Learn how to glue collage papers with NO bubbles!

In this episode of Tune In Tuesday, I’ll be sharing my favorite glue choices, from matte medium to gel medium to glue sticks, and offering pro tips on how to use them effectively for various paper weights. Learn how to avoid bubbles, handle magazine smears, and work with delicate materials like tissue and deli paper. After watching this art demo, you will no longer get bubbles, wrinkles or smearing when gluing papers onto a collage!

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Chapters
00:56 Different types of glue, and supplies
03:24 Prevent bleeding/smearing with a fixative
04:41 Basic gluing with matte medium to get bubble out
05:28 Using water mister to eliminate bubbles
07:24 Carefully remove bubbles using a plastic sheet
08:14 Using matte gel for heavier weight papers
09:28 Gluing tissue to get it to “disappear”
13:28 Gluing deli paper that could bleed
21:20 Easiest glue method with glue stick
23:38 Difference between matte and gloss medium in gluing

*SUPPLIES to glue!

*Some links are affiliate links which pay a small commission to support the production of this art demo series, while not costing you anything more.

And also . . .

[wurmchenwurstchen]

This is very helpful and inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

[traceyhall]

Thank you Cat, I've just signed up for your 5 day collage course and am looking forward to it with happy anticipation.
Tracey,
Masterton, New Zealand

[juliemiller]

Hi Cat. Thanks for the helpful information today. I wanted to share that when I have jars of mediums or colored pastes, etc I cut a square of Glad Press N Seal to cover the jar before I put the lid back on. If it’s something I don’t use very often I will push the Press N Seal down to touch the surface of the contents, keeping the air out of the container, then put the lid on. This has worked well for me.
See you next Tuesday. I’m watching older videos during the week. You have so many great ideas!!!

[bonnie_nelms]

Really enjoyed this. You clearly have your process down as far as what you like/what works for you, but I’m offering 2 tips in case someone else might find them helpful. One…I’ve found that using a brayer to smooth down collage papers is much more successful than fingers or credit cards to eliminate bubbles/wrinkles. Two, I use a silicone spreader to apply mediums/gels instead of a brush. I found it very time-consuming, if not impossible, to remove the medium from brushes. With the silicone it peels right off. Lastly, a question re what gold paint you use for the tissue paper dots. I have many different brands of gold and they all look dull when dry, whereas your dots are nice and shiny. Maybe it’s a marker vs paint? Thanks

[fatoomgierdien]

Thank You Catherine Rains❤🎉💐. Your Video is Great and Helpful‼️✨️ToomCapeTown

[JoanNeumiller]

This was very informative, thank you! I love your videos and your calm, kind teaching style.

[peggyharwell]

You have a pleasing voice and certainly know how to address your audience. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

[amandaupton]

Thanks for all the tips and information. I use matt medium to stick tea bags to watervloir paper for my teabag art. Works a treat, but I have to carefully push the bubbles out . I enjoyed watching. Thanks for sharing!

[kedrynevans]

Great suggestions, I love matte medium, but I really struggled with it with magazine papers so I moved on to just using a glue stick and then sealer. I liked how you used your matte medium by pushing it out- I will have to try that and I love the idea of using a "waste magazine" to use the glue stick. Can't wait to try that, thanks for sharing your tips!

[blackpoppymagazine]

Just what I've been waiting for!! As an art newbie I am endlessly confused by the multitude of mediums and gels! So grateful thank U!!

[DianaNorman]

You can put a coat of matte gel down and let it dry completely and then iron any kind of paper on top. Since it isn't wet, the ink won't smear and the surface of the paper or fabric or whatever stays soft and uncoated. You can also iron a piece of cling film underneath the paper instead of the matte or gloss gel medium or glue. Or also you can use heat and bond to do the same.

[selenefee]

Thanks for this video catherine. Anyone out there that hasnt done collage kickstart...whats stopping you? Its inspiring

[angelakapler]

Thank you. The collage is really attractive of course. I love your work!

[ochervelvet]

You mentioned that you used glue stick for 20-odd years before moving on to acrylic medium. Do the collages you made with glue stick still hold up? I too find glue stick the easiest solution for all but the heaviest papers, but I worry about longevity. I worry that the papers will start to peel off the support.

[christineanderson]

Very helpful hints on using various glue products. Thank you, Catherine! I look forward to hearing how you finish your work with wax.

[greggtransky]

Thank you for the great information. Always so thorough. Best wishes, Sondra Borrie

[lauriemorris]

With a glue stick as well as with the two mediums I have had good results by putting some glue down both under the item to be glued (i.e. on the page) and then glue all over the back of the item I want to stick down. For larger pieces of magazine paper I use a wallpaper squeegee or scraper to gently smooth out the bubbles.

[rachelsmith]

Very informative and helpful video and I am really looking forward to the one about sealing/waxing too. Quick question - why use mediums as glue rather than straightforward PVA? Mediums are very expensive and as the name "medium" implies they are meant to be added to acrylic paint to alter consistency etc. PVA is a much more reasonable option. I don't really understand why so many artists use mediums as glue. Any insights would be helpful, thank you

[dorothykovak]

Dry helpful tutorial and useful information about glues. I appreciate you sharing this.

[SilverPennyArtisans]

I spread matte gel medium on my gel plate and put my paper on it. Quick and easy fixative