An improved creping adhesive is prepared by first reacting a dibasic carboxylic acid, or its ester, half-ester, or anhydride derivative, with a polyalkylene polyamine, preferably in aqueous solution, under conditions suitable to produce a water soluble polyamide. The water-soluble polyamide is then reacted with an epihalohydrin until substantially fully cross-linked, and stabilized by acidification with phosphoric acid at the end of the polymerization reaction to form a water-soluble poly(aminoamide)-epihalohydrin creping adhesive that is re-wetable and facilitates water spray removal of buildup so as to lengthen the life of the creping blades, with attendant significant decrease in downtime and maintenance.