Great Ideas to Make Rhinestone Jewelry

​Imagine a Christmas tree without decorations, or a wedding cake with no icing. Just as you expect ornaments at Christmas and fancy icing decorations at a wedding, jewelry is the finishing touch.  Think of what the Oscars would be without all those glittering jewels. Unfortunately, real gemstone jewelry is quite pricey and unaffordable for most of us. Rhinestone jewelry is a lot less expensive and can really add the finishing touch to an outfit.

But buying a new piece of jewelry each time you buy a new outfit can be expensive. Also, even buying multiple pieces of costume jewelry for each outfit can really put a dent in your budget. However, you can make your own rhinestone jewelry saving yourself a bundle of money. And using rhinestones to make jewelry is easy, fun and adds that touch of sparkly elegance.

History of Rhinestone Jewelry

Georg Friedrich Strass is credited with inventing the rhinestone. This new imitation gem could take the place of precious gems in jewelry making without sacrificing any sparkle, and it cost a lot less than diamonds. Whereas Strass made jewelry more affordable, Coco Chanel made it fun to wear costume jewelry.
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Until Chanel arrived on the fashion scene in the later 1920s, only the wealthy could afford jewelry. Jewelry was made nearly exclusively with precious stones and fine metals. Even still, the high cost of jewelry meant even wealthy women could only wear one to two pieces. Meanwhile, costume jewelry was a sort of style faux-pas. It was looked-down upon as being only for women who couldn’t afford the real thing. Chanel was an innovator in many aspects of fashion and she made it fashionable to wear fake jewels. Many of her signature pieces feature rhinestones.
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​Some DIY Rhinestone Jewelry Pieces
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Definitely, rhinestones add that look of extravagance of precious gems without the steep price tag. Moreover,  even if you are not experienced in jewelry making, there are some simple pieces you can make. Glue a large rhinestone (30ss) to an earring backing to make a pair of rhinestone studs. Punch a small hole in pieces of shaped balsa wood and glue rhinestones to it. Then, attach a jump ring and earring wires for a different style of earrings.
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​Use different components in making bracelets. Fabrics, buttons or washers make great surfaces to glue rhinestones to. 

Wire wrapped jewelry is also quite popular. Rhinestones can be wrapped with jewelry wire to make pendants, bracelets and rings. 
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There are so many possibilities for DIY rhinestones jewelry! All of these were inexpensively made and simple to do. See what you can create using rhinestones.
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​Need rhinestones for your jewelry project? Rhinestones Etc. has competitive prices and excellent customer service.