|
Is Pebble Art the Same as Rock Art? In the UK, we commonly call it pebble art, while many crafters in the United States refer to it as rock art or stone art. Whatever name you use, the same challenge remains: finding a glue that securely bonds natural materials without creating a messy finish. If you've ever spent hours creating a pebble art picture only to have stones fall off, glue show around the edges, or a customer receive a damaged piece in the post, then you're asking the right question. What Glue Is Best For Pebble Art? After more than 15 years creating pebble art, shipping tens of thousands of pieces worldwide, teaching students inside my Pebble Art Academy, and testing just about every glue I could get my hands on, I've learned that the glue you choose can make or break your artwork. In fact, I became so frustrated with the glues available that I eventually developed my own. Before I tell you what I use today, let me share what I've learned from years of trial and error. Why Choosing the Right Glue Matters Most people think glue is just glue. It isn't. The wrong glue can turn a beautiful pebble art picture into something that looks homemade, messy, or unreliable. It can affect how much confidence you have in your work and even how much you're able to charge for it. I've seen talented artists create wonderful designs, only to be let down by glue that:
For beginners, this can be incredibly discouraging. For artists selling their work, it can damage customer confidence and make it harder to grow a successful business. The Glues I Tried Before Finding a Solution Hot Glue Like many pebble artists, I started with hot glue. At first, it seemed ideal because the stones stuck within seconds. When you're excited to see your design come together, that's very appealing. Unfortunately, the problems appeared later. Over time, I noticed the glue would yellow and become unstable. Stones began falling off older pieces. Shipping became stressful because pieces would sometimes arrive damaged with pebbles detached. One of the biggest problems was heat. Customers would hang their artwork on sunny walls and the glue would soften, causing stones to shift or fall off completely. Other issues included:
While hot glue can work for some crafts, I found it wasn't suitable for creating professional pebble art designed to last. Super Glue My next experiment was super glue. I quickly discovered that it was too thin and runny for the way I like to work. It was messy, unpredictable, and difficult to control. The glue would often spread where I didn't want it, making precise placement frustrating. I also found it expensive for larger projects, and the tubes frequently dried out between uses. Other drawbacks included:
Standard PVA Glue PVA was one of the safer options I tested. It's water-based, non-toxic, and suitable for both adults and children. The downside was that many versions were simply too runny for pebble art. I found that some brands soaked into card and paper, causing wrinkling and reducing the professional appearance of the finished artwork. Common issues included:
E6000 and B7000 These glues are often recommended in crafting groups, but they weren't the right fit for my style of pebble art. While they can provide strong adhesion, I found them unpleasant to work with. The strong odour and chemical fumes often gave me headaches after long crafting sessions. They could also be stringy and messy, making it difficult to achieve the clean, professional finish I wanted. For artists creating artwork regularly, especially indoors, this became a significant drawback. Two-Part Epoxy I also experimented with epoxy adhesives. Although strong, they introduced a completely different set of challenges. The mixing process added extra time and complexity. There was limited working time before the glue began curing, and clean-up was far more difficult. For beginners especially, I found epoxy made the process more complicated than it needed to be. Why I Created My Own Pebble Art Glue The truth is, I wasn't trying to invent a glue. I was trying to stop disappointing customers. I simply became exhausted by being let down by existing glue options. I spent countless hours beachcombing for beautiful pebbles, sea glass, driftwood, and shells. Then I would spend even more time carefully arranging each piece into artwork. Only for the glue to become the weak link. Every time I posted an order, I worried. Would it arrive safely? Would stones fall off? Would the customer be disappointed? It became incredibly stressful. When a customer receives a pebble picture with pieces detached, they don't blame the glue. They see damaged artwork. That affects how they value the piece, whether they feel confident gifting it, and whether they recommend your work to others. The glue was limiting the quality of my pebble artwork and ultimately limiting my business. I also became increasingly concerned about working with strong fumes day after day. Some glues regularly left me with headaches after long crafting sessions. Eventually I decided enough was enough. I wanted a glue designed specifically for pebble art, rock art, sea glass art and other natural material crafts.  What I Use Today
After years of testing, refining, and real-world use, I now use AMor Pebble Art Glue. It was developed specifically for pebble artists and natural-material artwork. What makes it different is that it combines the safety and ease of use of a water-based glue with the strength needed for professional pebble art. Features include:
One feature I particularly value is the slight flexibility in the dried glue. Unlike some brittle adhesives, it can absorb shock during shipping, helping artwork arrive safely even after long journeys. Real-World Results After 15 Years The oldest pebble art pieces I created using my original formula are now more than 15 years old. They're still holding perfectly. Over the years I've shipped tens of thousands of pebble art pieces worldwide, and the glue has been tested extensively in real-world conditions. We've also carried out stress tests involving:
The glue has consistently performed beyond my expectations. A Student Success Story One story that stands out involves a student who switched to my glue after struggling with the finish of her pebble art. She didn't change her designs. She didn't change her pricing strategy. She didn't change her marketing. The only thing she changed was the glue to Amor Pebble Art Glue. The cleaner finish immediately made her artwork look more professional. At a craft fair, visitors repeatedly told her she should be charging more for her work. At her next fair, she increased her prices and had a much more successful event. The biggest change wasn't just the glue. It was the confidence that came with knowing her artwork looked professional and would last. How To Get The Best Results With Any Pebble Art Glue Before applying any glue, preparation is essential. Clean Your Materials First Always wash and dry your pebbles thoroughly. Dust, sand, salt, and dirt can all reduce adhesion and weaken the bond over time. Lay Out Your Design First Arrange your entire design before gluing. Once you're happy with the layout, take a photograph. This gives you a reference in case anything moves during the process. Glue One Piece at a Time Work methodically. Apply glue and place each pebble individually rather than rushing the process. This creates a cleaner finish and better positioning. You can even make all your Christmas gifts this year! My Final Verdict If you're making pebble art purely for fun, many glues can work. But if you want artwork that looks professional, survives shipping, lasts for years, and gives customers confidence in the quality of your work, then choosing the right glue becomes one of the most important decisions you'll make. After 15 years of creating pebble art, testing countless adhesives, shipping tens of thousands of pieces worldwide, and teaching students inside my Pebble Art Academy, I've learned that glue isn't just about finding the strongest one to stick stones down… It's the one that creates professional looking artwork that lasts, survives shipping, and gives you confidence every time you sell or gift a piece. For me, that's exactly why I created AMor Pebble Art Glue in the first place. So whether you're making your very first pebble picture or creating artwork to sell, the right glue can make all the difference. Click here to shop the AMor Pebble Art Glue and experience the difference for yourself or browse the collection of AMor pebble art available for sale
0 Comments
 'Let Me Hold Your Heavy Heart With Gentle Hands As Your Mind Replays What The Heart Can't Forget'.edit. Let me tell you a little about this design. This is a long one so you might want to grab a cuppa. I had this idea building inside me for a very long time. It started not long after I launched the prints of my pebble art. Thousands of people got a free piece of my art and 99.9999% of people adored and appreciated the effort that went in to creating such a valuable offer to make getting a piece of my art more affordable for everyone. And it filled my heart with so much joy. BUT... There were a couple of people who wanted to skin me alive and abuse me over the online space. For the sake of this email lets just call them Prick One and Prick Two. Prick One - Called me all the names of the day and how much of a scammer I was because I sent a print with no pebbles on it. Even though it says 'print' on my offer page over 10 times, includes the type of ink I used in each print description and in the FAQs states that its not actual pebbles its a PRINT! But because they didn't read it properly it was my fault. I'm just glad prints are prints cos I just bought a lion print off a fellow artist... maybe I should ask where my real lion is! lol Prick Two - Felt it was ok to bully me online because they were an artist too and by giving away my prints for free was cheapening every other artists work. Ugh. If they had approached me differently I may have taken the time to explain that by giving away some of my art it was my hope that it created a relationship with people who already enjoyed my work so that when they had a gift to buy or they were in a better position to purchase some art from me that they would support me down the line. I remember crying to Mr AMor numerous times as my mind kept replaying what these two pricks thought it was ok to say to me even though there were 1000s of happy customers I couldn't let these peoples words go. I doubted myself and I thought I had failed and let people down. This was probably the hardest time I've had to go through in my biz. I stopped working, I stopped creating and I stopped putting my work out for the longest time as I was so scared. Mr AMor encouraged me daily that their words were just a reflection of their own inadequacies but it took so long for me to start believing it. I loved making my pebble art and seeing the joy it brings to people so one day I picked up my pebbles and let the flood gates open. I literally cried my way through making this entire picture and it was one of the most healing things that I have ever experienced. It was like a transition of all the hurt I was holding internally onto the pebbles in front of me. I released the hurt in my heart and my mind quietened of the mind monkey chatter that was on repeat. It has been a trying time to get going again but I have never forgot the gentle hands that held and helped me through it. When people get this print I always get feedback of what an emotional powerful piece this is when they get it in their hands. They burst into healing tears remembering a loved one that has passed, a miscarriage, an estranged family member, an illness or mental burden that they just cant stop replaying in their head and as soon as they see it there is an instant release. I encourage you to get your hands on this piece and layer your tears on it to heal whatever you are going through right now. It's time to stop that repeating chatter that you could have done better, should have done ...etc let your heart let go of the pain you're holding and remember the loved ones and support you have to hold you with gentle hands to help you through it. I SEE YOU. You will get through this trying time too, every storm eventually runs out of rain as Pastor Furnick says. If you would like to experience the I SEE YOU print you can get one below or if you know someone who needs this buy one for them too! I would love to hear your experience too, even if it's a pic of your tears on this print you can comment below or send me an email [email protected] and I will get right back to you. Take care of yourself,  PS. If you would like to show me some love and encouragement I would be so grateful for you to leave a review of my work here.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… every store is brimming with Christmas gifts and cards. But, as you drag yourself from store to bustling store, scouring the shelves, searching for the perfect present, the shopping experience becomes more and more overwhelming. You just can’t seem to find anything ‘right’. Discouraged, lots of us then take to shopping online. But all we’ve really done is swap walking up and down aisles aimlessly for scrolling up and down webpages hopelessly. We keep dreaming the perfect gift will just jump off the page at us. It’s not just a Christmas problem either! Throughout the year, no matter what occasion, we never seem to know quite what to buy everyone. Then there’s a whole other problem – recognising the perfect gift as just that – the perfect gift. What if, in all your exhaustion, you just scrolled right on past it? Or in the store, surrounded by bunting and lights, you can’t process all the individual items they are selling and miss it? After it all, the only thing you’ve done is get your step count completed for the day successfully! Ultimately, it’s all because you don’t really know what you’re looking for. But, what if I told you there’s a better way to find the perfect gift? Well, just keep reading, because I’m going to give you all my top tips and tricks for successful gift shopping!  The first thing you need to know is how to shop the right way. You’re aiming to find gifts that make the recipient feel like they have been picked specifically for them and will light up their face with a smile. The way to do this is to remember this one thing: It’s not about what you like – it’s all about them. We are all such different people that it’s important to focus your search on what makes them unique and not just on what you like. Be thoughtful and personal in your shopping instead of just panicking last minute and having to buy something in a rush or buying subconsciously for yourself. So, how do you do this successfully? The trick is to ask the right questions. You’ll be happy to know I’ve made a list of them below for you! Simply ask yourself these questions before you begin shopping and you’ll be on your way to choosing the perfect gift! The first question to ask yourself is: What do they love? This is an important question to start with because it will help you focus on the recipient as an individual. Think about if they have a special interest you can use as inspiration. Hobbies are a great place to start to think of gift ideas. A framed picture of their favourite hobby, like our golf design for instance, is an amazing way to show them you are thinking of what they love.  Next consider: What is their aesthetic or style? If you’re familiar with their home think about the style they like to project. Do they have a rustic theme in their home? Do they have a farmhouse kitchen? Then, perhaps, consider something like this cottage design. Or think about their clothing style or what they are drawn to and pick up if you have been shopping with them.  It’s also important to think: Have they any health problems or allergies? You need to make sure they will be able to make use of what you buy them. If in doubt, here are some things you may want to avoid: bath or shower products they could be allergic to if they have sensitive skin, flowers for a hay fever sufferer, anything that contains nuts they could be allergic to, and so on. Once you have ruled all the medical issues out you need to also ask: What could they use? What do they need? These two questions are about the practicality of your present choice. Think about their lifestyle and if what you are thinking of purchasing fits with that. You don’t want to get your in-laws something crazy after all! A good idea is to think of any events coming up in their life they would need something for. For example, are they starting school, going on holiday, beginning a new job or course? Another question to think about is: Am I purchasing a present for a special event? This is great because it automatically creates new gift options! You can customise the gift by incorporating something that reflects the occasion you’re purchasing the gift for. For example, for a general birthday you could think about their birthstone colour. For a wedding anniversary gift think about including the theme associated with that anniversary, such as lace, wood, silver etc. Gifts like our pebble art are ideal for these events because they can be customised to perfectly match every occasion.  Before we go any further, there is another big question: What is my budget? The biggest piece of advice I’ll give you here is to have a budget and stick to it. Easier said than done sometimes I know! But, that’s usually because we think we need to blow our budget to get that perfect gift when, really, thoughtfulness and usefulness are much more important that spending a huge amount. A handmade gift can actually be one of the most treasured by the recipient but also cost effective. If you want to save money this Christmas season, I highly recommend our DIY kits where you can make a personalised gift on a budget. Honestly, it will mean so much more since you made it yourself!  Finally, you should ask yourself: Is there something you and the recipient share that you could incorporate into your gift?
Do you have a special memory you share? Is there a certain hobby you enjoy together? Or is there something they have mentioned in conversation with you that you could take inspiration from? (It’s one of the nicest feelings to know that someone has been listening!) Again, think about a personalised gift that they will know is especially for them – and that you haven’t just passed on an unwanted gift to them! Well, that’s it – my top seven questions to ask yourself before you go gift shopping. Answering all these questions will help you focus on the finding the perfect present and, even better, over time you will become an experienced gift buyer! If you use these set of questions every time, you’ll soon find you’re having gift ideas even before you need them! You will be able to make a list of ideas so when you do need to buy a specific gift you will already have a list of ideas! Happy Shopping! |
