Epoxy Bubble or 3D Glaze?The age old question...should I use a 3D Glaze or Epoxy sticker for my pretty bottle cap creations?!?! This really is a personal choice and there are pro's and con's to both...Let's discuss.
3D Glazes: There's a few different types of glaze out there. Different companies and such. But, they're basically the same - a thick gooey liquid that dries completely clear, hard as plastic and has a lovely high glossy shine! Pros: You control the level of thickness. You don't have to worry about sticking it on crooked. Simple to use. Fairly cheap in the long run. Can seal image edges. Can be found at almost any retail store (Walmart, Micheals, and so on). Cons: Drys slowly. Can be messy. Bubbles in the glaze dry and look bad. Unsealed images may get distorted (ink may run). Some glazes will 'yellow' over time. May dry uneven. May need to re-apply. (Most Glazes need 24 hours to cure completely). Epoxy "Bubble" Stickers : Also know as "Drops" or "Disks" are stickers with the epoxy already dried and exactly the size and shape you need. (These are also available for scrabble tiles as well). Pros: Fast & Simple -Just stick it on and you're done. No mess. No further applications needed. No drying or curing time! Cons: Expensive! Once they are stuck, you cannot move them. Does not seal the image edges. Hard to find, mostly found online. Did I mention, expensive?! What I think: I do prefer the Epoxy stickers, it's fast, easy and there's no big worries. However, Glazes are much less expensive and when making crafts to sell, that's one of the biggest things you worry about. A single bottle of glaze (about 5 bucks) can do 50 bottle caps. Where as, 50 stickers will run you around $20. Although the glazes need a long time to cure, thats 4 times the price!! E-GADS! However, the "what-ifs" are always there: What if the Glaze dries with bubbles? It's ruined! What if it dries uneven and needs more than one layer? More glaze equals more money, and more time for it to dry. What if I drop the silly thing on the floor before it dries? (Yes, I've done that a lot). What if...oh I could just go on and on. HA! Of course, some Glazes work better than others, and there are always precautions to prevent bubbles, uneven drying, and other worries. I'll post some tips on this soon! Maybe the one thing that makes your choice for you..the stickers are hard to find. I live in the country...and although my nearest Walmart is only 20 miles away..they do not carry them at all. I'd have to drive an hour to get to a craft-chain store, and no guarantee they'd have them either. So, my only option is to buy them online and pay a little extra. In the end it's up to you! If you can get those glazes to look great..then I'd suggest that. But if your impatient and not so good with applying glazes (like me), stickers are the way to go. |
Popular 3D Glaze (above) & Epoxy Bubble Sticker (below) |