Streuter Glue Film Product Review & Give-A-Way!!

Today as promised I want to talk about a relatively new adhesive on the craft market. Streuter Glue Film - a hot melt bonding film.

This adhesive is available in Clear, Black, and Pewter colors all in 8 1/2" x 11" sheets. When this film is heated it forms an EXTREMELY strong bond between whatever you want to bond together! Everything from paper, wood, metal, glass, beads, chipboard, acrylic pieces, glitter, fabrics...virtually anything that can be heated can be used with this product!! It is simply amazing!! You can get a free sample here Glue Film Free Sample! Be sure and tell them you saw it here on Ink Stains!!

Now, I like to try lots of different experiments on new products and I must say, this stuff is awesome! (At times I just do things to see if it can/can't be done.) Well, I wanted to see if I could adhere a domino to a Memory Glass slide... All I did was place a piece of the Glue Film between the slide & domino and heated with my Heat-It Craft Tool. Waited a few seconds for it to cool off and ta-da ~ it worked like a charm!! I tried my darnedest to pull them apart but they just would not budge!

Have no fear though...I heated the piece back up and they slide right apart! How cool is that ~ not something you can do with just any adhesive. And trust me, I am an adhesive queen...I have tried them all!!! Re-heating will even break a paper to paper bond so it is virtually mistake free!!!


There is another feature to this adhesive that I love...it not only adheres but if you care to you can also seal your work with the Glue Film as well!! You'll see what I'm talking about below when you check out the little block I made.

Sounds good so far ~ now you're asking how does it work? It's very simple ~ read on...

Since this is a Hot Melt Bonding Film you of course need heat. Their web-site suggests you use a heat gun/embossing gun or a hot hair dryer. I also used my mini Heidi Swapp craft iron (regular irons work as well) when I knew everything I was going to be bonding would be a flat material.

If both of the materials you want to bond are heat resistant (meaning they won't melt into a pile of goo or burst into flames) you simply make a sandwich as shown. Heat with your heat gun or craft iron.







If you are going to be working with something that has a low melting point then you will place the Glue Film onto your foundation, heat and quickly apply the item you wish to attach by simply pressing it into the hot Glue Film. Let cool.

It's as simple as that! No fuss, no muss. I did notice when trying Heating Technique #2 the Glue Film would migrate as it was being heated leaving gaps without adhesive. Normally this won't be a problem but if it is it was easily remedied by adding a bit more of the film over the bare spots.
I also noticed that when I used the heat gun the corners of my copy paper wanted to curl (because of the heat) so I just used my pick to press it back down into the molten Glue Film. I'm sure if you were using a heavier cardstock you would not have this problem.
Here is a project I made using the Clear Glue Film....

Supplies:
Streuter Clear Glue Film (the pink sheet on the right hand side)
Collage Images - Hannah Grey
Foundation - in this case an old stamp handle
Craft Iron or Heat Gun
Instructions:
1. Cut the film to size and place it on the foundation.

2. Place the material which you want bonded to the base over the Glue Film and heat. Let Cool.

3. Once cooled, you may attach your collage images a couple different ways. You can cut pieces of the glue film to match your collage images or you may place a second sheet of the Glue Film over the entire project. (I used the 2nd option - see step 4 for the reason why) Layer collage images as desired.

4. Heat the collage images. O.k. this is what I was talking about when I said you could also seal your project using the Glue Film. Remember I used a full sheet of the Glue Film when smaller pieces the size & shape of my collage images would have worked. Well, the excess film melts and becomes molten - you can spread this molten glue around using the iron to not only adhere the collage images but cover them in a protective coating as well!! This totally eliminates the extra step of applying various types of other sealers (such as a spray acrylic, mod podge, etc)!
Now, don't worry about your craft iron having glue all over the bottom. Since the adhesive is molten on the iron I simply cleaned mine off by running it over scrap paper. Wipe with a dry cloth to be sure it's completely free of adhesive.

5. If you have any extra bits of the collage images hanging off your project, trim with a craft knife.
You're project is finished unless you'd like to add extra bits...which I did of course! ;)

Now that's not all there is to this amazing product! Streuter Glue Film also works for image transfers!!! It makes this technique soooo easy ~ you will want to put image transfers on all of your projects. The best part...it doesn't have to be a Xerox copy. I tried this using glossy collage images as well as images I printed off my ink jet. How cool is that! No more trying to find somewhere you can make copies of your images, you can print them yourselves!
Image Transfer How To: You simply sandwich your image face down as shown in Heating Technique #1. Once cooled I spritzed the back of the image and rubbed off the paper. The Glue Film forms such a strong bond that you don't need to work very hard at getting the excess paper pulp off of the film to reveal a great image!
Here are a couple examples of some image transfers I made using the Glue Film.
The Very Thought of You ATC (paper 2 chipboard - Pewter Glue Film)
I LOVE this ATC ~ the image transfer adds such a haunting quality to him that is iresistible.

Fishy Fishy (paper 2 metal - clear Glue Film)
In the past you haven't been able to get good image transfers onto metal without some difficulties (at least I haven't). Well, no more!! Making this IT was no more work than the first transfer. Simply make the sandwich, heat, cool and rub. WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!!! Just think of the possibilities this opens up! You can add an image transfer too all of those candy tins you've been saving for "just the right thing"!
This is going to be the front of a mini book I'm going to make - I aged the transfer by applying a bit of Walnut Stain Distress Ink with my IBT for a bit of age & character.

I also tried a couple of projects using the ever trouble-some glitter!! I used both regular glitter as well as it's more difficult to attach counterpart - Glass Glitter. Both worked equally well with the Glue Film.
This example was made by placing a sheet of the Pewter Glue Film over a piece of chipboard, the image over the Glue Film then sprinkling glass glitter over the entire piece. Heat using a heat gun or embossing gun and let cool. Once cooled shake off any excess glitter! That's IT!! (sorry the image isn't better...the glass glitter reflected so much it messed with my auto-focus.

The last example was made by layering a piece of the Clear Glue Film over my chipboard inked base card, heating then sprinkling the glitter over the top of the molten Glue Film. The area where I wanted to place the collage image was re-heated and the image was then pressed into the adhesive. The words were applied in the same fashion.

I have to say after playing with this adhesive I would most definately give it two thumbs up! It is simply amazing! This Glue Film is so versatile and could be used in many. many different applications I just can't see why you wouldn't want to have some of this adhesive in your stash of must have's.

Now on to the really fun stuff....the GIVE-A-WAY!!!

All you have to do to be entered for your chance to win 3 sheets of Streuter's Glue Film (one of each color) is tell me if you think you would like to use this adhesive and what you'd do with.

Maybe you would be try the image transfer, make yourself a canvas or maybe you'd just like to play and experiment like I did.

You'll have until next Saturday (July 19th) to tell me if you'd like some and what you would do with it at which time I will randomly draw the winner (using random.org) out of all of the posters.

If you don't want to wait you can order the Glue Film from Streuter's site. They offer FREE shipping and they do ship internationally. Please note - International orders need to be e-mailed, phoned or faxed.

Remember...you can't win if you don't post!!

Good Luck Everyone :)

now...

Go Get Inky!!!