If you adhere underneath a printed area, the adhesive will generally show a tad less.

I don't recommend using glue sticks other than Coccoina; they will most likely not hold for the long haul. I find this to be particularly true with slicker elements, which of course, a transparency is. If you use a glue stick over the entire surface of the transparency, you will get a cloudy effect. This can be totally cool. On the other hand, you may be seeking a more TRANSPARENT effect!!

For those of you who use gel medium as your adhesive of choice, you have the option of spreading it all over the surface of the transparency, or just along the edges, or at any point you want it to be held. However, gel medium does not ALWAYS dry clear - keep that in mind if you DO want your transparency to shine through clearly.

If you have a Xyron machine, it will be perfect for your transparencies! Just run a transparency through a one sided adhesive cartridge, and it'll turn into a sticker. If you don't have a Xryon machine, consider buying one. They're a great investment!

Diamond Glaze works in much the same fashion as gel medium. It works particularly well if you are trying to adhere your transparency to a surface other than paper, for example, metal, wood or glass.

If you decide to use any kind of glue just along the edges and do NOT want the it to show, it can always be covered with one or more of the following: other collage elements; decorative tape such as masking tape, duct tape, stained glass metallic or graphic arts tape; ribbon; strips of cut or torn paper, strips of fabric and so on.

For gluing elements ONTO a transparency, I really recommend Diamond Glaze, for both its relatively quick bond and its permanency. I don't recommend using a hot-glue gun, as transparencies tend to melt when exposed to heat. Although if you are looking for a grunge look, that could be just about perfect. 

Tapes used underneath your transparency, such as clear double-sided (Terrifically Tacky Tape) and photo mounting tape, work in essentially the same way as any glue; they WILL show through to a greater or lesser extent. If that's not the look you're looking for, but it IS the adhesive you're gonna use, you have all the same options to disguise the tape as you did with the glue - ribbon, other tape, etc. - basically it's all just one big cover-up! Or to minimize the appearance of tape without covering it up, simply cut tiny squares of double-sided tape and put them in the corners under your transparency. You really won't be able to see them at all.

You might also consider using the tape directly on top of your transparency, extending over either the side edges and/or the top and bottom. Or cut your it into triangle shapes to give the appearance of photo corners. Try traditional tapes, masking tape in different colors and copper foil tape which can be found at stained glass shops.
 

Adhere a transparency by surrounding it with fabric and allowing it to peak out of a fabric "frame." Or sew the transparencies on top of your fabric pieces...they look great this way too!

Take out your spools of ribbon and and adhere your transparency with Tacky Glue.
 

Brads, buttons, eyelets/ grommets and snaps can all be used, to wonderful effect, to attach transparencies to almost any paper or fabric. You can use them to attach just at the corners, all along the edges, or at ANY place on the transparency.

Try using a heart shaped brad or button where you would really find a person's heart!

Or use nailhead stars to both form a halo over someone's head and hold your transparency in place!

If you use grommets or eyelets, you also have a perfect opportunity for threading some ribbon through to finish off your borders in a really elegant or funky way. Try adding beads and charms to the ends of the ribbon.

Don't forget to break out your paper clips too! The nice round ones are perfect for putting a small frame around your transparency images. Use them to highlight a special part of your transparency image.

Staples in bright colors are also a great, easy attachment.
 

Please feel free to print these instructions for easy reference. (Use Landscape Layout when printing this page).