Homemade Glue & Paste Recipes

Homemade Glue & Paste Recipes

The following glue and paste recipes use a variety of ingredients and methods. Choose the one that best suits your project. For variety, add food coloring before using. Store all glues and pastes in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Glue

Materials

3/4 cup water

2 tablespoons corn syrup

1 teaspoon white vinegar

Small saucepan

Small bowl

2 tablespoons cornstarch

3/4 cup cold water

Directions

Mix water, corn syrup, and vinegar in saucepan.

Bring to a full, rolling boil.

In bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water.

Add this mixture slowly to the hot mixture, stirring constantly until the mixture returns to a boil.

Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat.

When cooled, pour into another container and let stand overnight before using.

Homemade Paste

Materials

1/2 cup flour

Cold water

Saucepan

Food coloring (optional)

Directions

Add cold water to flour until mixture is as thick as cream.

Simmer and stir in saucepan for 5 minutes.

Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired.

This wet, messy paste takes a while to dry.

Papier-Mache Paste

Materials

1 cup water

1/4 cup flour

5 cups lightly boiling water

Large saucepan

Directions

Mix flour into 1 cup water until mixture is thin and runny.

Stir this mixture into lightly boiling water.

Gently boil and stir 2-3 minutes.

Cool before using

.

No-Cook Paste

Materials

Bowl

1/2 cup flour

Water

Salt

Directions

In bowl, mix flour with enough water to make a mixture that's gooey, but not runny.

Add a pinch of salt; stir.

Homemade Modgepodge

Here's a great way to save some money on your craft addictions; make you own Decoupage! And it really works plus it's easy to do.

Materials

A jar

Elmers Glue

Water

Directions

Empty the glue into a jar. My jar is just an old Salsa Bottle.

Add Water. You need it to be 50% glue and 50% water.

Place lid on jar and seal tightly.

Shake until completely mixed.

Rice Glue 

In Asia, rice glue is a well-known product. This extremely resistant adhesive can be used to glue all types of paper. It is used in traditional bookbinding and luxury cardboard products: papers bonded with rice glue are considered tear-proof. Though white when moist, rice glue becomes transparent as it dries. You can protect collages or drawings with a coat of this glue.

Materials

A jar

7 oz of rice or rice flour

1/3 liter (1 1/3 cups) of Water

Directions

In 1/3 liter (1 1/3 cups) of water, cook 7 oz of rice or rice flour* over low heat. 

You can also use leftover rice that has already been cooked. 

When the rice is overcooked, the starch it naturally contains will dilute in the water. 

The liquid thickens and whitens. 

Add a little water if necessary and reheat the mix. 

Filter the glue and let it cool. 

You can save the overcooked rice to make more glue at a later date. 

Store the glue in a cool environment in a well-sealed container, such as a jelly jar, and it will last one week or longer. 

Shake well before using.