What glue can I use over decoupage?

Wendy
by Wendy
Hi Hometalk! I am in middle of a really fun project, but I am stumped and need your help! I used mod podge to cover the cutest little elephant figurine. The elephant is made from a material that looks like cork but is not able to be penetrated (pictured below), I would like to attach a wooden skewer (standing upright) to the top of the elephants head to create a photo holder. I have tried hot glue which does not adhere to the decoupaged body of the elephant. Next I tried super glue which did not work either! What can I use to attach the wooden skewer to the elephant? TIA!
  14 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 09, 2018

    Hello Wendy, Use Mod Podge all over when complete. You can do more coats as required. Have fun..........

  • Debbie Debbie on Jul 09, 2018

    I would drill a hole to accommodate the thickness of your dowel and insert the dowel. If you feel you have to glue it, I would try Elmer's or Gorilla Glue. But, it may not be necessary. Good Luck!!

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi Wendy! Did you try drilling the opening you need? An alternative might be gluing or sticking the skewer into a base, like putty or clay, and then gluing the new base to his head with E6000 glue?

  • Lsherbach Lsherbach on Jul 09, 2018

    I agree with Sebbie and Cynthia about drilling a hole to insert the dowel my glue of choice is E6000

  • ☘️ TxBella ☘️ TxBella on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi Wendy! I’d also drill a small hole for the dowel ,then use Gorilla Glue! Love 💕 the Elephant!

  • Emily Emily on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi Wendy where is the elephant decoupaged? Decoupage means pasting cut out pictures on to something

    decoupage | ˌdāko͞oˈpäZH | noun the art or craft of decorating objects with paper cut-outs. ORIGIN 1960s: French, from découper ‘cut out’.


  • Try gorilla glue or E6000. Good luck. He's super cute!

  • Heather Brown Heather Brown on Jul 09, 2018

    I can’t drill. So here’s another idea. What if you took a large paper clip and used little wire pliers and made one end a spiral that curled a few times like a spring and will slip down the trunk and then made a smaller paper clip on the other side and put the pic in that? So it would look like a paper clip standing upright on top of a spring.

  • Jennifer Jennifer on Jul 09, 2018

    Hi Wendy, I love your little elephant! I think it's bamboo wood (looks like cork gave it away) plus the skewer is wood too, so then I would use wood glue! I would probably drill a small hole and stick it in that way with wood glue but if you don't want to do that, try this instead, rough up a spot where you want to put the skewer and the end of the skewer too! Add a few drops of wood glue to both spots wait about 30 seconds or so before you stick the skewer on, just a little bit gummy. You will also need to set up something where you can keep the skewer straight while it drys (total cure). Try something like a cardboard tube over the skewer with a clothespin to hold it in place while it drys. You can wipe up any excess glue with a cloth and water before it drys! I like titebond wood glue or you can use some wood putty the same way! We would love to see the finished product!

  • Emily Emily on Jul 10, 2018

    Hi Wendy, oh I see now but it looks like a sheet of tissue paper, not cut outs. Sorry to be such a "purist" but I do decoupage and it is such a precise art that to read that things are decoupaged when they are just paper pasted down seems to demean what I and many other decoupers do! The mirror on this dressing table has tissue paper glued around it but I would never call it decoupage.

    • Wendy Wendy on Jul 16, 2018

      How lovely to feel such a pride in your art form! Your work is phenomenal!

  • Debbie Debbie on Jul 11, 2018

    You are very welcome!

  • Bernice H Bernice H on Jul 15, 2018

    Love the elephant. Is it a done deal now?

  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jan 08, 2024

    He turned out sooooo cute!