Adhesive frustration! Please help a hybrid wanna-be!!!

[bttrflygrl]

I'm just about finished altering an unfinished wood tissue box that I bought at Michaels. I basically printed printed pattern paper onto plain white cardstock and "wallpapered" the box - one square piece on each side. I then added some trim, etc. Well, I put the project aside for a few weeks before finishing it and went back to it this weekend. Sure enough, the cardstack on 2 sides had buckled. Also, the paper was popping up a big in the corners. I was so very disappointed! I used Zip Dry to adhere the cardstock. I actually hated working with the Zip Dry (it's a pain to get good coverage and the nozzle needs to be cleared constantly), but I was told it's the best! So...

Is Zip Dry just not good for paper-to-wood applications? If so, what is a better choice for this type of project? I have 3 more unfinished wood boxes waiting in the wings and I really don't want this to happen again!

Thanks!

[Andrea Gourley]

I'm not sure what zipdry is but I would use either modpodge - use a foam brush and paint a thin layer all over the cardstock and also on the wood and then leave them a minute to go tacky and join them together. I use a brayer (roller) to really squash down the paper and smooth out the bubbles but you can use your fingers. If it is thick card you could use double sided tape as well.

[Darcy Baldwin]

To go to wood, I'd use something like Modpodge.

[bttrflygrl]

Great! That's what I'll use moving forward. Thanks so much for your super-fast replies!

[ColleenSwerb]

Also, since you're doing it one side at a time, I would do one side, lay it down on some wax paper (so that if any glue squeezes out it won't stick to it), and then pile some books on top of it. That way the paper stays in place while the glue is drying. It takes a little longer to finish doing it that way, but I've had some good success that way.

[wvasweetness]

Also, since you're doing it one side at a time, I would do one side, lay it down on some wax paper (so that if any glue squeezes out it won't stick to it), and then pile some books on top of it. That way the paper stays in place while the glue is drying. It takes a little longer to finish doing it that way, but I've had some good success that way.
I was gonna suggest this too... even with thick paper, I sometimes get buckling when using Modge Podge so I always weight it down for awhile before moving on.

The only problem with this is at that I am not patient enough to do this with every side, so for my last few projects I've put the Modge Podge aside and have been using my Xyron Cheetah for pretty much everything. I would think that it would work on wood as well, but if not I second the double-sided tape idea - that stuff will stick to anything!

[Amber1279]

mod podge, thin layers and weigh it down are the key tips. Oh, and be patient & work slow. It is when I rush that I make mistakes and get bubbles and such.

[bttrflygrl]

I've put the Modge Podge aside and have been using my Xyron Cheetah for pretty much everything.

I thought about this, but I feel like I would just burn through $$ that way. It is tempting, though.

Re: Double-sided tape...

Do you just use any double-stick tape? Like Scotch? Does it hold indefinitely?

[JenTapler]

I typically use Mod Podge for everything. when I'm Mod Podging on raw wood, I usually give it a couple coats of acrylic paint first - this seems to make the paper stick more evenly without all the bubbling. That's what I did with this project, which was an unfinished wooden box - that paper is on there REALLY good and doesn't seem in danger of coming off - even after my 2-yr-old has had his grubby hands on it a few times. Good luck!!
http://www.sweetshoppecommunity.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=75979&ppuser=6379

[MamaK]

yeah, zip dry is better suited to paper crafts, adhering embellishments and paper, not really applying paper to wood. I agree with you, it is very quick to dry once applied ad clogs the tip too often. I don't use it very much though it does get raves.

Mod Podge is good but if you don't want the wet look or to have to go through all the fuss of painting it on and allowing it to dry, check out some red line tape. You can get it at the local craft store in the adhesive section. It'll literally look like a roll of red tape because of the red liner that you remove when you apply the tape. This stuff is the king of double stick tape, it will adhere everything.