Gluing Cardboard – Complete Guide
The world of crafting involves a wide array of materials. Paper, fabric, wood, foam, and cardboard are just the tip of the iceberg. Each of these materials has their own tips and tricks you need to know to use them well, and cardboard is no different.
Making a craft with cardboard requires knowledge of its inherent strengths and weaknesses, as well as the best ways to bond it together with adhesive.
For an ordinary indoor cardboard craft, start with a PVA or tacky craft glue that lists paper among its uses. Apply a thin layer, align the pieces and hold or support the joint for the time on the bottle. Hot glue is useful when you need a quick set, but it brings burn risks. Coated cardboard and mixed-material joints need a small test before you commit to the whole project.
The key to gluing cardboard is choosing the right adhesive for your project, depending on if the cardboard needs to be sturdy or is a temporary project, or what other materials you may be using with the cardboard.
If you’re interested in using cardboard for your next craft, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn everything you need to know about gluing cardboard!
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Best Types Of Cardboard To Glue
The cardboard matters. Corrugated shipping boxes, thin paperboard and coated packaging can behave differently at the joint. Test a scrap of the actual material, including any paint or surface coating.
You can cut up the cardboard from an online shopping delivery box, a moving box, or even buy sheets of cardboard at the store. It all works great with glue, as long as you’re using the right one.
For example, with cardboard that has a shiny, slick surface on the outside because the box has been painted or coated to be a different color, you’ll need a glue that can bond well with a slick surface.
A glue’s claim to bond plastic does not prove it will bond every packaging coating. Check its listed materials and test the coated surface. If the coating separates from the cardboard, a stronger adhesive cannot make that coating itself stronger.
An alternative would be to sand down that layer of coating or paint to get to the brown cardboard underneath, but be careful with trying this.
Cardboard is still made from recycled paper, and paper can turn to crumbles quickly if rubbed with an abrasive material such as sandpaper.
Choose the adhesive after testing the coating. If the test joint fails, use a different bonding area or material rather than assuming a more expensive glue will solve it.
This would also work if you painted the cardboard yourself for your project. If you’re making furniture for a dollhouse, for example, you likely wouldn’t want every item in the dollhouse to be a dull brown.
If you paint your cardboard before gluing, be sure to allow the paint enough time to sufficiently dry before applying the glue. If you apply the glue before the paint is fully dry, the glue will lift and smear the paint.
Best Types Of Glue For Cardboard
We’ve mentioned a few times that the key to gluing cardboard is using the right adhesive.
Choosing the right adhesive will depend on a variety of factors:
- The required stability of your final project
- The permanence or temporary nature of your final project
- Other materials you plan to use with the glue (paper, fabric, wood, metal, plastic, etc.)
- Whether you need to glue large pieces of cardboard together or small areas for detail work
- How much dry time you have before you need the final project
In the list of adhesive options below, we’ll tell you exactly what each type of glue is good for and what projects they’re best suited for.
Before you grab whatever bottle of glue you have lying around the house for your next project, review our list below and choose one that will give you the best end results.
1. PVA Glue
PVA glue is a wide category of glue, including white school glue, wood glue, and even book binding glue.
PVA stands for polyvinyl acetate, which describes the synthetic polymer that’s created with the specific chemical formula used to create this type of substance.
Although PVA glue sounds scientific and intimidating, as we mentioned above, it’s the most commonly used type of glue. If you’ve ever used Elmer’s school glue, you’ve used PVA glue.
PVA is a useful starting point for paper and cardboard crafts. The formula, joint area, cardboard and drying conditions all affect the result. Do not treat the glue category alone as proof that a joint is temporary, weak or suitable for a particular load.
You can find many different types of PVA glue that work, but our top two recommendations are Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive and Elmer’s Glue All.
Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive is the type of PVA glue that’s used for book binding. This is a good indicator that it works well with paper, which is what cardboard is made of.
Elmer’s Glue All is another great choice because it’s used so widely for paper and school projects, which often include cardboard.
PVA glue provides a high level of flexibility, so your cardboard can withstand some tweaks to the design as the glue is drying.
Follow the formula’s directions before diluting it. Extra water can change the application and wet the cardboard. Try an undiluted thin coat on a scrap first; use a brush if the product permits that method.
2. Contact Cement
Contact cement is a different bonding method, not a guaranteed upgrade in a cardboard structure’s load capacity. Use it only when its directions and listed materials fit the project. It usually calls for preparation of both bonding surfaces before they are joined; follow the exact product’s timing.
There is no verified “several pounds” rating for the cardboard projects in this guide. Joint shape, support and the cardboard itself can fail even when the adhesive bond holds. Keep these examples decorative and do not use them to support a person.
Formulas differ. DAP’s Weldwood Original Contact Cement safety data sheet identifies flammable liquid and vapor hazards. Read the label and safety information for the exact container before opening it.
Follow the product’s ventilation, ignition-control and protective-equipment instructions. A generic “breathing mask” recommendation is not enough to establish appropriate protection. Keep solvent adhesives out of children’s craft activities.
Another small drawback to Contact Cement is that it’s a little more expensive per ounce when you compare it to other adhesive options.
Two existing product options are DAP contact cement and BAZIC contact cement. Their directions are not interchangeable. Choose one only if you need this method and can meet its preparation and safety requirements.
3. Spray Adhesive
Spray adhesive is ideal for those crafters looking to connect two large pieces of cardboard together, or looking to attach other large pieces of material to wide expanses of cardboard.
Using a spray adhesive means that you won’t have as much control over where you apply the adhesive, so it’s not ideal for detail work or small areas of application.
A project that’s ideal for spray adhesive would be covering an entire cardboard project in fabric. For example, to make a dollhouse armchair or couch out of cardboard, connect the small pieces of cardboard using a more precise adhesive like PVA glue.
Once the structure is set, apply a spray adhesive to the entire cardboard construct. You can now choose to either stick pieces of cotton balls to make the furniture soft, or simply wrap fabric around the structure.
If you do choose to go with the cotton ball step, you can allow them to dry, then use your spray adhesive again and stick your fabric to the cotton and any remaining exposed pieces of cardboard.
3M Super 77 is one option for broad-area bonding. The manufacturer lists paper, cardboard and fabric among its applications. Check the exact can’s directions and safety data, protect nearby surfaces from overspray and keep this application separate from children’s craft work.
4. Gorilla Clear Glue
Gorilla Clear Glue is another adhesive option that’s a little more expensive per ounce compared to other glues, but works great if you want a strong, sturdy bond.
There are many types of Gorilla Glue available, so be sure when purchasing to specifically buy Gorilla Clear Glue.
You would not want to use super glue or foaming glue. Super glue is too much to use with cardboard, while foam glue won’t hold up well or provide precise enough application when joining pieces of cardboard.
Clear Gorilla Glue is a separate formula from Original Gorilla Glue, Super Glue and Clear Grip. Check the material list and test the actual cardboard or mixed-material joint; the brand name does not establish compatibility with every surface.
The Clear Gorilla Glue directions call for clean, tight-fitting surfaces, two hours of clamping and 24 hours to full cure. Choose a support method that holds the joint without crushing the cardboard. This is not an instant-set option.
A cardboard model’s performance depends on its design and material as well as its adhesive. Test the finished joint for its intended decorative use; no glue choice guarantees that it will survive every test.
5. Mod Podge
An adhesive that most crafters know very well, Mod Podge is another fantastic option to use for gluing cardboard.
Mod Podge creates a more flexible bond, similar to PVA glue, so it’s best used for projects that don’t need to support any weight or can be temporary models, such as for school projects.
It also works great to use Mod Podge for cardboard because not only can you use it to glue your cardboard together, but you can use it to seal your project afterward.
If you’re painting your cardboard project rather than wrapping it in another material like fabric, then it’s a great idea to apply a layer of Mod Podge over your whole project at the end.
Mod Podge comes in a jar, so you’ll need to also grab a pack of glue brushes like the ones for the Contact Cement above to apply your glue.
6. Hot Glue
Hot glue is a top choice for several crafters who work with cardboard. It creates a strong bond and dries fast enough that you can finish your craft quickly.
A glue gun’s nozzle and molten glue can burn skin. Follow the tool’s instructions, use an appropriate work surface and keep hands clear of the fresh joint. Glue strings and bulky seams are also worth considering when appearance matters.
However, those dried glue strings are very easy to break off, so you can clean up your project if you’re still learning how to properly wield your hot glue gun.
Hot glue is useful for small joints when a quick set matters more than a flat, thin seam. It is not automatically the best choice for every cardboard craft. Compare it with PVA or tacky glue on a scrap before building the finished item.
Use a glue gun with sticks of the size and type its manufacturer specifies. Check the tool’s temperature, stand and instructions before choosing it for the project, and allow the joint to cool before handling.
7. Aleene’s Tacky Glue
The last adhesive we recommend for gluing cardboard is Aleene’s Tacky Glue. This glue is well known among crafters who work with fabric, though the Aleene’s brand has a wide array of glues that are great for different materials.
Their Tacky Glue will be exactly as it sounds – tacky. This is a very sticky glue that will stick your fingers together if you’re not careful in application.
The bright side of its tackiness is that you know it’ll do a great job of sticking to your cardboard and binding your cardboard pieces together!
If you’re looking for a glue you can use across multiple projects that will work great with gluing cardboard together and gluing cardboard to other materials, then Aleene’s Tacky Glue is a perfect choice.
Projects For Gluing Cardboard
Gluing cardboard might seem like an odd project to some, but it can be helpful for a variety of crafts. If you’re looking for some ideas to recycle your cardboard, we found a great video from 5-Minute Crafts on YouTube explaining 15 DIY cardboard crafts we’ve linked below.
However, if this video still isn’t what you had in mind, below are just a few more ideas of what you can make by gluing cardboard.
1. Models & Prototypes
Before you set out to make a permanent structure out of wood or metal, it can be a good idea to test the design out with cardboard.
Wood and metal are hard materials to work with, and they take a lot of time and precision to build correctly. By building your project in cardboard first, you can test your design and figure out how the final product might look.
This can be for architectural or engineering models, such as buildings or bridges, or it can apply to new invention prototypes. Many innovators and entrepreneurs got their start by gluing pieces of cardboard in their garage. You can try it too!
2. Dollhouse Furniture
As we’ve mentioned throughout the article, it can be a great cost-effective idea to craft your own furniture for your child’s dollhouse from cardboard.
Any furniture item can be made with cardboard. Beds, chairs, sofas, dressers, mirrors, kitchen counters, refrigerators, and more can all be made with cardboard.
You can add finishing touches to your furniture items by adding fabric, plastic accessories, or painting the cardboard.
It could be a great idea to work with your child to build their furniture pieces from cardboard. They might enjoy seeing how the furniture was made and learning how to build things from scratch.
3. Projects With Kids
Choose a cardboard craft and adhesive that fit the child’s age and the product label. An adult should prepare cuts, handle hot tools and manage any task outside the child’s abilities.
With young children, you can use a cardboard circle cut-out and give them small pieces of colorful paper to glue onto the face of the cardboard to make a mosaic.
Older children may enjoy decorative houses, cars or robots with suitable supervision. For younger children, choose an age-appropriate craft glue and prevent mouthing. “Non-toxic” is not an instruction to eat glue or put a glued project in the mouth.
Do not choose a solvent or spray adhesive for a child simply because the child no longer mouths objects. Follow the actual label, keep bottles out of reach between uses and reserve solvent, aerosol and hot-glue tasks for the adult handling the project.
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