I enjoy crafting. Sadly, I don’t seem to have the time like I used to. My Pinterest boards are filled with fun crafts, but 90% of them are kid crafts. This is because I am the site director for a YMCA program. I work with children 5-13 years old. Part of our program involves doing crafts with the kids. That can be easier said than done considering the large age range. I used to find it a lot easier to do crafts with 5-8 year olds, or 9-13 year olds. Sometimes the crafts are too simple/easy for the older kids, or too difficult for the younger ones.
Many of the crafts I have recommend using a glue gun. I have never been a fan of glue guns to be honest with you. I used to own one, but I tossed it out. I found it too much of an inconvenience because there are no easy outlets at work. The only available outlet does not have a table near by. In the past I’ve had to sit in a chair and glue things on my lap. I didn’t like doing that at all. Plus the glue gun I had seemed to make more of a mess than anything else.
I did make some really cool floating candles (like those seen in the Harry Potter movie) using a glue gun. I used my glue gun to put glue around one end of a cardboard paper towel tube, and let the glue drip down. Then I painted it all white (I added some glitter to give them some sparkle) and topped them with flameless tealights. I then took fishing line and hung them from the ceiling so that they appeared to be floating.
Here is a video I took. It’s not very good (sorry).
Speaking of Harry Potter, my “work kids” are crazy about the films and books. One craft I always wanted to do with them in make Harry Potter wands. That required a glue gun, which you all know I’m not a fan of being “stuck” (no pun intended) sitting in a chair up against a wall. I also don’t want the kids to sit in the chair to use it and risk dripped glue on themselves.
Thankfully I received a Surebonder Ultimate Creator Kit to review.
Ideal for for all DIY, arts/crafts, home projects, and more! Celebrate the freedom to create with this cordless hot glue gun. This kit contains a selection of the brand’s best-selling specialty glues and the new crafter’s favorite glue gun, the, which allows for you to craft for up to 2 minutes cord-free! Simply return the glue gun to the stand to reheat after each application.
The Kit includes the crafter’s favorite cordless/corded detail tip mini glue gun, a MUST-HAVE for a crafters toolkit!
Create anything with fabric, jewelry, color, glitter, and all-purpose 10” mini glue sticks. Parents will love that this kit features built-in safety, such as an insulated nozzle and a fuse.
You read that right – a CORDLESS hot glue gun! Where has this been all my life? This is EXACTLY what I needed for work (and for home).
The glue gun comes with a sturdy stand to place it in when you are not using. The stand needs to be plugged in so that the gun it’s self can recharge. But that is fine with me. I can leave that part on the chair and bring the gun to the table where it can be used properly.
The stand also comes with a piece that flips open towards the front that helps to prevent any dripping glue from getting on surfaces. That was a great idea!
To use this glue gun simply plug it in, switch on the power button, give it a few minutes to warm up, insert your glue and you are ready to start crafting (or making repairs since you can use hot glue to repair certain items).
When you are done gluing and need to put the gun down for a moment, place it back on the stand so it can keep it’s charge. The charge lasts for about two minutes, which is more than enough time to glue things.
I LOVE that the brand sent me so many different glues to work with. They have colored glues, glitter glues and even a glow-in-the-dark glue
My apologies that a few of the bags are upside down. I didn’t realize that until I uploaded the photos to this post.
The brand also sent me a very large mat to use as a work station to keep any glue from getting on other surfaces while you are working with it. I appreciate that very much.
I really wanted to make the Harry Potter wands with my “work kids,” and now I’ll be able to do that! They are so easy to make too.
I purchased kebob sticks (I wanted long cooking chop sticks because they have a blunt end, but I couldn’t find any). I’ll have the kids use the Surebonder Glue Gun and drizzle some glue on one end of the stick. After it dries, I’ll have them paint the wand any color they want, then seal it with some ModgePodge.
This is what a Harry Potter wand looks like (collectable one I was given). Unless it’s my Fantastic Beasts one? Now I’m questioning myself.
Here are the examples I made using the Surebonder Glue Gun.
As you can see, I drizzled some hot glue on one end. It doesn’t have to be “perfect.” If my “work kids” prefer to make swirls or designs on their wand, that is totally up to them.
i painted the sticks with different shades of brown and a sparkly gold paint. Then I added a layer of Modgepodge.
The lighting was horrible in the first picture. The second one looks a lot better. I was going for that old/antique look.
Another craft I always wanted to try with hot glue and my “work kids” is making window clings. I saw it some where (Pinterest? Tik Tok?). You take a print out of a design (or freehand your design) with hot glue on parchment paper. Then you peel off the design when it’s cool and hang it.
Well… that didn’t work out as planned.
I printed out a butterfly shape. Using the black glue from Surebonder, I did my best to trace the outline. I suffer from severe carpal in both hands, so it’s not always easy for me to keep a steady hand.
My thought was to do the wings with the gold Surebonder glue, and add some black spots to make a Monarch Butterfly. As I was doing that I realized it would use up A LOT of my glue, and I didn’t want to do that. Instead I just made some zig zags across the wings with the gold glue.
It turned out really messy looking. Not only that, it wouldn’t stick to the window! I had to use a smidgen of tape to get it to stick on the window.
Oh well, I tried. I’ll have to see if I can find the tutorial again.
I am super excited to FINALLY be able to do a lot of the crafts I wanted to do with my “work kids,” but never did because of the idea of being stuck sitting in a chair by a wall to use the glue gun.
I have an idea of making a spider web out of the glow-in-the-dark glue and putting it on a small canvas, then let the kids at work paint a spooky Halloween scene for the holiday. I thought that would be cute and something they could really get into.
I am thinking about having them make their own floating candles too. I’m exited for all the opportunities.
To learn more about this “must have” glue gun for crafters (and more!), visit Surebonder.com. You can also purchase Surebonder products on Amazon.
Be sure to check out the brand on social media too. All of their links are found on the bottom of their website.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.