People’s obsession with shimmery things makes glitter the number one go-to item for glamming crafts. Indeed glitter breathes new life to otherwise ordinary things transforming them into gorgeous and attractive pieces.
This glitzy crush can, however, get frustratingly messy when it starts to shed. And as much as you are deeply in love with glitter, having it trail everywhere, even in places it is not wanted, is not a pleasant experience.
When you use glitter on crafts, the particles on the outermost layer begin falling off with time. Slapping on thick layers of decoupage medium with a brush in an attempt to fix the glitter is not always a good idea. A spray fixative is the best solution for this problem.
Fortunately, you can use a spray glue on the glitter to make it stay and keep it from falling off surfaces. With the right spray adhesive, glitter shouldn’t intimidate you at all.
But what are the best spray glues for glitter? The best spray glues for glitter should dry clear and keep from yellowing (so it doesn’t ruin the appearance of the glitter). Permanent, acid-free spray glues that provide good, even coverage are a good choice.
In this post, we share with you the secrets to finding the most suitable spray glue for glitter. We also recommend the 5 best spray glues for glitter, so you don’t have to search far and wide.
Choosing Spray Glue For Glitter
The range of spray glues is massive, but not all will give you the expected results with glitter. You’ll find a mix of industrial grade, photo mounting, fabric, and all-purpose adhesives, among others.
How do you find the right one for you? Let’s get to the nitty-gritty of selecting spray glue for glitter.
Clarity
Glues can dry white, yellowish, transparent, or translucent with a hint of color. The first thing you want to look at is the color of the spray glue when dry.
You want glue that goes on clear and dries clear. The best spray glue for glitter dries with crystal clarity allowing the glitter’s beautiful glisten to show through beneath the film.
Acid-Free
A lot of paper crafts incorporate glitter. Think cards, scrapbooks, stencil decor, etc. Acid products always discolor and damage paper, textile, and other fiber-based materials, and glitter is no exception.
Therefore, you want to go for an acid-free spray glue that will preserve the brilliance of the glitter for a long time. Since a spray always disperses even to surrounding surfaces, you’ll be protecting them too.
Spray Quality
Glue can be thick, runny, or vaporized affecting how it layers onto a surface. The best spray glue for glitter disperses the glue in a light and misty stream.
Avoid glues that come out thick and stringy. They form thick layers that can cause a cloudy and dull haze obscuring the very shine you were trying to achieve with glitter. You also don’t want a runny spray glue that will drip down with the glitter – defeating the purpose of keeping the glitter in its spot!
Design
Taking the bottle and nozzle design into consideration is critical for your own comfort. Ensure you choose brands with lightweight bottles that fit nicely in the palm of your hands and are ergonomic to reduce hand and finger fatigue.
The best glue sprays have a nozzle system that prevents clogging to ensure you get the greatest value from the product and use it to the very last drop.
Safety
This should perhaps be the first consideration when buying anything. Sprays are known to be toxic, have strong nauseating odors, and even highly flammable.
Some spray glue formulas may be toxic and unsafe for use, especially when crafting with kids. Check for toxic ingredients or any safety and non-toxic marks, logos, and certifications that guarantee the product is safe.
If your project needs to be able to withstand heat without melting, cracking, or burning, we have another article for the 7 best heat-resistant glues.
Permanence
Glues bond differently. Some form permanent bonds while others are temporary. Some glues are repositionable and may take days to fully dry or may remain tacky.
If you are applying glitter to a surface, you are likely looking for a permanent bond. A permanent bond ensures the glitter stays put and doesn’t fall off with the slightest touch or movement.
Luckily this information is always readily available on the label so check that you are getting permanent bonding glue for durable crafts.
The 5 Best Glue Sprays For Glitter
Choosing spray glue for glitter is not a straightforward task. There’s a wide breadth of adhesive products, and the fact that they do not come readily tagged as glue for glitter is the challenging part.
You’ll have to conduct extensive research to find the best spray glue for glitter. Luckily we already did that for you. Here are our top 5 recommendations:
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Mod Podge Ultra Gloss | Durable, no brushstrokes, glue & sealer |
2. | Gorilla Spray Adhesive | Clear, heavy duty, non-yellowing |
3. | Scotch Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive | Versatile, strong and durable, quick bonding |
4. | Design Master Glue For Glitter | Flexible, non-tacky, acid-free |
5. | Elmer's Extra Strength Spray Adhesive | Permanent bond, clear, good coverage |
Let’s check them out in more detail below:
1. Mod Podge Ultra Gloss
Anyone crafty will need no introduction to Mod Podge! It is one of the best known and best-performing decoupage medium glue and sealer combinations on the market.
This particular version comes in a convenient 8 ounce spray bottle (with a 4 ounce option) that is easy to hold. You only get the same goodness of Mod Podge minus brush strokes. The formula is clear with an ultra glossy finish, making your glitter pop the same way as it did right out of the store.
It glues glitter to any surface, be it paper, metal, glass, or wood, and seals it in, so it stays put no matter what you do to the craft. It does not dry tacky and is both water and UV-resistant.
Mod Podge is the only water-based spray glue in this review and does not contain toxic solvents in the form of fumes. You can spray it on your crafts indoors worry-free making it the best spray glue for glitter.
Furthermore, it is a sealant as well. You can go over the glitter with a clear topcoat.
2. Gorilla Spray Adhesive
If you are looking for the toughest bond between your glitter and another surface, you can try Gorilla spray adhesive.
Gorilla brand has a good reputation for effective adhesive products and this heavy-duty spray glue just confirms it. It is the best spray glue for glitter for permanency.
Sprayed on a surface and followed by pouring or rolling on glitter, it bonds the two so tight you won’t have anything falling off after. You have to work fast because it dries pretty quickly too.
The inseparable bond of the glitter is consistent on multiple surfaces, which makes it versatile for many crafts except vinyl.
It comes in a 14 ounce spray can with a wide pad nozzle for comfortable, even, and controlled spraying. The formula itself comes out in a fine mist for thin coverage.
Unfortunately, it contains VOCs (that meet required standards) and emits a smell when in use. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated space.
3. Scotch Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive
Scotch Super 77 is a contact adhesive that provides a tough bond for lightweight materials like glitter on various surfaces.
It goes on clear and dries to a transparent film ensuring your crafts have a polished look. However, it is not a sealer for the glitter.
You might have to follow up with a top coat using a sealer if you want. But for crafts meant for display, that may be unnecessary because the bond is aggressively strong and durable.
The glue comes in a 10.7 ounce aerosol can that is ergonomically designed for effortless application. The nozzle system disperses the glue in a light mist creating a thin film that doesn’t drip or bubble.
This glue contains VOCs and odor that is not good to inhale. You must spray the glue in an airy space or outdoors.
It is not acid free glue which is not good for paper or wood. You might want to reserve this for putting glitter on glass and metal.
4. Design Master Glue For Glitter
The best spray glue for glitter is that which is specifically designed for the job, and that is what Design Master glue is.
The 11 ounce spray can contains a fine mist adhesive formula designed to adhere glitter and all things fine and sparkly. You can spray it on a surface, add the glitter and reinforce the bond with another topcoat that acts as a sealant.
It is acid free, which makes it ideal for gluing glitter to paper crafts. It goes on invisible too. You won’t even know it’s there coating the glitter.
This spray glue works best with fine and superfine glitter on paper. It doesn’t have a strong odor but is highly flammable and irritates the eyes. Be sure to exercise caution when using it.
Whichever spray glue you choose, always spray some 8-10 inches away for the best outcome. Start by shaking the bottle well and finish by wiping the nozzle to prevent clogging.
5. Elmer’s Extra Strength Spray Adhesive
Elmers range of glues is very reputable for school crafts, office use, woodwork, and other arts and crafts. This particular spray adhesive works wonderfully with glitter.
It forms a strong bond that holds up well making sure you can enjoy your decorated crafts for longer. It goes on clear and dries non-tacky, keeping the glitzy surface looking brilliant and residue-free.
The bottle has 10 ounces of glue and a broad, flattened nozzle for easy controlled and mess-free application without using too much finger pressure.
Did we mention that the glue is compatible with multiple surfaces and acid-free too? It won’t yellow paper, fabric, wood, canvas, or whatever surface you are gluing the glitter too.
Like many other sprays, it is flammable and irritating on the eyes, so just be careful when spraying.
Up Next: Is Glitter Flammable? – What You Need To Know