Gettin' Sticky With It - 5 Homemade Glue & Paste Recipes

Glue is the fiber that binds our crafts together. It holds the paper together in our colages and binds our pages together in our homemade books. Glue is what holds the googly eyes onto the fearsome monsters and feathers onto our beautiful birds. Glue is one of the most important ingredients to any homeschool classroom, but did you know that you could easily make it using natural ingredients from your pantry? I definitely didn't realize it was so easy to make it myself.

Avoiding petroleum products means making it myself

Part of my journey to a hipper lifestyle has meant trying to cut petroleum products out of my life. This includes all of our craft products. Glue is the first on that list since most glues (including Elmer's) is made with synthetic petroleum products. Growing up, all of my glue came from an Elmer's bottle or stick. It was easy to go to the store to purchase whatever we needed for our crafts, so I really had no idea just how easy making your own glue can be. Many of the ingredients used below, have been used in arts and crafts for centuries, and can also be used for many other projects, including making your own paints, watercolors, inks, and more!

Homemade Glue #1 - Waterproof Glue
(gluten-free)

This glue is a fantastic waterproof glue when dry, and contains ingredients that you already likely have in your pantry (if you aren't vegan). Apply this glue using a paintbrush. Only use this glue while it is warm, as it tends to gel when it cools down. To use this glue after it has cooled down and gelled, warm it back up by placing the jar of glue in a bowl of hot water, until the glue warms and softens. This glue will store for several months if kept sealed in a jar, and stored in a cool dark location when not in use.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 tsp. grass fed gelatin
• 6 Tbsp. boiling filtered water
• 2 tsp. distilled white vinegar
• 2 tsp. vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional - for preservation)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, heat up the water and stir in the gelatin until completely dissolved.
2. Once the gelatin is dissolved, add the vinegar and glycerin, mixing well.
3. Remove from heat, add essential oils, stir, and pour into a mason jar for use.

Homemade Glue #2 - Collage Glue
(vegan-friendly)

This glue can be used on paper for colages of all sorts. This can be made with gluten-free flour blends as well as regular flour. Apply this glue using a paintbrush. This glue will store for several months if kept sealed in a jar, and stored in a cool dark location when not in use.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup organic sugar
• 1/2 tsp. alum
• 1 3/4 cups warm filtered water
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional - for preservation)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium stainless steel saucepan, combine powdered ingredients.
2. Add water and mix until all the lumps are gone.
3. Over medium heat, bring the glue mixture to a simmer, continue stirring until the glue is completely clear/transparent.
4. Remove from heat, let cool, add essential oils, and pour into a mason jar for storage.

Homemade Glue #3 - Methyl Cellulose Glue
(gluten-free, vegan-friendly)

Methyl Cellulose is a vegan-friendly binder that is made from plant fibers. It has been used for centuries to repair delicate books and papers and is even one of the main ingredients in wallpaper paste. Apply this glue using a paint brush. This glue is NOT waterproof and is best used as a paper glue. This glue will store for several months if kept sealed in a jar, and stored in a cool dark location when not in use.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 Tbsp. methylcellulose powder
• 1 cup cold filtered water
• filtered water, to fill (1 quart)
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional - for preservation)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine water and methyl cellulose powder.
2. Stir well until the powder dissolves completely, then add enough water to the mixture, to equal 1 quart total.
3. Allow mixture to sit out overnight. Add essential oils and then pour into a mason jar for storage.

Homemade Glue #4 - Gum Arabic Glue
(gluten-free, vegan-friendly)

Another great vegan-friendly ingredient, gum Arabic (also known as gum acacia) is harvested in Africa from the bark of acacia trees. This totally green friendly ingredient is a great one to have on hand, not just for glue, but also for paint making (including watercolors) as well as ink making! Apply gum Arabic glue using a paintbrush. This glue works great as a great all-purpose paper glue. This glue will store for up to a year, if kept sealed in a jar, and stored in a cool dark location when not in use.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup gum arabic powder
• 1/2 cup hot filtered water
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. vegetable glycerin
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional - for preservation)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine gum Arabic powder and hot water.
2. Stir well then add the glycerin and essential oil, continuing to stir until mixed together.
3. Pour into a mason jar for storage.

Homemade Glue #5 - Rice Paste
(gluten-free, vegan-friendly)

Rice paste is a more heavy-bodied type paste, and because it doesn't dry transparent, it's best used underneath papers and objects, where it can't be seen. Apply paste with a paintbrush and smooth down with an old credit card/driver's license, if needed.  This glue will store for several months if kept sealed in a jar if kept sealed in a jar, and stored in a cool dark location when not in use.

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4  cup rice flour
• 2 Tbsp. organic sugar
• 3/4 warm filtered water
• 5 drops lavender essential oil (optional - for preservation)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium-sized pan, combine rice flour, sugar, and water, stirring until there are no more lumps.
2. Continue stirring over low heat until the glue has thickened.
3. Remove from heat and add in essential oil (if using), allow the mixture to cool.
4. Pour into a mason jar for storage.