This blog post is written to show you best sealant for crafts.
You finish your craft and step back to have one last look, every color, detail looks just as you imagined. Then, a small spill, a scratch, or even a single touch leaves it looking less than perfect. Suddenly, the project you spent hours on doesn’t look the same. Frustrating, right?
That’s where the right sealant makes all the difference. A good sealant protects your work, keeps colors vibrant, and gives your craft a clean, finished look. Think of it as a tiny shield that keeps your creation looking as fresh and polished as the day you made it.
In this guide, I’ll show you the best sealants for different types of crafts, how to apply them easily, and the common mistakes beginners should avoid. Once you get the hang of it, sealing your projects becomes simple, and your crafts will look professional and last much longer.
If you’ve ever spent hours on a craft project only to watch it robbing off, fade, or peel… i understand. Choosing the best sealant for crafts is one of those things most beginners overlook until it’s too late.
A good sealant protects, enhances, and preserves your work, basically the superhero cape your craft didn’t know it needed. And don’t worry: by the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which sealant to use, when to use it, and how to apply it without stress.
Why Using the Right Sealant Is Important
Photo credit: @ Letruma
Using the right sealant can completely change how your craft turns out. It helps protect your work from moisture, dust, fingerprints, and everyday wearing off. This is especially important for crafts that people will touch often, like coasters, wood signs, ornaments, or painted decorations.
A good sealant also keeps your colors looking bright. If you want a matte, satin, or glossy finish, the right product can make your craft look cleaner, smoother, and more polished.
If you plan to gift or sell your crafts, sealing them makes them more durable and long-lasting. It keeps your projects from fading, peeling, or losing their shine over time, so they look just as good months later as they did on day one.
Supplies You’ll Need
Here’s a curated list of the most reliable, beginner-friendly sealants crafters use. Each one serves a different purpose, so think of this as your starter kit guide.
1. Mod Podge (Matte, Gloss, Satin)
Mod Podge is one of the most versatile craft sealants and is especially loved because it works as a glue, sealer, and finisher in one product.
It’s perfect for paper-based projects such as decoupage, scrapbooking, card-making, photo crafts, and lightweight decorations. The different finishes, matte, gloss, and satin, make it easy to choose the exact look you want.
Why it’s good: It dries quickly, brushes on smoothly, and doesn’t yellow over time. It also provides enough protection for everyday handling without making the craft stiff or brittle.
Best use: When you want a clean, smooth, paper-friendly finish that won’t soak through thin materials.
What Makes It Even Better: It’s water-based, so it’s easy to clean up with soap and water—great for beginners.
2. Polycrylic
Polycrylic is a water-based topcoat that gives a strong, protective finish on wood, furniture, signs, painted surfaces, and DIY décor. It dries clear, doesn’t change the color of your paint, and resists scratches better than most craft sealants.
Why it’s good: It’s durable, non-yellowing, and perfect when you need your project to last—especially items people handle a lot or display outdoors (under shade).
Best use: Painted wood signs, wooden trays, furniture makeovers, or craft pieces that need a tougher surface.
What Makes It Even Better: It comes in different sheens (matte, satin, semi-gloss, gloss), so you can match the look of your project.
3. Clear Acrylic Sealer Spray
Acrylic sealer spray is a fast, no-fuss option when you need a protective coat but don’t want brush marks. It works well on paper crafts, photos, painted surfaces, air-dry clay, polymer clay, and mixed-media artwork.
Why it’s good: The spray formula dries quickly, provides even coverage, and helps protect artwork from moisture and fading. It’s especially helpful for delicate surfaces that could smear if brushed.
Best use: When you need a thin, smooth, professional-looking finish without touching the surface. Ideal for sealing layers of paint or ink that need to stay crisp.
What Makes It Even Better: Great for sealing glitter so it doesn’t shed off everywhere.
4. Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin gives a thick, glass-like, ultra-glossy finish that makes any craft look high-end. It’s commonly used for tumblers, coasters, trays, jewelry, tabletops, river tables, and keychains.
Why it’s good: It creates one of the strongest, most durable sealant layers, it’s waterproof, heat-resistant, and scratch-resistant once cured.
Best use: Projects that need shine, depth, and long-term durability. It’s perfect for crafts you want to look professionally made.
What Makes It Even Better: You can embed glitter, photos, or small objects inside resin for stunning artistic effects.
5. Gel Medium / Decoupage Glue
Gel medium is thicker than regular glue and works beautifully for fabric crafts, textured surfaces, mixed-media art, and layered designs. It can also act as a glue, sealer, and finish, just like Mod Podge, but with more flexibility and strength.
Why it’s good: It grips difficult materials such as fabric, canvas, textured wood, or uneven surfaces without wrinkling or lifting. It dries clear and has a soft, flexible finish that moves with the material.
Best use: When you’re working on fabric, collage art, or items that have texture and need a sealant that won’t crack.
What Makes It Even Better: Artists love it because it adds body and depth to artwork, making it perfect for creative layering.
Tools You’ll Need
These are the basic items that help you apply sealants neatly and safely.
Soft Bristle Brush or Foam Brush
A soft bristle brush or foam brush helps you apply sealants smoothly without leaving harsh lines or streaks. Foam brushes are great for water-based products like Mod Podge or Polycrylic because they glide easily, while soft bristle brushes are better for thicker sealants that need a gentle, even spread. They also help you control how much product you use, which reduces drips and pooling.
Disposable Gloves
Sealants can be sticky, messy, or difficult to wash off, so disposable gloves keep your hands clean and protected. They’re especially useful when working with resin, spray sealers, or oil-based products. Gloves also prevent fingerprints from getting on your project while the sealant is still wet.
Protective Surface Covering
Whether it’s old newspaper, a plastic tablecloth, or craft paper, a surface covering protects your workspace from spills, drips, and sticky residue. Sealants can permanently damage wood tables or absorb into fabric surfaces, so covering your area saves you stress and cleanup time.
Sandpaper (Optional for Wood Projects)
For wood crafts, sandpaper helps you smooth rough spots before sealing and gives the surface a clean, professional finish. Light sanding between coats of Polycrylic or varnish also helps each layer bond better and look smoother. You don’t need it for paper or clay crafts, only when working with wood.
Respirator Mask (For Strong-Odor Sprays)
Some sprays especially acrylic sealers or solvent-based topcoats, can have strong fumes. A respirator mask helps protect you from inhaling these odors and lets you work comfortably for longer periods. It’s especially important if you’re sealing indoors or working with products labeled “use in a well-ventilated area.”
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s go through the easy steps for applying a sealant smoothly, without bubbles or sticky spots
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Prepare Your Workspace The Right Way
Sealants behave differently, some drip, some thicken fast, some have a strong smell, so it helps to set up your space before you begin.
Cover your table with parchment paper or a silicone mat, open a window for ventilation, and place your project on a raised surface (like an old box or painter’s pyramids) so the edges don’t stick as they dry.
This simple setup makes the sealing process cleaner and much easier to control.
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Make Sure The Craft Is Fully Dry
One of the most common sealing mistakes is rushing. Paints, markers, glue, and sealant layers all dry at different speeds, and the surface can look dry even when there’s still moisture underneath.
When you seal too early, that trapped moisture turns into cloudy patches or bubbles later. Giving your project a little extra drying time, especially thick paint or glued areas, ensures the sealant bonds cleanly.
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Choose The Correct Sealant For The Craft
Using the right sealant saves you so much frustration. Each material needs a finish that supports its texture, weight, and how it will be used. Here’s a clear, expert cheat sheet to guide you:
| Craft Type | Best Sealant | Why It Works |
| Paper, photos, prints | Acrylic spray • Mod Podge | Lightweight, prevents warping, protects colors |
| Wood signs, wood boxes | Polycrylic | Smooth, durable, non-yellowing finish (great for indoor crafts) |
| Acrylic paintings | Clear acrylic spray | Protects without smudging paint or altering texture |
| Coasters, tumblers, trays | Epoxy resin | Heat-resistant, waterproof, thick glossy finish |
| Air-dry clay, polymer clay, ornaments | Acrylic spray • Mod Podge | Gentle protection without adding weight |
This table saves you from the trial-and-error phase most beginners get stuck in.
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Apply Thin, Even Layers
The thickness of your layers makes a huge difference. Thick coats dry unevenly, trap air, and can leave ridges. Thin coats build up beautifully and dry faster.
For brush-on sealants:
- Use a soft synthetic brush for fewer lines.
- Brush in long, steady strokes in the same direction.
- Don’t keep going over a spot once it starts drying—this causes dragging and streaking.
For spray sealants:
- Shake the can for a full minute before using.
- Hold the can 8–12 inches away from the surface.
- Spray in light passes, moving your hand before the spray hits the craft.
This technique keeps your finish smooth and prevents puddling in the center.
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Give It Time To Dry And Cure
This is where the patience comes in. Drying and curing are two different things:
- Drying = the surface feels dry to the touch.
- Curing = the sealant has fully hardened and is strong enough for handling or daily use.
Acrylic sprays may cure within 24–48 hours, while epoxy resin may need up to 72 hours or more.
If your craft will be touched, washed, or handled often, make sure it’s fully cured before using.
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Add Extra Coats For Durability
Some items only need one thin layer, but bigger or more hands-on crafts benefit from more:
- Coasters, trays, tumblers: 2–3 epoxy layers
- Wood signs: 2 polycrylic layers
- Paper crafts & prints: 1–2 acrylic spray layers
Building layers slowly gives a cleaner, smoother finish and increases long-term protection.
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Tips and Troubleshooting
Photo credit: @ Lynn Alridge
Even with the right sealant, small hiccups can happen. Here’s how to handle common issues like a pro:
Streaky finish
Too much sealant at once can cause streaks. Use light, even coats with a soft brush. Thin layers dry smoother and give a polished, professional look.
Cloudy or milky sealant
If the surface isn’t fully dry or humidity is high, sealant can appear hazy. Move your craft to a dry, well-ventilated area and let it clear up naturally. Patience makes all the difference.
Bubbles appearing
Gently tapping your brush or blowing lightly over the surface helps release trapped air. For resin projects, carefully warming the surface with a heat gun (from a safe distance) eliminates bubbles without affecting the finish.
Patchy spray sealant
Shaking the spray can for at least a full minute ensures even coverage. Spraying too close or unevenly can create blotches or puddles.
Sealant sticky after hours
Thick layers or humid weather can delay curing. Keep the craft in a cool, dry spot and resist touching it until fully hardened.
Variations and Finish Options
Photo credit: @ Hobby Lobby
The finish you choose can completely change the look of your craft:
- Matte finish: Soft and subtle, perfect for rustic or minimalistic crafts.
- Satin finish: Gentle glow, ideal for painted wood signs or home décor.
- Gloss finish: Bright and vibrant, enhancing colors, great for ornaments, jewelry, or polymer clay pieces.
- High-gloss resin finish: Thick, glass-like shine that is extremely durable, perfect for coasters, tumblers, or standout pieces.
- Non-toxic / kids’ sealants: Water-based sealants are safe for children’s projects and indoor use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most beginner-friendly sealant
Acrylic spray is fast, easy, and works on most surfaces without any special brushing skills.
Mod Podge for long-term use
Works well for paper, decoupage, and light crafts. For items handled often, finish with a clear acrylic spray for durability.
Best sealant for painted crafts
Clear acrylic spray for small projects, polycrylic for wooden crafts, or epoxy resin for heavy-use pieces ensures long-lasting protection.
Preventing smearing of markers or paint
Set the surface first with a light spray coat, then add a brush-on topcoat once dry. This protects your colors without rubbing off
Conclusion
Using the right or best sealant for crafts elevates any project, making it look polished, professional, and long-lasting.
Once you know which sealant fits each type of craft and how to apply it correctly, your creations will stay beautiful and durable.
Experiment with finishes, take your time with layers, and enjoy watching your crafts transform. Try these tips on your next project and see the difference for yourself.
