Adhesives 101 for Card Makers, Part 2: Tape Runners and Repositionable Tape — When to Use Each and Why

Adhesives 101 for Card Makers, Part 2: Tape Runners and Repositionable Tape — When to Use Each and Why

Welcome back to my Adhesives 101 series! If you missed Part 1, we covered double-sided tapes, red-liner tape, and the folio album problem — go give that one a read first if you haven't already. (Read here) Today we're talking tape runners and repositionable tapes, and I have a lot of real, honest experience to share on both of these. 

One last thing before we dig in— these are my personal favorites based on years of card making and a lot of trial and error. The adhesive world is big and there is no single right answer. Ask your crafty friends what they love, poke around online, and give a few things a try. You may find something that works even better for the way you craft. That is the beauty of this hobby!  And if you do find something you love, share it, we want to know too.

Tape Runners — The Workhorse of Card Making

If you are building cards with multiple layers, a tape runner is one of the most efficient tools you can have at your craft table. Yes, liquid glue is more cost effective — and we'll be talking all about liquid glue in Part 3 — but when you are building a card with a lot of layers and you don't want to wait for glue to dry between each one, a tape runner is your best friend. The speed and convenience is hard to beat!  There are pros and cons to using each adhesive, and I tend to use both on one project.

Now, not all tape runners are created equal — and I want to share some honest thoughts here because I've tried a few over the years.

I personally prefer strip tape runners over dot tape runners. The strip gives you a more consistent, even coverage across your paper which means a cleaner bond and fewer bubbles or lift points. Dot tape runners work for a lot of people, but the coverage isn't as continuous, and I just find the strip more reliable for card making.  With that said, dot tape is easier to remove from your paper if you apply to areas where you don't want tape.

The tape runners I use and recommend are the Scrapbook Adhesives Ultra Grand Permanent Tape Runner and the Spellbinders Adhesive Refillable Tape Runner — Strips. Both give that clean, consistent strip coverage that I love.

One thing I want to mention because I hear about this a lot — I used to use one of the older 3M tape runners and was buying the inexpensive refills to save money. The problem? Those cheaper refills commonly don't fit well on the mechanism, and they cause frequent jams and issues while you're using them. It is so frustrating when you're in the middle of a project and your tape runner keeps giving you trouble! Save yourself the headache and use quality refills that are made for your specific dispenser.

The 20-Minute Window — This Is Important!

Here's something that a lot of crafters don't know about tape runner adhesive — it typically has about a 20-minute work time before it permanently bonds to the paper. That means if you apply your tape runner and then realize your element isn't quite where you want it, you have a small window to adjust before it locks down for good. This is really useful to know when you're building complex layers or working with ephemera and floral arrangements!

Speaking of which — when I am adding flowers to a card, I often use tape or foam tape behind the main flower rather than glue. The reason is that the tape gives me a little time to tuck in other flowers, leaves, or flourishes behind and around the focal flower before everything sets. That working time is so valuable when you're building a layered floral arrangement and need everything to feel natural and organic. Little tricks like this make the whole process so much more enjoyable!  I use the a piece of foam in the center of the flower to add dimension and there is usually space under the flower to tuck in the leaves or other embellishments.

What About Undu?

If you've ever needed to remove a piece that has already been adhered with tape or a tape runner, Undu is your best tool for the job. It works much better with tape and tape runner adhesives than it does with liquid glue — so if you think there's any chance you might need to reposition or remove something down the road, keep that in mind when you're choosing your adhesive!  This is a MUST for crafters, we carry Undu in store.

Repositionable Tape — When You're Not Ready to Commit

  • Repositionable Tape (tacky on one side)
  • Repositionable Tape Runner (tacky on two sides)

Repositionable tape is one of those tools that sounds simple but is genuinely a game once you start using it regularly. I reach for the tape to hold my dies in place on the paper I am going to cut before running them through my die cutting machine.

I use the repositionable tape runner when I'm in the drafting stage of a project, and I want to try different placements before committing permanently.

My go-to repositionable tapes are the Best Ever Craft Tape and the Couture Creations GoLetterPress Tape, and for a repositionable tape runner I use the Scrapbook Adhesives E-Z Dots Repositionable Refillable Dispenser.

Now, I want to be really honest with you about the Best Ever Craft Tape because there is something important to know before you use it. It has a stronger adhesive than a lot of other repositionable tapes, which is actually what makes it so great for holding dies in place — but that stronger stick comes with a caveat. If you are using it to hold a die on your paper and then running it through your die cutting machine, the rollers compress the tape firmly onto the paper. On some papers, especially raw or cotton papers, that compression can cause the tape to actually tear the paper when you go to remove it. Cotton and uncoated paper in particular really grabs onto this tape!

💡 PRO TIP: The Clothing Trick for Best Ever Craft Tape 👕

If you find the Best Ever Craft Tape or any repositionable tape is grabbing too aggressively (has too much tack) for your project, here's a trick that works really well — pull a piece of tape off the roll and stick it to your clothing first before applying it to your paper. This lightens the adhesive just enough to reduce the grab without losing the repositionable quality. It sounds a little quirky but it genuinely works, and a lot of crafters swear by it! Just make sure if you are using it when compressing delicate dies, place the tape on the excess paper and the metal die only.  

A Note on Archival Adhesives

This one comes up occasionally, and I want to address it so you have the full picture. There are adhesives specifically formulated to be archival — meaning they are acid-free and designed to help preserve paper and photos over a longer period of time without yellowing or degrading. As card makers, this is generally not something we need to worry about for our everyday projects. However, if you are someone who wants to preserve your cards long term — as keepsakes, in albums, or as part of a scrapbook — it is worth looking into archival-quality adhesives for those specific projects. For everyday card making and gifting, your quality tape runner and double-sided tapes are perfectly fine!

A Quick Tape Runner and Repositionable Tape Cheat Sheet

Pro Tip: Remember that tape runner adhesive has about a 20-minute work time before it bonds permanently. Use that window to your advantage when placing layered elements, florals, or anything that needs a little time to get just right!

A trick I also use - If I am not ready to commit when gluing layers down and have already exposed the adhesive or added it, I gently add the top piece and try not to apply pressure or press the two layers together, this works well with foam tape.  If you let the top surface gently "rest" on the bottom you can usually and easily remove the layers.  This is not always the case, but has saved me many times.

We are almost at the end of the adhesive story — but not quite! In Part 3 we are getting into the world of liquid glues — tacky glue, PVA, solvent-based adhesives like Beacon 3-in-1, and which surfaces each one is really meant for. If you've ever wondered why your glue isn't bonding to glitter paper or acetate, Part 3 is going to answer that question! Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it. 🎉

Let us know in the comments what your favorite types of adhesives are what you use them on the most.  Do you have a tip or trick to share, we would love to read that too.  Loving the information?  Check out part 3 here. Read a fun one about the Craft Abyss, one most crafters can relate to.  Click here.

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