I'll Stick Around Trivia Quiz

Answer: Glue stick

Glue sticks present craft glue in a plastic tube which can be adjusted so that the glue can be wiped onto one of the surfaces before sticking them together. It is usually filled with a white glue suitable for use in bonding paper. Some glue sticks are purple when spread, so you can easily see where they have been applied, but then dry clear.

Answer: Foam craft glue

Craft foam glue is designed to hold porous surfaces such as foam together. It is applied, then allowed to dry (microwave or hair-dryer speeds this up), then the two surfaces are placed in contact. The glue remains very sticky when dry, and the surfaces bond quickly, with the bond strengthening over a few days. Low temperature hot-melt glue can also be used for foam projects, but high temperature hot-melt glue will destroy your foam!

Answer: Wallpaper paste

Wallpaper paste is designed for exactly that, but it can also be used for papier-mache. Simply mix it up with water until the desired consistency is reached, soak the paper, apply to your frame and allow to dry slowly. Flour and water is the traditional glue for this craft, but care needs to be taken to avoid mold and smells (speaks the voice of bitter experience in my childhood) by including salt or oil of cloves. You can also use other glues such as white glue or powder glue, mixed with water to get the right consistency.

Answer: Glitter glue

Glitter glue is glue, often itself brightly colored, with glitter in it. It comes in a squeeze bottle or a liquid pen dispenser, so can be applied accurately to the desired area. When it dries, the glitter remains glued in place. This is so much easier than the technique of my childhood, when I had to apply glue then sprinkle on the glitter, and was never sure if I had enough (or too much) until it dried.

Answer: White glue

White glue is one of the most familiar of all hobby glues. An emulsion of polyvinyl acetate in water, it is used for porous materials, especially wood, paper and cloth. Being non-acidic, it is used in bookbinding because it will not attack the paper as readily as many glues. Some preparations are toxic, but most are non-toxic, and are useful in a wide range of craft applications.

Answer: Sticker glue

Sticker glue is designed to be applied to plastic or vinyl so that it can be attached to (and later detached from) places such as windows and refrigerators. Hot-melt glue is not good for vinyl, which tends to melt. PVA glues do not usually bond well to glass. Tacky glue forms a permanent bond, and I don't need those pumpkins as a permanent fixture!

Answer: Hide glue

Animal glues used to be very commonly used, especially in woodworking. They have been largely replaced with synthetic glues, but lutherie (making stringed instruments such as guitars and violins) and furniture restoration are two areas where traditional glue from animal hides is still used. Bonds with hide glue do not creep, and are easily repaired by simply heating and adding more glue.

Answer: Yellow carpenter's glue

Yellow carpenter's glue belongs to a class called aliphatic resin emulsions, which are suitable for hardwoods such as oak, beech and mahogany. They grab quickly, set at a low temperature, sand well and take stains, making them perfect for this job!

Answer: repairing the handle of a heat-resistant plastic mug

Cyanoacrylate in glues reacts with water (the moisture in the air or on most surfaces is sufficient) to form tight bonds between the two surfaces within seconds. The resulting bond is waterproof. These glues do not bond if there is no moisture around, and do not bond well with certain plastics, which may need an epoxy resin. Human skin is moist, and the glue adheres extremely well to it, as many have discovered!

Answer: Royal icing

Royal icing, made from sugar, cream of tartar and egg whites, is used to attach decorations to cakes, and is the ideal glue for my gingerbread house. As well as holding the walls and roof together, it will also attach all the decorations. Please do not use any of the others - not only will they taste terrible, they are sometimes toxic, depending on the exact formulation!