Two answer, depending on your situation:

1. For GOOD, STRONG bonding, if you are not adverse to working with ventilation, since the fumes are not good for you, a Contact Cement, such as "Household Goop" (available at Wally-world, hardware stores, craft stores, and many grocery stores), or "Heavy Duty Welder," in a Silver Tube (they have other words in front of "Welder," but it's the same stuff), E6000, or similar.
If your work is intended to be outdoors, use a Silicone adhesive. But only then, because clean-up is such a bear, why make things harder on yourself?

2. For paper bonding, as well as many other gluing projects, WITHOUT the fumes, I've read that PPA (Perfect Paper Adhesive), although much slower drying, can be used for almost anything. It is an acrylic-based product.

If you want more "mass" to your gluing, try Liquid Nails, as you can sand it, because it has clay added to it.

~M

Hi kt,
Here's what I use in my altered books:
For paper and lightweight things, I use Gold fluid matte medium. LIquitex also makes some fluid matte medium that works well. It's flexible, dries fairly quickly, and dries clear.

For everything else, including heavy things like metal pieces, glass, buttons, etc., I use Golden's soft gel in matte. It's a little expensive; I usually use a Michael's 40% off coupon to buy it. I love this stuff. There's no smell, it's very thick, but flexible, its hold extrememly well, and dries completely clear. Now, if someone submerged my altered books in water, there might be an issue, because is cleans up easily with water. But so far, this hasn't been been a problem! ;-)

all the best,
Karen
the web site --> karenswhimsy.com/altered-books/
the blog --> artful-journey.com

Weldbond can be used straight from the bottle or diluted. I will have a gloss finish but it will hold leather, metal, paper, wood, and is weather proof.

Look in a good hardware store and if they don't have it ask them to order it.

I also used Golden medium or heavy gels. They dry fast.