Whether you are making a single handmade greeting card or about to embark on a mega card making session to make wedding invitations or bulk producing birthday cards, you are very likely to be using adhesive in your project in one form or another. Adhesives are used to add embellishments to a page, to hold inserts in place, to adhere backing paper to card blanks and for many other purposes.

While adding adhesive to a card making projects sounds pretty straightforward, if you get it wrong it can make all the difference to your project with the wrong things getting stuck together or things falling apart in transit.

Here are some tips to help you use adhesive effectively in your card making projects:

• Work on a Clean Work Surface - use a protective sheet such as a non stick crafting sheet. This will help protect your work surface. Avoid transferring glue from one project to another by wiping the surface down between projects. When applying glue or adhesive to a small element, try working on a scrap of paper so glue does not get on your work surface, the scrap of paper can simply be discarded after use.
• Pick the Right Adhesive - there are many types of adhesive available so make sure that you are using the correct one for your project. For example, while an all purpose glue stick will be perfect for attaching a backing paper to your cardstock card blank, it will be less effective if it is used to attach a piece of acetate to your card. Some papers, such as vellum, require special adhesives so remember to factor this in when planning your cards. Check out online glue advice sites for more information such as the Michael's web page Glue It to It and the glue advice site This to That.

• Time - if you are making several or even hundreds of cards, you will need to factor in the ease of use of the adhesive. If you use an adhesive that takes a long time to dry, for example, this may substantially increase the total time it takes to make the cards.
• Acid Free - using acid free products in your card making projects is important if you want the cards to last several years, for example if you are making a card which may be kept as a keepsake of a special occasion. Make sure the glue you use is acid free and will not discolor over time.
• Less is More - remember not to use too much glue or adhesive in your projects. Too much 'wet' glue, such as a PVA glue may result in paper or cardstock warping.
• Read the Manufacturer's Instructions - while it may be tempting to think that 'glue is glue' remember to read the manufacturer's instructions. For example some glues may need to dry a little before the surfaces are pressed together in order for them to effectively bond.
• Store Adhesives Effectively - store adhesives according to the manufacturer's directions and aways make sure that the lids are firmly on the glue before it is stored. Glue sticks, for example, can dry out if they lid is not firmly in place and other glues may set solid.
• Remember Delivery - if your finished cards are going in an envelope and through the postal system then remember that the construction of the card needs to be strong enough to withhold bumps and handling.

Adhesives and glues are at the heart of many handmade card making projects. Used correctly they will help even complete beginners create great looking handmade greeting cards for all occasions.