Tool Talk: How I Love the Xyron!

I started scrapbooking in the late 1990s, and turned to papercrafts/rubber stamping in the early 2000s (I think it was when I realized I was NEVER going to get caught up on scrapbooking.)

One tool I have used for about 2 decades now is a Xyron machine. 

Two Xyron 150 sticker makers

The first one that I remember seeing--and I got it!--was one that could take 8.5" paper, and turn it into stickers, magnets, or laminate it. It had a different roll for top and for bottom--in a one-piece unit--you just swapped out the unit you wanted to use. Eventually it was discontinued--or at least I could no longer find the material units (refills). I think I only ever used it for making stickers.

However, they then came out with some smaller "sticker maker" machines. I have 3 different styles:

Top view: 2 Xyron 150s, a Xyron 300, and a Xyron 250.

The Xyron number refers to the width of items each can handle: the 150 can take items up to 1.5" wide, the 300 up to 3 inches, and the 250 (with the crank handle) up to 2.5" wide.

The 250 reminds me a lot of the old 850, with the handle to turn. I don't use it much anymore, but it still comes in handy. The newer versions are prettier and have a knob on the side instead of a handle. Looks like they also offer it in  5" wide as well as the 2.5" wide. Their cartridges are big and kind of costly.

No, my favorite is the Xyron 150. It's my absolute go-to adhesive for shaped die cuts and more, and I've been using it for at least 10 years.

In this photo, I've taken some of the die cuts from the Bike Ride set (yesterday's featured card), and have started to run them through 2 of the Xyron machines. The bike frame die cut was too wide to fit in the 150  machine, so I put it in the 250 (on the right). On the left you can see one of the tire diecuts going in the pink 150 machine.

You can add shapes--as long as they don't overlap--as the machines will apply adhesive on a continuous roll (until the roll runs out, of course! 😜). You can see that I did that with the pink one.

Now for the magic! If you look closely at the strip on the left, you can see writing on an angle covering the images--it's actually on a clear film and it says "Rub and Peel." That's what you do--you rub over the top (over that clear film), and then peel away the clear film--it hangs over the sides a little, so it's easy enough to grab and pull carefully.

The machine has adhesive on the bottom of the roll--the die cuts (or whatever other thin material you choose!) gets caught on the adhesive as you pull it slowly from the front. Wherever there isn't an object to which it can add adhesive, the leftover adhesive goes onto the clear strip. (In other words, when I pulled away the clear part, there was adhesive stuck to it--except where my die cuts had been--I could see a nonsticky aread in the die cut's shape there.) I'm sorry I didn't think to take a photo of that!

The adhesive is a good strong one, so your items should stick well. Just pull it off of the backing paper--you'll see the adhesive on the back of the die cut.

**Now, I think this may be why some people stopped using the Xyron: sometimes--especially on very thin items--when you pull the item from the backing paper, some of the adhesive may stick to small holes in the diecut or can be right on the edge, so when you press your item down, it could leave some stickiness on the front when you touch it. 

For those issues:

1. I use a a sharp pointed piercing tool (but you could use a sewing pin) to poke out the adhesive in the holes.

2. If anything still feels sticky (around the edge or where the holes are), you can use an adhesive eraser . They last forever (or so it seems--mine still looks almost new).

Xyron sells refills in both permanent adhesive (which I use most of the time) and removable adhesive. You might have noticed that I labeled my X 150 machines on the top so it's easy for me to see which one I want and grab it (I keep them in a drawer in my craft desk).

Besides cardmaking, I use the Xyron for other things, especially making signs around my craft room so I can remember what I'm storing in different containers. The removable version is great--it sticks very well, and makes it easy to remove the label when I repurpose a container.

I do have the Xyron 300 sticker maker (the purple one), but I will not buy it again. It is a one-time use disposable machine--no refills. I didn't realize that at the time. I don't want to add more plastic to the world.

For awhile, companies used to sell (maybe they still do) sheets of sticky paper that you could use with die cuts--put your die cut on the sticky surface, and when you ran the die through your die cut machine, it would also cut the sticky paper--then you only had to remove the backing paper and your die cut was ready to stick on your card.

I think that Scrapbook.com has come up with the best of both worlds: sticky paper rolls!

Scrapbook.com Double-Sided Adhesive

They offer them in many widths. I have a lot of the thin ones--they're like tear tape. Pictured is my favorite version, though--the 6: wide double-side adhesive. That's exactly the width my die cut machine can take!

When you start to unroll it, you'll see the adhesive on the inside. You can stick down your items and cut them out. To use the roll with your die cut machine, you can attach the paper with the die on it (die on top, then paper stuck to inside of the adhesive roll)--just cut off the roll at the edge of your paper. Then run it through your machine all together. When ready to use, you peel off the paper backing (imprinted with Scrapbook.com) and stick down to your intended surface.

OK--that was a lot and I hope it makes sense. 

Make it a wonderful day!

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