ornaments? ›

Yes! You can use one of these two methods for your glitter ornaments: Coat the outside of your glass balls with Mod Podge and sprinkle the glitter on (either the entire ornament or parts like we did). Mix glitter and Mod Podge and swirl around the inside of the ornament.

What is the best Mod Podge for glitter? ›

Mod Podge Formulas

If you love the look of sparkle but don't love the glittery mess, try Extreme Glitter Mod Podge. The blingy-ness is built in! It's used in a lot of holiday crafts in addition to day-to-day.

Can you use Vaseline to stick glitter? ›

If you're heading to a music festival this summer and want to go full-Kesha with the glitter, pack some Vaseline to use as an adhesive. "Vaseline is great for sticking glitter down and is completely safe for the face (and even leaves skin feeling quite smooth underneath)," says Katrina, co-founder of The Gypsy Shrine.

Does Mod Podge keep glitter from falling off? ›

Apply a top layer of Mod Podge to seal in the glitter.

You could also use watered down school glue to create an opaque sealant for your crafting project. The top layer of Mod Podge acts as a sealant and will prevent the glitter from flaking away.

Does hairspray work for glitter ornaments? ›

Add Hairspray and Glitter

This is more or less what you'll do: Remove the lid of the hairspray and pour a teaspoon or so of hairspray into your ornament. Use the funnel to prevent any spills, but wipe the funnel dry before the next step to prevent the glitter from sticking to your funnel.

How do you seal glitter decorations? ›

You can use mod podge to apply a thin glossy layer on the glittered areas and leave them to dry. You can also opt for a glitter sealer spray like Krylon`s glaze spray to achieve a quality glossy permanent finish. Glitter produces a sparkly, shiny, magical effect over all kinds of items.

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