How To Find The Best Rhinestones For Dance CostumesMany of us have watched the television show, Dancing with the Stars. Typically, the competitors wear beautiful, glittering costumes that sparkle with each movement. As mothers of dancers, we want to achieve a level of glamour with children’s competition costumes, too. Yet, the best rhinestones for dance aren’t always the most expensive. Best Rhinestones For Dance Undoubtedly, sparkle is important when stoning dance costumes. Generally, high quality crystal rhinestones produce the most glittering scintillation. However, you can create a nice play of light with a greater quantity of less expensive quality stones. Of course, some dance moms only want the highest quality dance rhinestones. These are brand name crystalline products with the greatest number of facets. At one time, Swarovski was the best on the market. However, several years ago, they removed themselves from the retail market. Since then, Preciosa has become the leader in crystal components. While these are the best, they’re also the most expensive. Moreover, choosing a less expensive brand will allow you to buy a greater quantity of crystal bling. Although each rhinestone will have less sparkle, you’ll have more rhinestones for a nice play of light. For centuries, European rhinestones dominated the market, but recently Asian manufacturers have emerged as a less expensive alternative. However, when buying from certain companies, be careful about buying cheaply made products. Sometimes, the color won’t be consistent within batches. Other times, the foil backing may fall off. Buying from a reputable seller can help avoid poorly manufactured rhinestones. Some Dance Costume Stoning Ideas For the beginner, stoning a dance costume can seem intimidating. In addition to choosing colors and sizes, you have to decide on the placement of stones. However, once you begin, you’ll see how easy it is to bedazzle costumes. Often, the best way to begin is to lay out your dance costume on a flat surface. Place some rhinestones on the garment to see the layout. As you place the rhinestones, note the distance between each stone. The ideal spacing depends on your rhinestone size and the pattern. When stoning in a linear pattern, keep the spacing between the rhinestones consistent. Some popular ways to embellish dance costumes include:
Color, Size, and Shaped Crystals To Create Rhinestone Designs Another idea is to mix sizes, shapes, or colors. Doing so gives your crystal design depth and texture. For example, using different sizes allows light to bounce unpredictably, adding overall interest. Rhinestone shapes also have varying faceting patterns that create unique plays of light. Generally, shapes are great for accenting particular areas. However, most manufacturers create shapes in sew on designs, making application a bit more time-consuming than hotfix or gluing. Of course, you can always use a rhinestone adhesive to attach sew on rhinestones. Finally, color choice can impact your rhinestone design. For instance, you can choose a complementary hue for a vibrant pop of color. Or, pick a similar hue for a more subtle and cohesive look. Another option is to use Aurora Borealis rhinestones. These have a special AB coating over the standard color, giving the stone a color-changing appearance. Typically, the facets on AB crystals have greater visibility due to this coating. Rhinestones For Dance - FAQs Are you shopping for the best rhinestones for dance? Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions to help you decide on a quality crystalline product. How Many Rhinestones Will I Need? Of course, your rhinestone design usually dictates the quantity of crystals necessary. However, the size and spacing between each piece also affect the required number of rhinestones. Generally, expect to order between 3 and 5 gross. What Is the Difference Between Flatback and Hotfix Rhinestones? While some crystalline products, like chatons, have pointed backs, both hotfix and flatbacks have a flat backside. Although flatbacks require an adhesive to attach them to fabric, hotfix rhinestones have glue on the backside. When heated to 250° F (120° C) to 390° F (200° C), the glue melts, allowing application. The glue solidifies when cooled, forming a permanent bond with most fabrics. For hotfix crystals, you’ll need an applicator tool, heat press, or non-steam iron. Where Can I Buy Crystal Rhinestones Online? If you’re looking for high quality rhinestones for dance, trust Rhinestones Etc. Since 2011, we’ve been selling quality embellishments at competitive prices. We currently carry the luxury brand Preciosa Maxima and the economically priced PriceLess Rhinestones. Moreover, most orders ship the same day, so you receive your crystal bling fast. Browse our online store to find the perfect brand, size, and color for your bling project.
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Free Rhinestone Template To Create A Solid Heart DesignBlinged out tee shirts are a hot fashion trend. Moreover, you’ll find plenty of YouTube videos and blogs describing how to make your own. However, while many DIYers explain the method of attaching rhinestones, many bypass the designing process. We offer a free rhinestone template to create a beautiful, bedazzled shirt. For beginners, using a template is a very convenient tool for showing the placement and quantity of crystalline embellishments. How To Use Our Free Rhinestone Template
You can use our free rhinestone template to create a solid heart shape. This free template works with any size rhinestone. The shape will be either smaller or larger depending on your choice of rhinestone size.
For example, Preciosa Maxima Rhinestones 20ss measure 4.6 mm. Thus, your finished heart design will extend to about 101 mm by 110 mm (about 4 inches by 4.5 inches). Using size 16ss ( 3.8 mm) will give you a finished design of 83 mm by 91 mm (3.25 by 3.5 inches). Moreover, your finished rhinestone heart will also be larger if you leave space between the rhinestones. To recreate the heart design, simply count the red dots to see how many rhinestones you’ll need. For the pink dots, you have 2 choices. You can use the same size as the red dots or choose one size smaller for a more rounded appearance. Hotfix Vs. Flatback Rhinestones?
With this type of rhinestone design, you can use flatback or hotfix rhinestones. Comparatively, using hotfix rhinestones to make an iron on transfer may be a bit easier than gluing flatbacks.
If you choose hotfix rhinestones, you’ll also need transfer paper. Rhinestone transfer paper has 2 pieces, a non-sticky opaque piece and a clear sticky sheet. To use transfer paper with this design, print out our template. You may have to enlarge the size so that the dots match the size of the rhinestones. Peel off the clear part of the transfer paper and lay it on top of the template, sticky side up. Place the rhinestones facet-side down in the dots on the sticky part of the transfer paper, filling in the heart shape. To glue flatbacks to fabric, we prefer Gem-Tac for its ease of application. For this method, you use the template as a guide. Begin your design by gluing the rhinestones along a center line, horizontally or vertically. Moreover, you may want to use a ruler to keep your lines straight. If you have a Cricut machine, you can make holes for rhinestone placement. Of course, you’ll want to remove the background dots first. Additionally, you’ll need to convert it into an SVG file format version. Creating Your Rhinestone Design
While using a preformed template offers a starting point, you may want to create different designs. You’ll find several ways of design creation from using Cricut machines to computer programs. As you begin your journey with rhinestone design, you can start with a simple method to save on costs.
We offer several free rhinestone template designs that you can download. Furthermore, you can read about how to make a simple rhinestone template using a punch tool. For this project, we used Photoshop to convert a simple image into a color dot pattern. Spiral Betty is a free program that can also turn an image into dots. Choose Quality Rhinestones for Your Bling Project
Although you don’t need to choose the most expensive rhinestones for your bling project, avoid using cheaply made embellishments. Often, poorly made rhinestones will have color variations for the same hue. They may contain bubbles within their structure giving the embellishment a cloudy appearance. Comparatively, cheaply made rhinestones won’t have much sparkle or shine as compared to higher-end embellishments.
For over 10 years, Rhinestones Etc. has been supplying dancers, skaters, and businesses with high-quality crystal rhinestones. We offer super-fast processing times with most orders shipping out the same day. Plus, we offer a large selection Preciosa Rhinestones as well as the cost-effective PriceLess brand. Browse our online store to find the perfect color for your next bling project. 
How To Make Rhinestone Templates The Cheap And Easy Way
Buying bedazzled clothing can be expensive. Instead, learn how to create rhinestone templates and make personalized blinged out T-shirts.
DIY Rhinestone Templates
Sometimes, when you want a simple answer, you find solutions requiring a lot of money. For example, an easy way to create bedazzling clothing is to use rhinestone templates. However, Google it and you’ll find instructions using a cutter machine, transfer sheets, backing board, template paper, and computer software. Sounds complicated and expensive.
Instead, you can make templates for under $20. Plus, you can use these templates for glue on or hotfix rhinestones to make crystal transfer designs. Furthermore, you only need a few tools:
Why Use Rhinestone Templates?
T-shirts with a word or symbol emblazoned on them are trendy. Moreover, bedazzled clothing is both chic and in style. But, have you priced rhinestone clothes? They’re expensive! Yet, you can easily bedazzle clothing by using rhinestone templates.
Generally, applying rhinestones to clothing occurs in a particular pattern. Whether you want to create an object or a word design, the rhinestone placement must occur in a certain arrangement. A template helps you to maintain the symmetry and spacing between rhinestones easily. How To Design Rhinestone Patterns
Word processing programs make creating word templates super easy. Plus, you can choose from a variety of fonts and letter sizes. Furthermore, you can make more than just word templates. Let’s say you want to add a bird, heart, or dragon to a T-shirt. You can find drawings of many of these objects online for free. Additionally, children’s coloring books or stencils are other great sources. Simply, print your word or symbol on a piece of graph paper to help with rhinestone placement.
Often, you can find pictures or symbols in embroidery pattern books. Additionally, Dover Publishing offers a variety of royalty-free illustrations and designs. Furthermore, we offer several free rhinestone templates that you can download. Once you have your design copied, use your punch set to space holes evenly in the outline of your image. First, place the rhinestones template on your cutting board and position a punch tool. Then, tap the top of the punch tool several times with the hammer. Continue making holes around the perimeter, spacing the holes as needed. Another method to cut out your design is to use an X-Acto knife. Next, take your template and lay it flat on your shirt. You can use a piece of chalk to mark the position of rhinestones or lay rhinestones inside the holes. Remove the template and make any necessary spacing or rhinestone placement adjustments. Now, you’re ready to glue them into place. If you want to make a hotfix rhinestone transfer design, place a piece of was paper over your template. Position the rhinestones on the wax paper with the facet side up, following the template outline. Take your transfer paper and separate the layers. Place the clear piece over the rhinestones with the sticky side down, gently pressing on the design. Peel away the wax paper, and your hotfix transfer design is ready to use. Frequently Asked Questions About Rhinestones
Are you excited to begin creating bedazzling clothing, but have a few more questions? We’ve put together our most commonly asked ones.
Which Type Of Rhinestones Should I Use For My Project?
For years, many consumers used Swarovski Rhinestones for their projects. Known for quality embellishments, it was the premier brand to buy. Unfortunately, several months ago, the company began a restructuring project that took them out of the retail market.
However, the Preciosa brand has a far longer crystal making tradition than Swarovski. Preciosa draws upon over 470 years of glassmaking tradition from independent artisans. In 1948, these separate factories merged into one company. Plus, many other lesser-known manufacturers produce crystal, glass, or acrylic rhinestones. In particular, the Asian markets produce both MC and DMC rhinestones in glass and crystal with different price points. Quality and grading vary among manufacturers, so when in doubt, check online reviews. If possible, try to obtain a sample. What Is The Best Rhinestone Adhesive?
Undoubtedly, the most popular method of attaching rhinestones to clothing is with glue. This process for gluing rhinestones to fabric is fairly simply, resulting in a stunning result.
Moreover, you can choose from several types of adhesives:
All these adhesives are washable and dry clear. However, some are easier to work with than others. While many consumers like E6000, this glue tends to be gloppy. Our preferred glue for adhering rhinestones to fabric is Gem-Tac. How Many Rhinestones Will I Need?
Comparatively, the number of rhinestones you need for your project depends upon the size of the design and the rhinestones. However, choosing a size, like color, is a personal preference. Keep in mind, that smaller stones offer a more subtle sparkle but work well in intricate rhinestone designs.
Furthermore, manufacturers use a unique type of measurement to designate rhinestone sizes. Generally, a larger number next to the “ss” classification is a bigger rhinestone. Likewise, the smaller the number, the tinier the rhinestone. Moreover, the design spacing will also determine your quantity. Where Can I Buy Quality Rhinestones?
Rhinestones Etc. wants to be your online rhinestone supplier for quality bling. We offer fast processing times, with many orders shipping the same day. Plus, we have outstanding customer service and competitive pricing. Visit our online rhinestones store to view our inventory.
 DIY: Use Nailheads to transform a Denim vest from plain to dazzlingDenim vests can add that special touch to your casual outfit. While very cool looking, vests embellished with nailheads can break your budget. Afterall, you want to look fashionable without blowing your paycheck. What’s a girl to do? If you can find a vest on clearance you’ve won half the battle. Additionally, metal trim is relatively inexpensive and you can embellish the vest yourself. Then, you not only have fashionable clothing, you also save yourself a bundle of money. Read on to see how easy it is to do this yourself. For this project I used: 1 denim vest 6 silver star nailheads 20 Silver pearls nailheads Scissors/bedazzler Ruler To Begin with, What Are Nailheads? Nailheads are decorative metal trim with metal prongs. Moreover, they are available in many shapes, colors, sizes and differ in the number of prongs. Originally made for the furniture business to attach upholstery to wood, these metal pieces migrated to the fashion industry. You can buy a bedazzler for about $20 to attach them to clothing. Similarly, you can also just use the flat blade of a scissor or flat head screwdriver to bend the prongs.  How to Use nailheads to Embellish a Denim Vest First, lay your vest out on a flat surface. Decide on how you want to arrange the nailheads on your garment. I put stars on the pocket flaps and I spaced the pearls 1 inch apart along the front. If you wish, you can measure and mark with chalk the placement of the trim. Now, pick up a nailhead and press it down so that the prongs penetrate the denim through to the other side. Flip your material over so that the prongs are facing up. Continue pressing from the front side so that the prongs have penetrated the material as far as possible. Next, bend the prongs using the flat end of the scissors. The prongs should lay flat and flush with the material. Continue adding the trim in this manner to your vest until you have completed your design.
Wow Your Friends Your denim vest is finished! Once you see how easy it is, you won’t want to stop. You can add nailheads to baseball caps, jeans, or anywhere else you need a little bling. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to make your wardrobe truly unique.
Do you need some metal trim to get started on bedazzling your wardrobe? Rhinestones Etc. has discount pricing on embellishments and excellent customer service. We love to help you sparkle! Nailheads were originally used in the construction of furniture. Primarily, they were used to attach upholstery to the wooden frame. As time went on, they became more decorative. Today, nailheads can still be used in furniture as my friend, Julie, from Project Vintage shows in her re-imagined desk. To attach the nailheads to the desk, she simply tapped them in using a hammer. And while nailheads are still used as a decorative touch in furniture, they are also used to embellish clothing.  What Are Nailheads? Imagine a shiny decorative metal head with prongs underneath. The number of prongs varies from 2 to 8 based on the size, shape and manufacturer of the nailhead. In addition, the length of the prongs or legs varies as well from 1/16 to 3/16 of an inch. When you are bedazzling a thick material such as denim, or using the nailheads for furniture, you will want the longer leg (prong). You can use the shorter leg nai heads on thinner fabrics. Also, the size of the decorative head varies in size as well and is available in many different shapes. Browse the internet to find round flat, pearl (cone), star, square, dome, bar, flower or diamond shaped nailheads. Some of the colors are available are black, bronze, silver, gold, gunmetal, copper and antique finishes. You can mix and match shapes, sizes and colors to create your own unique look.  How are Nail heads Used in Clothing Denim looks especially fresh when embellished with nailheads. Try adding nailheads to jeans jacket for a bold fashion statement. Application of nailheads is easy. If you plan on applying a lot of nailheads, you may want to invest in a bedazzler. Prices start at about $20. However, nailheads can easily be applied by hand as well. Simply insert the prongs into the fabric. Using the flat end of a scissor, bend all the prongs to lay flat against the material. It’s that simple.  Rhinestones Etc has discount pricing on all embellishments and fantastic customer service! Browse the store for the finest selection. 
Blinged Out Wedding Ideas To Sparkle On Your Special Day
Usually, glitz and glamor are a fundamental part of most weddings. One way to add sparkle to many wedding items is to use crystal rhinestones. While bedazzled items are expensive, you can DIY. Moreover, gluing rhinestones is simple and easy to do. We’ve got some great blinged out wedding suggestions so you can sparkle on your special day.
Blinged Out Wedding Dress and Shoes
Typically, most couples have a budget to work within when planning their wedding. However, one place a bride wants to splurge is with her dress. Every bride wants the perfect wedding dress and to feel beautiful. Yet, elaborately embellished wedding gowns may cost several thousand dollars.
Instead, you can buy a plain dress and create a blinged out wedding dress. Many simple, but elegant gowns are available for a few hundred dollars. Depending on the manufacturer, size, and quantity, rhinestones may only cost you an additional $10-$100. Moreover, it’s easy to glue rhinestones! First, you need to choose a rhinestone glue for fabric. When you glue, use enough adhesive to let a bit of adhesive seep out to the edges of the rhinestone. This makes a seal that helps to keep the crystal firmly attached. Another place to save money is to rhinestone your shoes. Why spend a lot of money on an expensive pair of shoes you’ll only wear once? Once again, buy yourself a plain pair and plan to add rhinestones. 
Rhinestones Nails
Complete your wedding look with a rhinestone nail design. While a French Manicure is pretty, adding rhinestones gives you extra twinkle and shimmer. You can choose a neutral look with a hint of sparkle or a bold color with lots of glitz. Of course, you may prefer a manicurist to paint your nails, but it’s easy to DIY rhinestone nails.
A Few Other Ideas to Create a Blinged Out Wedding
Often, the wedding cake is the centerpiece at the reception. You can make your cake impressive with a sparkly cake topper using some card stock, wooden skewers, and rhinestones.
Begin by searching the internet to find a free downloadable template or design one yourself. Although not necessary, a digital die-cutting machine, like Cricut, can cut your design with precision. Alternatively, you can use scissors or an X-Acto knife. Then, glue small rhinestones to your topper design. You can choose to add a few or cover your topper completely with crystals. Additionally, you can embellish toasting glasses, wedding favors, or table centerpieces. For example, a votive candle holder covered with rhinestones makes a nice favor. Moreover, you can add a little bling to invitations, menus, and seating cards. Of course, these are just a few ideas to make your wedding sparkle. Rhinestones are extremely versatile allowing plenty of creativity. Be inventive and see what other ideas you can come up with to make the wedding of your dreams. 
FAQs About Rhinestones
Ready to create the blinged out wedding of your dreams, but still have questions? Below, we answer a few commonly asked questions about rhinestones.
What’s the Best Rhinestone Size For My Wedding Dress?
Really, there’s no right or wrong answer here. The answer depends on how much flash you want. Typically, the bigger rhinestones add a flashier sparkle while small stones add a subtle twinkle. Or, you may also want to consider using different sizes to add texture and visual interest.
Should I Buy Glass or Crystal Rhinestones?
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime, special day. So, why skimp to save yourself a few dollars by buying cheap rhinestones lacking sparkle? Crystal rhinestones offer several important advantages over glass:
Which Rhinestones Color Should I Buy?
Manufacturers offer plenty of choices from neutrals to bold hues. While brands offer many different shades, most create the 2 most popular colors crystal and crystal AB. The crystal is clear stone designed to mimic a diamond While the crystal AB stone is clear with an iridescent coating to reflect the colors of the rainbow.
Preciosa has a large collection of rhinestone colors with several neutral hues:
If you want to add a little color, you may want one of these shades:
Of course, you can always go bold and choose any color you like. Ultimately, choosing a color is a personal choice.
Where Can I Buy Rhinestones Online?
Of course, to create your blinged out wedding, you’ll need quality embellishments. Since 2011, Rhinestones Etc. has been selling high quality rhinestones online. With fast shipping, competitive pricing, and great customer service, we want to be your source for bling! Browse our online store to find your crystals.
Don’t you just love rhinestone boots? Yet, sparkly boots can put a serious dent in your budget costing you hundreds of dollars. However, you can rhinestone the boots yourself and save yourself a bundle of money. But how many will you need to cover the area of boot you are embellishing? Ugh! You were never good at math and have no idea where to begin.  The Math needed to determine how many rhinestones needed for Rhinestone Boots Once you’ve got your boots, you need to pick out your rhinestone size. Most likely a larger size rhinestone will work best, perhaps 20ss. If you are not sure, you can read all about rhinestone sizes here.  Hark back to your Geometry lessons, as they’re going to come in handy. First, you need to figure the area of the boot that will be covered in rhinestones. In order to figure out the area of a square or rectangle, you multiply the length by the height. So, let’s say you want to glue rhinestones to a rectangular area that measures 3 x 4. The area of this would be 12 square inches. Now, rhinestones are different sizes, so depending on what size you choose will affect how many you need. Of course, the larger the rhinestone, the less you need to cover 1 square inch. Likewise, the smaller the rhinestone, the more you need to cover 1 square inch. For your convenience, here are the most common rhinestone sizes and the amount needed to cover 1 square inch: 12ss – 67.14 rhinestones 16ss – 42.41 rhinestones 20ss – 29.20 rhinestones 30ss - 15.68 rhinestones Obviously, you can’t glue on .14 of a rhinestone. To compensate, you can leave some space between the stones when gluing. Or you can shrink the area to be embellished to cover a slightly smaller area. Remember, those numbers above will cover 1 square inch, but you have 12 square inches you want to cover. Simply multiply the number of square inches you want to cover by the number of rhinestones in one square inch. In other words, using our example of 20ss rhinestones: 29.20 (the number of rhinestones per square inch) x 12 (the area to be covered) = 350.40 rhinestones. And to continue with our example of boots, this would cover only 1 boot. Multiply the number by 2 to find the number of rhinestones needed to cover both boots. Finding Areas of Odd Shapes Simple right? Of course, the problem gets slightly more difficult when dealing with odd shapes. When confronted with these shapes, try to break the larger shape into smaller, simpler shapes. Then find the area of these smaller shapes.  Take, for example, this trapezoid shape above. How do you find the area of it? We can break it down into a square and 2 triangles. Now we can find the area of the square, then the two triangles and add the totals together. (On the occasion that you forgot your geometry lessons, the area of a triangle is ½ the base times the height). Still confused about how many rhinestones to buy to rhinestone boots? Rhinestones Etc. can help. With a friendly staff, contact Rhinestones Etc with your questions. Do you need rhinestones for your project? Rhinestones Etc. has competitive pricing and excellent customer service. Footwear is the foundation of any outfit. Your choice can define your look and presents a particular image to the world. Yet, owning a pair of Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin shoes is way out of many women’s budgets. One way to accessorize your wardrobe ensemble is to create shoes with rhinestones. When you want to keep your shoe collection fresh and exciting, you can add rhinestones for a new look. Adding bling to any type of footwear adds elegance and beauty. Plus, it’s simple to do and you can save money doing it yourself.  The Best Adhesives for Gluing Rhinestones to Shoes Generally, you can attach rhinestones to any type of footwear including boots and athletic shoes. To keep rhinestones from falling off, be sure to use a good adhesive with a strong bond. Typically, many people use E6000 for gluing rhinestones to shoes. Another popular glue is Gem-Tac. Both work on a variety of surfaces and dry clear. However, always check the manufacturer’s specifications on the material it bonds and recommended type of rhinestone. Some adhesives can ruin acrylic embellishments. Additionally, you’ll want to avoid areas of your shoe that will be constantly stressed. For example, footwear flexes where your toes bend. This constant folding of your footwear may also cause rhinestones to fall off.  Types of Rhinestones If you’ve never purchased rhinestones, you may be confused by all the different kinds available. Google the word “rhinestone” and results will show acrylic, glass, crystal, Czech, Austrian, or Asian options. Furthermore, you’ll notice a vast difference in price structure. Usually, manufacturers base their pricing on the cost of the raw material and the process to create their product. For example, manufacturers produce resin and acrylic rhinestones by pouring raw material into a mold. While manufacturers of more expensive crystal rhinestones cut facets into the surface of the crystal. Another consideration is the number of facets and their arrangement. These two factors, along with the material, determine the stone’s sparkle, scintillation, and dispersion. Moreover, you’ll find many different rhinestone sizes from tiny to large. Some beginners struggle with deciding on the perfect size for their project. Often, the design will dictate which size will work best. Other times, it’s just a matter of preference. Creating Shoes with Rhinestones Once you decide on your kind of rhinestones and glue, the next most important aspect is the gluing process. Many beginners will use too little glue. Over time, these rhinestones may peel and fall off. When gluing rhinestones, it’s very important that a little bit of glue seeps slightly out from the edges. This produces a seal to keep the rhinestone in place. Generally, rhinestones adhesives dry clear, so once the glue dries, only the sparkle shines through. FAQs about Rhinestones Are you ready to begin blinging out shoes, but have more questions? Below, we’ve answered a few commonly asked questions. Which Rhinestone Brand Should I Buy? With so many rhinestone brands available, it can be hard to choose the perfect one for your project. Sometimes only the best will do. Generally, Austrian and Czech manufacturers have a reputation for quality. However, you’ll also find some Asian manufacturers producing excellent embellishments at a fraction of the price. We carry Preciosa Maxima and another high-quality Asian brand, PriceLess. How Many Rhinestones Should I Buy? Generally, many retailers package rhinestones in 1 gross batches. This means each package will contain 144 rhinestones. First, you’ll need to measure the area you want to cover. Then, compare this to the size of the rhinestones you want to purchase. Larger rhinestones cover a larger area, so you’ll need less than if you buy a smaller stone. What’s The Best Color? Usually, this choice is a matter of preference. You can choose to match the color of your shoes to simply create sparkle. Whereas choosing a contrasting hue will give your footwear a nice pop of color while adding shimmer. Many people choose crystal or crystal AB because both colors work great with any background color. Ready to begin your project of making shoes with rhinestones? Rhinestones Etc. offers competitive pricing, fast shipping, and great customer service. Staying abreast with all the latest fashion trends is costly. You want to look fresh and trendy while staying within your budget. That's where DIY comes in handy. With an embellished t-shirt, you can be fashionable without going over budget. For this project I used: 1 plain t shirt (an inexpensive craft store t shirt) Sewing machine Silver star metal studs Hot fix tool or iron  How to make an embellished t shirt. Begin by cutting the sleeves off at the seam. Cut the seam off the bottom of the shirt and then cut 2 pieces off the bottom 1 inch wide. You can adjust how short you want the shirt to be by cutting more or less of the bottom off. Cut 2 inches off the short end one of the strips and then sew the ends together (you are making the loop smaller). Cut the other strip in half. Take the 2 smaller strips and fold them in half and mark the middle. Stitch the 2 shorter ends together forming a loop. Using a medium length zig zag stitch or serger, stitch one of these strips, right sides together, to the armhole stretching to so that the halfway mark matches the shoulder seam and back to the starting point. You are tightening up the armhole as you sew the facing on.  Do the same for the other armhole. Take the longer strip and again mark the middle. Beginning at the side, use the same zig zag stitch sew to the bottom of the shirt, stretching to match the middle with the other side of the shirt and back to the starting point. Here you are tightening up the waist. Press all seams towards the outside edges.  Fold the raw edge of the facing to the inside of the shirt. Using a double needle (which allows for stretch in the material), topstitch the facing. Do the same for the bottom of the shirt.  For this shirt, we chose to go with an initial for the design. I laid out silver metal studs in the form of the letter “S”. Using a hot fix tool or hot iron without steam, press down on the metal studs for 12-15 seconds. If your shirt is thin, you may want to place a piece of wax paper in the inside of the shirt to prevent the glue from adhering the sides together. Allow to cool.  Inexpensive but easy to make. An embellished t-shirt is an easy way to stay trendy while keeping your wallet happy.
Hot fix metal studs are available from: www.RhnestonesEtc.com Today, I have my good friend Julie Hickman of Project Vintage writing about her project using nailheads. Her project involves taking an old desk, painting and upholstering the seat to update it. Suspending Disbelief by Julie Hickman “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not. ” ― Pablo Picasso Part of what I love about finding vintage furniture is that I immediately look beyond what's in front of me. When I stumble across a piece that screams out for my attention, I recognize where it has been. It has most likely been passed down among various family members, given away to friends, survived many moves, sold at garage sales and flea markets until it finally arrives before my eyes. Everyone can see that it is worn. It has the visible scratches, nicks, and dents that come with years of use, but for me, that is only the beginning. The state that it comes in no longer has to be its reality. Suspending the belief that it has to keep its present appearance and imagining something no one else can see is pure fantasy, free from rules or guidelines. A place that only exists in the imagination where nothing is wrong, only different. I met Hope after several exchanges regarding the antique school desk she had listed for sale online. I had seen desks like this one many, many times before, but for some reason, something was telling me to it was the right time to take this one on as a project. There are times when the people selling these items are happy and eager to tell you the history of the piece and other times not. Luckily, Hope was the former and not the latter. It so happened that her husband had kept the desk that was given to him by his father, which was most likely was passed down to him. This desk is in wonderful condition which is always great to see and good to know that it was taken such good care of. That being said, there is no reason why it must stay the same. Opening up to new ideas of what it can be and creating a new reality for this desk is what I love to do. Looking past what I see and replacing it with a dream is an ability I never want to lose. This particular project included some beautiful nailheads that I purchased from Rhinestones Etc., one of my favorite people and favorite shops. Below, I am going to show you just how easy it is to incorporate in any décor.  Items you will need: Standard staple gun 5/16" 8mm Universal Fit Staples Acid-Free, High Tack, Multi-purpose Spray Adhesive Quilt batting available at any craft store API's Crafter's Pick Glue 8.54 mm Gold Pearl 4 prong Nailheads (from Rhinestones Etc.) Hammer Scissors 1 yard of fabric of your choice 2 yards of fabric trim  Upholstering A Desk Seat After I disassembled the desk, I took the existing backboard and glued on some loose quilt batting to the front using some spray adhesive. I then cut the fabric to surround one side of the backboard. I make sure to cut the fabric a little larger than needed to give myself plenty to work with. Making the fabric taut around all sides is necessary to then staple the fabric in place on the backboard.  Once the fabric is stapled in place I then glued the fabric trim completely around the backboard using API's crafter's pick glue. After the trim had adhered to the fabric, which was pretty immediate, I then went to the fun part! Putting on the beautiful gold nailheads I picked up from Karen at Rhinestones Etc.  These nailheads were extremely easy to use precisely because they are 4 pronged. These prongs made them steady while reaching for the hammer to tap into the backboard.  After putting the first nailhead in place, I then continued tapping in the nailheads at one-inch intervals until I completely surrounded the backboard.  Well, there you have it! Using these gold nailheads was just what my project needed to give it that extra sparkle and shine. I'm sure you can find endless ways to incorporate them into your home's decor. This is how my desk project turned out and I couldn't be more pleased to give it a whole new reality.  I'll never be able to express all that goes on in my head about the creative process piece by piece, but that's what makes it magic!  Julie has this re-imagined desk with new paint and upholstery for sale in her shop along with many other beauties. To see more of Julie's upholstering work or some of her other beautiful creations, visit her shop at: https://projectvintageus.com
Nailheads are available from: www.RhinestonesEtc.com. |
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Copyright 2025 Rhinestones Etc. All rights reserved.