The Essential Glue Pad Techniques

In all applications below, make sure adhesive has been applied liberally to the Essential Glue Pad. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and stamp image onto cardstock.

Glitter Application:

1. Start with a piece of vellum, coated or dense cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied liberally to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and stamp image onto cardstock.
4. Apply ultra-fine glitter to adhesive image.
5. With flat back of rubber stamp (or acrylic block), press glitter into adhesive.
6. Tip cardstock to return excess glitter to container.
7. Allow approximately 15 minutes to dry (drying time will vary based on cardstock, temperature, humidity, etc.).

   Troubleshooting:
   
   If you’re having trouble with glitter not sticking, please consider each of the following points:

   1. Enough/fresh adhesive on the Glue Pad?
   2. Paper. If a paper “soaks up ink” quickly or unevenly, it will do the same with the glue! Textured papers are NOT the best option; tiny ridges may prevent crisp images. Coated cardstocks (glossy, matte), vellums, acetate and shipping tags work BEST.
   3. Glitter. It MUST be ultra-fine, for the glue to capture and hold it. Regular glitter is too large.
   4. The “pressing” step. This step is VITAL for the glue to “grab and hold” the glitter. Since the
      thickness of the glue applied by the stamp is by its nature very minimal – we must encourage the glue to “grab and hold” the glitter. It is best accomplished by pressing the glitter into
      the glue/image with the back of stamp (or acrylic block) BEFORE tipping off any excess glitter and returning it to the container for reuse.
   5. Flicking. Do not “flick” the paper to remove errant bits of glitter for at least 10-15 minutes. Allow the glue and glitter to set before doing this procedure. We know it’s a hard thing to resist – not automatically “flicking” – but it gives the glue the best options to keep that glitter that you’ve applied!

Foil / Metal Leafing Application:

1. Start with a piece of vellum, acetate, or coated (glossy, matte) cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied liberally to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and stamp image onto cardstock.
4. Gently lay metal leafing flakes or sheet over the entire stamped image.
5. Press down with fingertips to encourage adhesive to “grab” the metal flakes/metal sheet.
6. After a few minutes, rub fingertips gently over the foil to remove excess foil in areas where the image and adhesive are not located.
7. Use a brush and gently brush away excess flakes, and save for future use.
8. When stamping on acetate, it’s especially nice looking if the un-foiled side is placed face up on the card or scrapbook page. (This does not apply to letters, numbers and words.)

Flocking:

1. Start with a piece of vellum, coated or dense cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied liberally to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and stamp the image.
4. Apply flocking liberally over stamped, adhesive area.
5. Press flocking into image with fingertips.
6. Tip cardstock to side and return extra flocking to container. DO NOT flick with fingernails.
7. Allow approximately 15 minutes to dry (drying time will vary based on cardstock, temperature, humidity, etc.).
8. Very gently brush off excess particles of flocking.

Pastel Chalks:

1. Start with a piece of cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and then stamp image onto cardstock.
4. Using an applicator (Fantastix, Sponge Dauber, pixie/pudgy, stencil brush, cotton swab), liberally load the pastel chalk on applicator.
5. In a tapping (straight up & down motion), generously apply the chalk.
6. After having the image well coated with chalk, gently apply a bit more, in a circular motion. It is important to apply in tapping motion first, so as to reduce the possibility of smearing the image.
7. Tap edge of card to desk or table top to remove extra powder and then use a facial tissue to very gently rub off excess powder.

Pigment Powders:

1. Start with a piece of cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto the Essential Glue Pad, and then stamp image onto cardstock.
4. Using an applicator (Fantastix, Sponge Dauber, pixie/pudgy, stencil brush, cotton swab), carefully gather pigment powders onto applicator. Note: Pigment powders are extremely fine, and it’s very easy to get “too much” – that may land on other parts of the card.
5. In a tapping (straight up & down motion), carefully apply the pigment powder.
6. After having the image well coated with pigment powder, gently apply a bit more, in a circular motion. It is important to apply in tapping motion first, so as to reduce the possibility of smearing the image.
7. Tap edge of card to desk or table top to remove extra powder and then use a facial tissue to very gently rub off excess powder.

Embossing Powders:

1. Start with a piece of cardstock.
2. Make sure adhesive has been applied to the Essential Glue Pad.
3. With rubber stamp, tap several times onto Essential Glue Pad, and stamp image onto cardstock.
4. Apply embossing powder to adhesive stamped image.
5. Tip cardstock and collect excess embossing powder to return to container.
6. Tap the cardstock against the table top to remove any bits of unwanted, stuck embossing powder granules.
7. Apply heat with heat tool, moving tool gradually, as embossing powder melts into image. Caution: Image contains melted plastic and is hot! Allow to cool before touching.