Let’s face it. GUMMY BEARS MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY. I recently had the honor of designing our “Make and Takes” again at the Creativation Expo in Phoenix, Arizona. When people came to our booth and saw we were making gummy bears out of hot glue, they couldn’t wait to sit down and give it a go! Our booth was hopping for sure!
Creativation also gave us a chance to show off our new Drip-Less
Glue Gun – which won a NEW PRODUCT AWARD! Whoop, whoop! To learn more about our amazing new Drip-Less line of glue guns – and learn how to make my adorable little gummy bear project, read on!
Supplies you will need:
- NEW AdTech Drip-Less Glue Gun (Up to 90% less dripping and stringing!)
Buy on Amazon: Full-Size Mini-Size - AdTech® Multi-Temp Glue Sticks
Buy on Amazon: Full-Size Mini-Size - Gummy Bear Silicone Molds (I bought these on Amazon)
- Jump Rings
- Alcohol Ink Brush Pens (I used these from our friends at Marvy Uchida!)
- Mini Charm Lanyards (found here) or any kind of jewelry finding such as a chain or earring wires
As always, I need to remind our readers of this: DON’T LEAVE YOUR FINISHED HOT GLUE PROJECTS IN OR ON ANYTHING HOT. Don’t set them on a radiator, leave them in a hot car, or put them in your clothes dryer. Wearing your hot glue jewelry on a hot summer day is fine, but anything above 140 degrees and you will end up with a gluey mess. Thank you! 
First – About our New, Award-Winning Drip-Less Gun
It’s been called a “Game Changer.” Our new Drip-Less technology won a Best New Product Award by the Association For Crafting Industries (AFCI) at Creativation last month.
What’s different about our new glue gun? It’s actually quite awesome…
Think back to elementary school science class. As you probably remember, when things heat up they expand and need someplace to go – like how steam shoots out of a tea kettle when the water is boiling. When you heat up your typical glue gun, the glue expands and has nowhere to go except out the nozzle.
Our new Drip-Less Glue Guns have a special chamber inside – and an innovative piston mechanism that suctions the excess hot glue into that chamber. An additional benefit to this piston/chamber combo is that it reduces stringing as well. While it’s not possible (yet) for a gun to be totally drip-free, we can vouch that these new guns greatly reduce dripping and stringing by up to 90% – sometimes more.
Now, in order for the Drip-Less glue guns to work properly, air needs to be purged out of that special chamber I mentioned above. We call it “priming” or “burping”. It’s quick and easy, and you only have to do it once.
Learn more on the Drip-Less website: www.driplessgluegun.com
NOW, ON TO OUR PROJECT!
Step one: Fill the gummy bear mold with hot glue
Actually, first, you need to listen to this song to get in the mood.
The Gummy Bear Song on YouTube
You can use the full-size or mini-size Drip-Less glue gun for this. Your choice! I’m using the full-size. I like that I can fill the gummy bear up with less than 2 pumps of the handle.
Heat up your glue gun. While being careful not to submerge the tip, fill a couple of mold cavities with hot glue. You want to fill them just a tad over so that the “backs” are rounded a little, but don’t get glue over the edge of the cavity. Practice makes perfect. (Go to Step Two right away if you’re making these into jewelry or charms!)
Step two: Add jump rings immediately
As quickly as possible, push a jump ring into each gummy bear head. (You can use your tweezers or needle nose pliers if you want.) Make sure to get it in the glue enough so it doesn’t pop out later, yet leave it out enough so you can fit your cord through it when it cures.
Step three: Let cure and remove from molds
Let your bears cure for 5-10 minutes until they are more opaque and cloudy looking. Push from the back and gently pop them out of their molds.
If you would like your gummy bears to be more clear, you can submerge them in cool water while they cure. Just dunk the mold and hot glue into a bowl of cool water. They will cure much more quickly and come out looking like frosted glass! See the difference below. (Left, air cured. Right, cool water cured.) Keep in mind that you’ll need to start with crystal clear sticks to get this effect. AdTech’s glue sticks are crystal clear! You can purchase them on Amazon (link in supply list above), or in Walmart stores across the US and Canada!
Step four: Color the gummy bears
Coloring things made from hot glue isn’t always easy. It is a type of polymer, after all. I’ve found that for tinting hot glue, permanent alcohol inks work the best. Some colors work better than others.
Hold your gummy bear by the jump ring with pliers and color with a brush pen. OR, you can dunk them in alcohol inks for a few seconds.
I’ve also had success coloring them with metallic paint markers, such as these DecoColor pens by Marvy Uchida.
Step five: Add jewelry findings of your choice
You can add a mini lanyard like I did, or you can make these into necklaces, earrings, and more!
To add the lanyard, just slip the loop through the jump ring…
Then, put the clasp through the loop and pull. You can also clip the clasp on and loop around whatever you’re attaching to.
That’s it. Aren’t they just the cutest?! Check out what our friend Lolly Palooza did with this project! We love her creativity!
I hope you enjoyed this fun project. Please look at the menu on the right at all of my other projects using AdTech hot glue
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
I have another original “glue as a medium” project for you all! Just like our ghost lights, you can make these festive icicle lights quickly and easily with your AdTech hot glue gun, AdTech’s clear, non-yellowing hot glue sticks, and LED lights.
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® Project Pro Glue Gun Click here to buy on Amazon (You can also use the lo-temp mini gun featured in the ghost lights post.)
- AdTech® Multi-Temp Mini-Size Glue Sticks Click here to buy on Amazon
- Battery-operated LED string lights (Must be LED bulbs that don’t heat up! This project has not been tested with plug-in LED lights.)
IMPORTANT: Anything made with hot glue will start to melt above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not leave your finished project in a hot car, near a heater, run it through your clothes dryer, etc.
Step one: Cut the glue stick to size and attach the glue sticks to the lights.
The number of glue sticks you’ll need depends on how many LED lights you have on your string. I used our 4-inch mini glue sticks, cut them in half and put one half on each light. You will also need extra glue sticks for the texture layers. I highly suggest you use AdTech glue sticks because they are transparent and won’t yellow like other glue sticks!
Heat up your glue gun. I usually prefer a low-temperature glue gun for this type of project because it will make your glue stick base less soft while you’re working, BUT I decided to use the Project Pro this time because it’s a great little gun, and the hi-temp cures more transparent (and icicle-like) than the lo-temp.
Pick up a glue stick and push the nozzle of the gun into the end of the glue stick to melt a divot into it – long enough to submerge the bulb part of the light.
IMMEDIATELY push one of the light bulbs into the glue divot to bond. Hold for a few seconds until it bonds. If it doesn’t bond all of the way, just add a little hot glue around the top of the bulb to bond it in place.
Step two: Add hot glue layers.
Using your hot glue gun, add layers of hot glue over the glue stick base, alternating sides. If your glue stick base starts getting too warm and flexible, wait minute or so before adding more hot glue. Patience is key.
Just keep adding lines of hot glue until you get the shape you want. Add a dribble to the bottom to make it “pointy”.
That’s it! Each icicle takes a little bit of time, but you will end up with something really unique and inexpensive. I hope you enjoy this project and I wish you the happiest of holidays!
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
Here’s another fun and unique craft project using hot glue as a medium. I hope you enjoy these spooky ghost lights! They are cheap and easy to make for Halloween. You can use string lights for decor, or even put little ghosts around a light-up necklace. Just make sure the lights are LED. They don’t heat up like the traditional incandescent lights do.
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® 0450 Lo-Temp Glue Gun Click here to buy on Amazon
- AdTech® Multi-Temp Mini-Size Glue Sticks Click here to buy on Amazon
- Battery-operated LED string lights (Must be LED bulbs that don’t heat up! This project has not been tested with plug-in LED lights.)
- Tiny beads for the eyes
IMPORTANT: Anything made with hot glue will start to melt above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not leave your finished project in a hot car, near a heater, run it through your clothes dryer, etc.
Step one: Attach the glue stick to one of the lights.
The number of glue sticks you’ll need depends on how many LED lights you have on your string. I used 4-inch mini glue sticks and put one on each light. You can cut them down if you want smaller ghosts, or if your glue sticks happen to be a longer length. I cut mine down to about 2 1/2 inches long. You will also need extra glue sticks for the texture layers and arms.
Heat up your glue gun. I prefer a low-temperature glue gun for this project because it will make your glue stick base less soft while you’re working, and your hot glue will be less runny.
Pick up a glue stick and push the nozzle of the gun into the end of the glue stick to melt a divot into it – long enough to submerse the bulb part of the light.
IMMEDIATELY push one of the light bulbs into the glue divot to bond. Hold for a few seconds until it bonds. If it doesn’t bond all of the way, just add a little hot glue around the top of the bulb to bond it in place.
Tip: You can leave these glue stick lights as-is. They look pretty cool just as plain sticks and will put off more light than the bulbs alone. Another alternative to ghosts is to make icicle lights for the winter season. There are a ton of things you can do with glue sticks and lights!
Cut your sticks if necessary. I cut mine down to about 2 1/2 inches long.
Step two: Add hot glue layers.
Using your hot glue gun, add layers of hot glue over the glue stick base, alternating sides. If your glue stick base starts getting too warm and flexible, wait a few seconds before adding more hot glue.
Just keep adding lines of hot glue until you get the shape you want.
Step three: Add arms (optional).
If you want your ghosts to have arms, just add a blob of glue and hold your ghost at an angle so the blob “wings out”. You can also use AdTech’s Finger Guards to shape the arms once the glue has cooled a little.
Step four: Add the eyes.
You can add any kind of eyes. I found that tiny beads work well. Just hot glue the beads onto the head area.
That’s it! Each ghost takes a little bit of time, but you will end up with something really unique and inexpensive. I hope you enjoy this project using hot glue as a medium!
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
I have a collection of rings. I wish I could say that they were the type I wear on my fingers. Nope. They are on my furniture. (I have teenage boys.)
TIME FOR COASTERS.
Those of you that follow our blog know that I like really simple, inexpensive (cheap!) projects that just about anyone can do – BUT the project has to look like a million bucks when it’s done.
Mission accomplished! These coasters are made out of the simplest of materials, but they don’t look like it. These would even make wonderful gifts as a set.
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech Precision Pro® Glue Gun
Buy on Amazon here or here. Save 10% with this coupon: 10STUDIO1234 (expires 11/14/18) - AdTech® Multi-Temp Mini-Size Glue Sticks
Buy on Amazon here and here. Save 10% with this coupon: 10STUDIO1234 (expires 11/14/18) - Yarn (Cotton is the most absorbent. I used multi-colored “Sugar ‘n Cream” cotton yarn by Lily.)
- Felt (or any thicker denim-weight material)
- Scissors & tape
Step one: Prep and twirl the yarn
You will need about 5 to 6 arms’-length of yarn. (An arms’-length to me is the length of your arms from fingertip to fingertip, stretched out as far away as possible. This will depend on the length of your arms of course.) Don’t cut the yarn. Just pull an arms’-length out 5 or 6 times. (I would err on the side of caution and do 6 for the first one, so you have enough. Can you tell I hate measuring things?)
Alternate method: As you can see, I used multi-colored yarn that had the colors already in it. If you don’t have this type of yarn, you can use strands of different yarns. I would go with 2 arms’-lengths of each color on the first coaster to be safe, and then adjust as you do more coasters. For thicker coasters, use more strands or thicker yarn.
Next, put the two ends together and straighten the yarn out, then fold it in half and straighten it out again, so you have 4 even strands. Tape the folded (loop) top and tape it to your work table. Twist 2 strands of yarn (over and under) with the other two again and again until they’re twirled together pretty good.
Step two: Glue the yarn onto the felt
Today I’m using our Precision Pro® glue gun. It’s great for projects requiring… well…. PRECISION!
Cut a piece of felt that is close to the color of your design and a bit larger than the coaster size you’d like. Using your Precision Pro glue gun, add a small dab of glue to the center of the felt.
Carefully place the looped end of the yarn strands onto the glue. Let cure for a few seconds then add hot glue around it and start gluing the yarn strands around the middle.
Keep twisting the yarn more as you go around. Press down the design with your fingers to keep it as flat as possible as you go.
Step three: Tie off the end and cut the felt away
When your coaster is the size you’d like, tie off the end so it’s a little tassel. (You can just glue the end and tuck it in if you don’t want a tassel, or you can always add a bead or two if you want to get fancy.) Carefully cut the felt away from the yarn. I find it best to cut at a 45 degree angle, as you can see in the photo. If your coaster is not flat, just hold a warm iron on it for a couple of seconds.
Step four: Fluff the tassel
Use a toothpick or other pointy object to separate the yarn in the tassel.
How cute is that? These work well with both hot and cold cups. I haven’t had any issues with the hot glue using these under my hot tea mugs.
I hope you enjoyed this super easy, inexpensive craft. Be sure to check out our other projects by looking at the menu on the right.
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
Learn how to make your own inexpensive, lightweight geodes out of hot glue sticks!
Crystals and geodes are all the rage right now. Since we did our crystal post a couple of months ago, it only made sense to make geodes too!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® Pro80 Glue Gun – Buy on Amazon
- AdTech® Multi-Temp Full-Size Glue Sticks (Very important for clarity!) – Buy on Amazon
- Parchment paper (baking paper)
- Small cup
- Utility knife
- Cutting board
- Alcohol markers or acrylic paints in colors you love
- Embellishments – such as dark sand, chunky glitter, gold or silver paint, faux gold or silver leaf, metallic nail polish, etc.
- Clear nail polish or gloss lacquer
IMPORTANT: Anything made with hot glue will start melt above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not leave your finished project in a hot car, near a heater, run it through your clothes dryer, etc.
Step one: Cut the glue sticks to make crystals
This is what your end-goal should be… 3-6 main crystals, some chunks and some fine crystals. I highly suggest you use AdTech® Multi-Temp glue sticks because they are the most transparent out there and have non-yellowing properties built in!
Main Crystals: You’ll want to refer to this blog post for instructions on how to carve crystals out of hot glue sticks. Be very careful! Cut slowly and carefully, so you end up with no rounded edges left. Cut the angles on the tip and then cut off that crystal – about an inch or less in length. (Keep the scraps! See below.) Usually I can get 2-3 little crystals out of each carved section. Make them different heights. Then, if you have more of the piece that you just carved, cut tip angles on that as well and cut it so it’s an inch or less in length. Do this until you have 3-5 little crystals.
Crystal Chunks: You can use your scraps for the chunks. Cut the strips with scissors or your knife. I also use a fresh glue stick and cut angles off the end with my knife for the chunks.
Fine Crystals: You will want to refer to this blog post for instructions on how to do these. Cut them up and put aside. OR… you can use the long slices above and cut them into tiny shards with scissors. That should work as well.
Step two: Make the parchment paper mold
Next, you need to make your geode base. Take a square piece or parchment paper and loosely fold it into a cone shape.
Squeeze the paper into a crinkled cone. We do this so that the base will look rough and more rock-like.
Place the cone into a small cup and fold over the edges. Make the bottom somewhat flat, so your geode will have a flat bottom and sit well.
Step three: Create the glue base
Today, I’m using our full-size, high-temp Pro 80 glue gun, because it has great output and makes creating the geode bases quick and easy. You can use pretty much any AdTech® glue gun though – depending on the size of your geodes.
Start applying glue around the top edge of the paper cone. Let it dribble down and coat the paper. You can pick up the cup and angle the cup so that the glue coats more evenly. Continue applying glue so the paper is covered completely. Let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes! Hot glue that is applied thick like this takes longer to cure.
Once cured, remove the parchment paper. You can trim the edges of your base with scissors if you’d like, but rough is good!
Step four:
The geodes look beautiful clear, but this is the step where you’d color them if you’d like a different look. Here I’m using a Marvy Uchida Le Plume alcohol marker to color just the bottom and bottom edges of the crystals. You can use a very light coating of acrylic paint as well. The color will reflect up into the crystal without looking fake. Sometimes I will also color the inside of the base with markers or paint as well. I did that a little for this geode, as you can see in one of the photos below.
Next, put some hot glue on the bottom of your crystal and place it in the base. Crystals naturally grow at various angles, so don’t make them perfect. You can always look at photos of geodes online for inspiration!
Next, add your chunks by hot gluing them around the larger crystals. Try to place them so that you don’t see many rounded edges from the glue sticks.
After that, add your fine crystals by applying hot glue to the base and then sprinkling the fine crystals on, or pushing that part of base into a pile of fine crystals. Do small sections at a time.
Step five: Make your base more realistic
For this geode, I am painting the base with black paint, and then hot gluing black sand over it, and gluing chunky gold glitter to the edges. Don’t put anything on the bottom, because the geode will look much prettier when the light can come through the bottom a bit!
I got the black sand at Dollar Tree, and the chunky glitter can be purchased at most craft stores. Often, I will use faux gold/copper/silver leaf on the geodes too. (Use a liquid adhesive to stick those.)
Step six: Shine it up with a coat of nail polish
Your geode will look more realistic and beautiful with a coat of clear nail polish. Non-yellowing is best. Once you’re done, you can leave your geodes as-is, or add some jewelry findings and made a necklace or brooch!
That’s it! Now you have a beautiful geode! I think this has been my favorite hot glue invention since working here at AdTech. It was fun and exciting creating this project for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, and I hope you’ll share it with your friends.
Here’s a photo of the geodes sitting on some battery-operated LED lights. (LED lights don’t get very warm. I have made geodes and attached them to the tops of white LED tea lights for a neat effect. Yes… I use the word, “neat”. Haha.)
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
I love all things vintage. My boyfriend and I are both “pickers” in our spare time, and you can find us at a random antique mall, thrift store or flea market pretty much every weekend. We love “treasure hunting”, and my boyfriend has a gift for turning (what some consider) trash into cash!
While out and about, I am always drawn to the pressed glass I come across. It’s so beautiful, and not many people collect it or use it anymore. I shudder to think of how much of it ends up in the garbage.
In my latest experiment with hot glue, I decided to try my hand at making hot glue impressions from glass. It’s incredibly simple, and the result is gorgeous. Read on to learn how to make this simple project with your handy glue gun!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® 0400 High Temp Glue Gun Click here to buy on Amazon
- AdTech® Multi-Temp Full-Size Glue Sticks (Very important for clarity!) Click here to buy on Amazon
- Depression glass (or any non-porous surface than can handle heat)
- Hand cream (I like Silicone Glove by Avon for its non-stick properties) or petroleum jelly
- Cotton swabs
- Jewelry findings (earring wires, o-rings, etc.)
IMPORTANT: Anything made with hot glue will start melt above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not leave your finished project in a hot car, near a heater, run it through your clothes dryer, etc.
Step one: Apply hand cream to the depression glass.
Add a small amount to your finger and rub it into the crevices of the glass. I highly recommend Avon’s Silicone Glove, because it has amazing non-stick properties! If you don’t have access to the cream, you can use petroleum jelly (Vaseline). 
Step two: Remove excess.
Use a cotton swab to remove any excess amounts of cream from the crevices. You want the glass coated just slightly, but if you leave globs of cream in the crevices, your design will not be as crisp.
Step three: Apply hot glue over design.
A full-sized glue gun is helpful here because it’s easier to squeeze out more glue quickly and smoothly. As you can see, I propped the dish onto a pencil so it was more level. The quicker you get the glue onto the glass, the better. Let is cure completely – for about 5-10 minutes depending on the amount and thickness of glue – then carefully peel off.
Pro Tip – If you want your glue to cure more clear, you can try carefully dipping it into cool water as it’s curing. (Don’t use ice cold water, because your glass could shatter!) You can see the different in the two samples below. The one on the left was cured normally at room temperature, and the one on the right was cured by gently running cool water on it for about 60 seconds. Remember to use AdTech brand glue. It’s the most transparent and glass-like.
Step four: Wash them off – then color with alcohol markers, add glitter polish, jewelry findings… whatever you want!
At this point, you can do whatever you’d like to make your own personalized pieces. (Use a leather punch or scrapbooking hole punch to make the holes.) I actually enjoy these plain, but I’ve also had fun adding glitter nail polish, alcohol inks, permanent marker, tinted nail polish and more. Just make sure you wash them well with soap and water beforehand, or give them a good cleaning with some rubbing alcohol. Adding a coat of non-yellowing clear nail polish can make them shiny and more glass-like.
I kept these earrings pretty simple, but feel free to add beads or more tiers to make them fancier! Have fun creating!
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
Hi Everyone! Chris here. I’ve got another easy and super-inexpensive project for you. Let’s usher in spring with this Colorful Spring Tree!
I happened upon a similar project over at Everyday Mom Ideas, and was inspired to create a new version using our AdTech® Crafter’s Gift Pack (available at Amazon and other retailers, and contains our Project Pro Glue Gun, MultiTemp Glue Sticks and Permanent Crafter’s Tape). Besides those items, all you need is some scrapbook paper and one or more small tree branches.
The original project called for wiring the leaves onto the branches. I decided to up the simplicity factor with hot glue. Worked like a charm!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® Crafter’s Gift Pack
Click here to buy from Amazon and get 20% OFF with promo code 20STUDIO5643!! - Small branches (We had several trees down due to a recent snow storm, so I used those branches.)
- Scrapbook paper in different colors & patterns
- Scissors
- Spray paint (optional)
- Container or vase for the base
Step one: Spray paint the branches (optional)
This is pretty self-explanatory. Shake the can well and spray outside away from objects… like cars, people and pets. You can spray the branches or leave them natural. I felt like white was more spring-y.
Step two: Make a paper sandwich
If you have large 12″ x 12″ paper like I did, you’ll want to cut it into more manageable pieces. I cut each large piece into quarters. (It really doesn’t matter what size. Just use a size that you are comfortable cutting leaves out of.)
Next, apply the Crafter’s Tape to the wrong side of one piece. I ran the tape one way every half inch or so, and then ran a couple of lines across the other way, and around the border.
Place another piece on it (wrongs sides together), so you see a different pattern on each side. Press together.
Step three: Cut the leaves
I didn’t make a template. I just cut out leaf shapes. Pretty easy!
Make a bunch of leaves – as many as you think you’ll need for your tree.
Step four: Bend the leaves
I took a ruler and bent the leaves a little, to give it a nice effect and show off the undersides of the leaves more.
Step five: Hot glue the leaves to the branches.
Add a small drop of hot glue to the bottom of the leaf.
Touch the leaf to the branch and hold for a few seconds until it bonds. (No need to touch with your fingers. It bonds well just touching the leaf to the twig. Bonus!)
Just keep adding leaves until you get the look you want.
Step six: Add flowers (optional)
This is totally optional, but you can add some paper flowers if you’d like. I happened to have a flower punch kicking around, so I made some quick blooms. I used hot glue to adhere the layers, and a dab of hot glue and a small bead for the center.
That’s it! I hope you liked my version of this awesome project! If I could do it again, I would have made the leaves a little bigger for a fuller effect, but all in all I’m very happy with it. I got a lot of “oooohs and aaahhs” from the AdTech staff, and our receptionist, Cindy, will be taking it home for Easter. (The tree is about 3 feet wide, so I hope she has room!)
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
Yes, I know I just posted a similar project earlier this week, but with St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching I thought I’d throw this one out there!
The instructions are the same as the flower shirt (click here for that post), except that you want to make a shamrock shape out of hot glue instead.
Read on for instructions on how to make this awesome shirt for yourself, or your favorite leprechaun!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech Pro 80 Glue Gun —> Get a 20% off Amazon coupon while supplies last! Click here!
- Full-size AdTech Multi-Temp hot glue sticks —> Click here to buy on Amazon!
- Parchment (baking) paper or a large silicone mat
- A green cotton t-shirt (I used a kid-sized.)
- Bleach
- A spray bottle
- An old toothbrush (optional)
Step one: Warm up your glue gun
Load your glue gun with a glue stick and let it warm up. I highly recommend you do this project with a high-quality, full-size glue gun because this project uses a good amount of hot glue, and you want good flow when laying your glue lines. The AdTech Pro 80 warms up really quick and puts out a lot of glue quickly and easily, AND it comes with 3 interchangeable applicator tips! (I love this glue gun! It’s my personal fave.)
Step two: Create your hot glue stencil
Lay down a large sheet of parchment paper. You can freehand your design, or place a drawing or printout of a design under the parchment and trace it with the hot glue. Squeeze the trigger and lay down your glue in a shamrock shape – which is basically 3 or 4 hearts with a stem.
Then, let it cure for a few minutes and peel your hot glue stencil off the paper. Don’t worry about little glue strings that you might see. They don’t really matter in this project.
Step three: Prep the shirt
Lay your t-shirt out and place some cardboard inside to protect the back of the shirt. Place your new glue stencil onto your shirt and press it down flat with your hands.
Step four: Apply the bleach
Wear your eye protection (safety first!) and pour some bleach into your spray bottle. Lightly spray a fine mist over your design… 2-3 pumps. Let the bleach do it’s work for at least 15 minutes before you decide to spray again. If you’d like more of a blotchy look with bigger drops, you can dip an old toothbrush into bleach, and splatter the bleach onto the shirt by bending the bristles with your thumb and letting go.
See photos of this step here, in our bleached flower shirt post.
Step five: Wash the shirt
Once you get the shirt lightened to your satisfaction, remove the stencil. (You can reuse it!) You can then launder the shirt, but either wash it alone or rinse it well before laundering with other clothes so you don’t get remaining bleach on anything.
One of our staff members brought the shirt home and took a photo of it on her daughter. Isn’t she the cutest little leprechaun?
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
Hot Glue + Bleach = Super Cute Wearables!!
Something about t-shirt projects remind me of spring. I guess that’s because I live in New England, and most of us break out the short sleeves starting in March – wearing a hoodie or sweater over it most of the time. (New England weather is cray!)
This project is really fun and doesn’t require a crazy amount of skill. The result is a pretty batik-style design that is very forgiving to the not-so-crafty-crafter. 
So, let’s usher in spring with this adorable, wearable project! Grab your AdTech glue gun and read on…
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech Pro 80 Glue Gun —> Get a 20% off Amazon coupon while supplies last! Click here!
- Full-size AdTech Multi-Temp hot glue sticks —> Click here to buy on Amazon!
- Parchment (baking) paper or a large silicone mat
- A colored cotton t-shirt (I used a kid-sized.)
- Bleach
- A spray bottle
- An old toothbrush (optional)
Step one: Warm up your glue gun
Load your glue gun with a glue stick and let it warm up. I highly recommend you do this project with a high-quality, full-size glue gun because this project uses a good amount of hot glue, and you want good flow when laying your glue lines. The AdTech Pro 80 warms up really quick and puts out a lot of glue quickly and easily, AND it comes with 3 interchangeable applicator tips! (I love this glue gun! It’s my personal fave.)
Step two: Create your hot glue stencil
Lay down a large sheet of parchment paper. You can freehand your design, or place a drawing or printout of a design under the parchment and trace it with the hot glue. Squeeze the trigger and lay down your glue. Just have fun with this! Be silly. Be sloppy. Be perfect. Whatever! Then, let it cure for a few minutes and peel your hot glue stencil off the paper. Don’t worry about little glue strings that you might see. They don’t really matter in this project.
Step three: Prep the shirt
Lay your t-shirt out and place some cardboard inside to protect the back of the shirt. Place your new glue stencil onto your shirt and press it down flat with your hands.
Step four: Apply the bleach
Wear your eye protection (safety first!) and pour some bleach into your spray bottle. Lightly spray a fine mist over your design… 2-3 pumps. Let the bleach do it’s work for at least 15 minutes before you decide to spray again. If you’d like more of a blotchy look with bigger drops, you can dip an old toothbrush into bleach, and splatter the bleach onto the shirt by bending the bristles with your thumb and letting go.
Step five: Wash the shirt
Once you get the shirt lightened to your satisfaction, remove the stencil. (You can reuse it!) You can then launder the shirt, but either wash it alone or rinse it well before laundering with other clothes so you don’t get remaining bleach on anything.
So pretty, right? I made flowers, but feel free to make any shape you want. Try it on jeans, pillows, sheets, towels…. any fabric that will fade with bleach. I hope you enjoyed this project!
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation!
One of my favorite statement jewelry pieces is a crystal necklace, made by my good friend, Jessica. I get a lot of comments on it, likely because it combines three very unique elements: a crystal, a bullet casing, and a Day of the Dead skull bead.
For a while, I thought it would be cool to make some necklaces like this on my own… until I discovered that buying nice-looking crystals (cough, ones that didn’t look like they were made of plastic) could cost $10 a pop domestically. Yikes.
Then Chris pointed out that glue sticks look an awful lot like uncarved crystals. Light bulb moment! Suddenly she was taking Multi-Temp sticks and cutting the ends off to make faux “crystals” that looked like the real deal!
AdTech glue sticks are perfect for this because AdTech’s claim-to-fame is having the clearest glue sticks in the world. They don’t have that yellow undertone that a lot of generic sticks have, so when the “crystals” are complete, they have a pure, clear sheen. Also, they won’t turn yellow over time; they’ll stay clear. They’re just beautiful!
All right, let’s get down to how to make your own hot glue crystal necklace. They take less than 30 minutes!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® Multi-Temp glue sticks –> Click here to buy on Amazon (We highly recommend AdTech® glue sticks for jewelry because they don’t yellow!)
- Utility knife
- Clear nail polish (choose a non-yellowing brand if possible)
- Eye pins
- Bead caps (approximately 10-12mm in size)
- Necklace chain (if you use a pre-made chain with a large closure, you might also need jump rings)
- Jewelry pliers with wire cutter feature
- Le Plume alcohol markers in light colors
Step one: Choose your glue stick
Full-size glue sticks work well for crystal necklaces like mine, because they make a statement. If you want to do a pair of dangly earrings, you might choose the minis.
Step 2: Carve the sides
**Warning!** Safety first! Blade away from your body, guys!
Use a new blade, and be very careful! Holding the glue stick down along the edge of a cutting board and starting about 3 inches from the end, slice one side of the glue stick. It’s best to brace the knife along the cutting board as you go, keeping the slice as even as possible. Do this 5-7 times until all of the curved sides of the glue stick are gone.
Step 3: Carve the end to a point
Hold the glue stick at a 45 degree angle and slice from one of the flat sides towards the core of the glue stick. You want to do this in a quick “chopping” motion, hitting the cutting board as you do it. One fell swoop! That will give you the straightest angle cuts. Repeat this on an opposite side, and then repeat 2-3 more times until you are happy with the end of your crystal.
*Pro Tip: Look at crystals online to get an idea shapes found in nature.
Step 4: Shorten the stick
Use your knife and cut the crystal from the stick. At this point you can check to see how well your bead cap will fit the top. If needed, you can carve a little bit of the crystal away or round it to fit the bead cap better.
Step 5: Color your crystal (optional)
Our designer/marketer, Chris, was at a trade show with other craft companies and scored some Le Plume Alcohol Ink Markers from Marvy Uchida. They are perfect for tinting our hot glue projects! (Thanks, Rick C! We wish we knew about these when we did our Beach Glass earrings post…) If you don’t have any, we highly recommend you pick up a few – or a whole box! They are amazing.
For a natural look, less is more! Use very light colors. We used the lightest of the pastels for ours. You can also use more than one color per crystal for a rainbow effect. Chris likes to just add a stripe of color alond the center of each flat side. She does not color the ends or anything else. This gives the most natural look.
Step 6: Add bead cap and eye pin
Hot glue the bead cap to the top, keeping as straight as possible. Cut the eye pin to about 2/8″ long and push into the top of the crystal through the bead cap. If needed, hold the crystal upside down and push onto a hard surface.
Step 6: Seal and shine with clear polish
Choose a high-quality nail polish for this part so it’s non-yellowing. (We picture a cheap one above because it’s what we always have on hand for quick seals and repairs, but choose a brand you’re confident won’t taint your crystal over time.) Having the bead cap on prior to this step will make the crystal easier to handle. We discovered this after making a few crystals, so although the picture below doesn’t display the bead cap, this is the way we recommend you go!
Step 7: Add a chain
A simple ball-chain is best, because you won’t have to worry about squeezing a clasp through the eye-pin. If you want a fancier chain, loop a jump-ring through the eye-pin and close around your chain with pliers.
Love what you create? We’ll love it, too! Snap a pic and post on Instagram, and make sure you tag @adtech so we don’t miss it. If you want the world to see it, use our new hashtag #glueasamedium, too.
Looking for a Valentine project that’s simple to complete (even in bulk) that doesn’t require baking or buying chintzy, over-priced, mass-produced cards?
Good, because we’ve got one for you!
These adorable little “book of love” chocolate valentines are easy to make in any quantity. You can cut the paper pieces assembly-line style, print this book of love template or make a design of your own, and even snack on chocolate as you go. It’s really the perfect project.
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech Crafters’s Tape/Permanent Glue Runner (pictured; could also use AdTech Archival Permanent Glue Runner; both would work, though archival is actually stronger)
- Colored cardstock cut into 2 1/8″ x 1.5″ rectangles (these are the backs of the books)
- Patterned scrapbook papers cut into 1″ x 3″ strips
- A printed page of our PDF file, cut along guides (download here)
- Scissors or a paper cutter
- Hershey’s Nuggets in any flavor (see image to be sure you get the right shape)
- Thin ribbon or paper, cut into 2 ½” lengths (very thin… use paper if you can’t find ribbon 1.8″ wide)
Step one: Wrap chocolates with decorative paper
Pick one of your decorative, 1″ x 3″scrapbook paper strips. Use your Glue Runner to apply adhesive to both the 1″ ends, along the blank side. Place one of the 1″ ends down at the middle of the underside of the chocolate nugget, as shown (below). Wrap around, and press to seal, creating a sort of wide belt around the chocolate.
(In the end, you’ll only be able to see the decorative paper along the sides of the book, but this makes the project much cuter, we think!)
Step two: Apply adhesive to the cardstock
You’re going to fasten down your chocolates with your glue runner. Because it’s like tape, it’s not going to melt or potentially seep into your chocolate.
Be sure to leave about 1/4 -inch around the edges.
Step three: Place down the ribbon and chocolate
Place the ribbon in the center of the cardstock, with almost all of it sticking out the center of one of the longer sides (off the edge of the card).
You want 2 pieces of wrapped chocolate per valentine. These create the illusion of pages in an open book. Place these side by side on the adhesive, in the center, with the long sides touching. The long sides will be placed over the ribbon, and facing the same direction as the ribbon.
Step four: Fold your valentine message
We created this handy PDF with the definition of “love” on it. The dimensions should already be correct if you print full-page on an 8 x 11″ piece of printer paper. Trim each definition according to cutting guides. Fold in half so that it looks like a page.
Step five: Fasten the message to the chocolates
Place your adhesive closer to the edges of the back of this message than the center, and tuck the fold down (slightly) between the chocolates before pressing message down. This is just more likely to make the pages look even and not crooked.
Step six: Create your ribbon bookmark
Carefully apply adhesive from your glue runner along the side of the ribbon that is facing up, then fold it snugly over the seam of the “book” and press to secure. Trim as needed.
Step seven: Hand out your valentines!
These chocolate “books” are the perfect balance between handmade, which shows thought and care, and simple, which means you can hand them out at work or to friends or classmates. You can even modify them for other occasions: Make school “textbooks,” or “literary fiction” for libraries, or even Bibles for church events!
Love what you created? We will, too! Share your project image with us on Instagram. Be sure to tag @adtech!
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Would you believe this is made from hot glue, a toothpick, and a bead… and that’s it?
If you’re looking for a “sweet” project (guilt-free) to do with friends this Valentine’s Day, look no further!
Supplies you will need:
- AdTech® 2Temp Glue Gun —> Click here to buy from Amazon
- Full Size AdTech® Multi-Temp Glue Sticks –> Click here to buy from Amazon
(We strongly recommend AdTech® hot glue for clear jewelry that won’t yellow!) - Colored toothpicks (you can buy them colored, or paint them yourself)
- Short eyepins, or regular eyepins and wire cutters
- A silver ball chain
- Plain, shiny beads, with a small hole that will fit a toothpick
- Scissors
- Clear nail polish
- Parchment (baking) paper or a silicone mat
Step one: Warm up your glue gun
Load it with a glue stick and place it over your parchment paper (or silicone mat). If you’re working with younger crafters, use the low setting; otherwise, high will work well.
Step two: Lay glue lines, long and thin
You’ll need 10-12 strings, about 8″ long. Allow them to cool completely, then peel from away from parchment paper/mat. Once you’ve laid all the glue you need, move your glue gun to the low setting.
Step three: Bundle the strings together, and cut
You’re going to create “sugar crystals” this way, so cut in 1/8″-1/4″ shards, over and over, into a small pile, as shown.
Steps four and five: Glue your toothpick and dip into shards
Coat 1/2 the toothpick completely with glue. Before the glue sets, roll it in the pile of “sugar crystals” you created.
Step six: Keep rolling
You’ll need to add dots of glue to the crystals you’ve added to the toothpick in order to keep adding layers and getting the “rock candy” to your desired thickness. Careful not to burn your fingers! (AdTech® Finger Guards are great for this part of the project!)
Step seven: Add your eyepin
Trim any long crystals that stick out, and then add your eyepin. If you have a short one, just push it into the end of the top end of the rock candy. If you need to trim a longer eyepin down, do so until it’s 1/4″-1/2 long.
Step eight: Coat rock candy with clear nail polish
This will give it a shiny look. Prop up to air dry so it doesn’t stick to your work surface. Seal the toothpick with nail polish as well.
Step nine: Add the bead
Glue your small bead to the end of the toothpick.
Step ten: String onto the necklace chain
… and you’re done!
Love what you created? We will, too! Tag us in your image on Instagram, @adtech. Use the hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so others can see your creation! And remember not to leave your rock candy necklace in a warm car or anywhere that might exceed 120 degrees, as the glue will soften.
Christmastime was our last post, can you believe it? Things have been crazy here at the Studio, between adding and integrating a new member to our team, to renovating our work space, to flying to Phoenix to host one of the most popular booths at #Creativation. We could not be more excited or thankful!
Now it’s time to get back on track, though, and we’ve got some AMAZING project ideas coming to you in the coming weeks! Kicking things off? Sea glass… made from hot glue.
That’s right. There are so many applications for this, my mind almost bursts. I remember being a kid and trying to find sea glass and sand dollars along the beach (I grew up near the coast), and some days I had awesome hauls, but most days were a bust. Imagine not only being able to make your own “sea glass,” but being able to make it into whatever shape you want. The possibilities are endless!
Here are the tools you’ll need:
- AdTech Full-Size HiTemp glue gun (You can also find AdTech glue guns and glue sticks at your local WalMart, as well as many craft/hardware stores)
- AdTech Full-Size MultiTemp glue sticks (AdTech glue sticks are strongly recommended, so your jewelry will be clear and won’t yellow!)
- Acrylic paint in sea glass colors (green, blue, etcetera) and a bit of water
- Silicone mat or parchment (baking) paper
- Paint brush or cotton swabs
- Paper towel
- Scissors
- Optional: Acrylic seal, matte (you can get this at most Michael’s stores, too – bring your coupon!)
- Leather punch (can be found at hardware store for about $10), or small paper punch such as a Cropodile
- Earring hooks
- Jump rings (to match earring hooks)
- Pliers
- Optional: Textured glass and vaseline, for making “glass” that looks like it came from a particular bottle or dish
Step one: Lay out your silicone mat.
A silicone mat is a vital tool for anyone working with hot glue. In this case, it is essential because you’re going to draw your designs directly on the mat and then peel them up. Alternatively, you can use a sheet parchment (baking) paper.
Step two: Warm up your glue gun.
Pro tip: Always keep your gun upright, on its stand, and never on its side. Although sometimes we set our glue guns on their sides to prevent them from dripping, this can cause the glue chamber to clog or overheat.
Step three: Mix acrylic paint in water.
Sea glass can vary from almost opaque to almost transparent, so dilute your colors according to how you’d like the sea glass to look, knowing that you’re going to use your fingers to rub a lot of the paint off.
Step four: Make shapes using hot glue.
If you want to make drop earrings, draw a teardrop with your glue gun and then fill in the open spaces. If you want circles, make circles by squeezing your glue gun trigger several times in the same spot about 1/2″ from your silicone mat.
If you’d like to create that “broken glass” look of sea glass you find along the beach (such as pictured in this post), keep pumping your glue to create a long, wide, flat sheet. (If you have more than one silicone mat, you could try lying the second one over the glue to ensure an even, flat surface.) Then, when it has cooled completely, you can use scissors to create “broken” edges. This is the method we used for the earrings in this post!
Step five: Allow glue to cool completely.
Depending on how much glue you’re using, this could take 10-15 minutes. You can expedite the process by tucking the silicone mat into the freezer for 5 minutes. I prefer to take a tea break, myself, and check my messages, but whatever works for you!
Step six: Peel and paint.
Peel your creations off the mat, trim any strings with scissors, and start adding color.
Because the paint will be watered down, cohesion will create little pockets of color on your piece and make it seem uneven. That’s okay. You’re actually going to rub a lot of the color into the glue using your fingers, and this will even it out.
Try to keep only a thin layer of paint on the surface to make the rubbing process easier and more effective. You can always add more color if you need to.
Step seven: Rub it off, rub it in.
Take a paper towel to the paint and wipe it off. Some stain will be left behind; this is what you want. When you’ve gotten as much off as you can with the paper towel, use your fingers to rub what’s left of the color into the glue. This will create that translucent effect as well as even out the color. Add more color as needed if you want the statement to be bolder.
Pro tip: Rubbing alcohol will usually help clean up any mistakes.
Step eight: Cut the glue into jagged pieces.
This step applies to any glue you didn’t pump out of your glue gun into the shape you wanted. Sea glass along the beach is rarely a perfect teardrop shape, for example, so for more authentic look you may want to trim the glue pieces down to more organic-looking pieces.
Pro tip: Cut at a slant, rather than straight up-and-down. When glass breaks, it breaks in a jagged way, so cutting at a slant will make the pieces look more glass-like. Of course, you can also use this technique to create a beveled effect, which is what we did for this pair of earrings!
Step nine (optional): Seal the acrylic.
Because acrylic is a water-based paint, if you get any moisture on your sea glass, they may possibly bleed. Follow the instructions on the acrylic seal container, and make sure you use matte seal to retain that sea glass texture you’ve created with the glue.
Step ten: Punch holes into the “sea glass.”
Use a small setting on your leather punch, find a safe spot for the hole, squeeze, and (this is important) twist gently. Once you’ve given a good firm twist in 180 degrees in either direction, you can pull the punch loose, and you should have a nice, round hole. Repeat on the second piece of sea glass. (If you’re using a paper punch, just punch as usual.)
Step eleven: Add jump rings and earring hooks.
Use your pliers to open 4 jump rings – two for each earring. Loop the first ring through each hole, and squeeze closed; then loop the second jump ring through the first. Before you close the second ring, loop on your earring hook.
Be sure before you close the second ring on each earring that the sea glass pieces are going to face the way you want them to face once the earrings are in your ears. The “front” of the sea glass should be facing the side of the earring where the bend in the hook faces out, not the part where it goes through your ear.
Step twelve: When you get compliments on your “sea glass” earrings, say, “These are hot glue!”
It’s amazing what you can do with hot glue when you think of it as a medium, and not just as a way to bind two other materials together. In the coming weeks, look forward to seeing how we use glue to make… well, we won’t give it away. You’ll just have to stay tuned and find out what you can create!
Maintenance tip: Do not store your earrings anywhere that might exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, as the glue will soften and reshape. It may also stick to things you don’t want it to! Never leave your earrings in a warm car, for example, as you may never be able to get them out…
Love what you created? Post it on Instagram, and tag @adtech so we can see it! Use our new hashtags #glueasamedium and #thisishotglue so the world can see it, too. Stay creative, keep creating!
Less than a week until Christmas! Are your gifts wrapped?
Mine haven’t even all arrived yet… I’ll probably be doing half my wrapping on Christmas Eve. Luckily I’ve had some experience making even last-second wrapping—once or twice using leftover papers I rummaged out of the closet!—look like I planned way ahead.
Here is one trick for making your giftwrapping look top of the line this year.
Use a glue (or tape) runner instead of single-sided tape.
I actually tried this for the first time this year. And guess what? It’s awesome.
Wrap your gifts the way you normally would, but instead of ripping off pieces of single-sided clear tape every time you need to seal a fold (and trying to do it one-handed because the other hand is keeping your creases tight), just run your clear glue runner along the inside of the paper, and seal.
This has two perks: The first, obviously, is that you don’t need 3 hands to do the job. But the second is that no one will ever see the tape—because it’s under the paper instead of over it! How was I not doing this all along??
Let’s use this gift I got for my niece as an example!
Look how clear it goes on!
Use two rows if you need to! Pro Tip: On the ends of your boxes, fold that last piece under once before you tape it down. This looks a little cleaner.
And… you’re done! What are your giftwrapping tricks? We’d love to hear! Leave a comment below or come tell us on Facebook!
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Guys, we are officially ten days away from Christmas! Have you gotten all your shopping done yet?
I confess… I have not. (And thank heavens for Amazon Prime because I am down to the wire and I have a very large family!) If you haven’t gotten all your shopping done yet, you might be excited to know that we have one last giveaway going on in December, starting today, and whether you want the prize for you or a loved one, we are going to try to get it shipped to the winner in time for Christmas. Are you ready?
For those who haven’t been following along, here’s a quick recap: We’ve already given away two stockings this month to two lucky winners. Each stocking we’ve assembled has had a different theme. The first was a seamstress stocking, and was filled with all sorts of sewing goodies. The second was a scrapbooker’s stocking, and it was full of papers, ink pads, tape runners – the works.
The third and final stocking is the Creative Genius stocking, and it is potentially the COOLEST of the lot. Here’s what’s in it:
- A box of 500 assorted buttons in different sizes and colors
- A bag of mini wool pom-poms in happy hues
- An artist’s travel-size sketchbook
- 10 metallic pens in a variety of colors
- 12 mini spools of colored twine (a variety of colors)
- A pack of high quality wooden medallions
- A bag of Scrabble letter tiles
- A “Thanks!” calligraphy stamp from Paper Sushi
- An eight-block color wheel ink pad from Color Box
- Chalkboard labels in different shapes and sizes (not pictured)
- A white chalk marker
- An AdTech Project Pro glue gun
- A pack of 10″ mini Christmas Tree Scented glue sticks
… and it all comes in a cute stag stocking from Kaiti B Boutique.
Why am I so jazzed about this last stocking giveaway? Because it is filled to the cuff with cool art supplies that I myself am always looking for an excuse to buy:
Wool pom poms? Um, yes please.
Scrabble tiles? Great art supply. I’ve seen them used for resin jewelry, writing out messages on the top of art supply boxes, and other cool re-purposing projects.
A stamp from Paper Sushi will up-level any project; a sketchbook would never go unused; and buttons? Who doesn’t love a good button?
Basically it’s the perfect “I don’t need an excuse” stocking of goodies for the artist, creative genius, or DIYer. It’s an “it just makes me happy” stocking for the right-brained individual. (A left-brained individual totally won’t get it…)
We’re giving this stocking away on Wednesday, December 20.
HOW TO ENTER:
- Follow the AdTech Studio on Instagram
- Heart the latest giveaway image (it looks like the image at the top of this post)
- Underneath the giveaway image, share a moment of your own creative genius that makes you proud
That’s it! For extra entries, tap a photo of something you’ve created using hot glue and tag @adtech so we can see some of your creative genius, and/or tag a friend under the giveaway image on Instagram. We can’t wait for someone to take home this colorful, inspiring stocking!
Here are some close-ups of a few of the amazing products you are going to get if you are the winner:
Again, we’re drawing the winner on Wednesday, December 20, so enter before then!
*This giveaway is only open to residents of the contiguous United States.
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