Bejewel Anything With Sparkling Swarovski Crystals

Any piece of clothing or fashion accessory, dull and boring as they might seem, still has that “shine” in them waiting to be let out. Put a little bling on anything using Swarovski crystals while following these instructions:

Prepare the materials first. You’ll need the crystals, 2 plastic plates, a pair of tweezers, and some glue. Lastly, choose your item to bejewel and come up with a design. It’s better to start small and simple before gradually going up in terms of difficulty. Simpler designs make laying out the jewels easier for beginners, so take care not to draw up a complicated design if you’re attempting the task for the first time.

Next, pour out the jewels onto a plate and the glue on the other. You don’t want them to mix at this point; otherwise, you’ll have to deal with the troublesome effort of separating the jewels from the glue, more so if it’s already dried up.

Use tweezers in picking up the jewels, dabbing on glue, and placing them on the material to be customized. Get used to using the tweezers firsthand, since picking up the tiny crystals with just your fingertips isn’t easy in the first place.

Also, remember the old adage, “Practice makes perfect”. Add more complex patterns as you go on. This is a craft that requires a lot of patience, so make sure you have them beforehand. Cheers and good luck in your bejeweling!

Swarovski Rhinestones Colors and Meanings

Using the meaning of colors can be one way to choose jewelry gifts for special people. The color may symbolize your feelings toward that someone. Alternatively, the color can represent the dominant traits you see (or wish to see) on that person. Let these basic color meanings guide you in choosing Swarovski rhinestones:

Black

Instead of somber tones, black jewelry actually represents resilience and power. The classic monotone also denotes elegance in its bold, dramatic presence.

Red

Perfectly depicting love and romance, fiery hues symbolize passion and courage. Red has always been a classic choice for occasions like Valentine's Day. The energetic red also worthily represents vigorous life, fortune and confidence.

Yellow

Suitable to bubbly people, the bright, sunny yellow is closely associated to optimism, success, and happiness. Golden or pastel yellow dyes are also linked to hope in overcoming obstacles, creativity and individuality.

Pink

Similar to red, pink represents love but in the softer, more caring aspects. Instead of passion, pink nurtures compassion. The carnation color illustrates beauty, tenderness and extreme kindness, as well.

Green

As the color of nature, green brings prosperity, healing and harmony. The emerald tones additionally represent understanding, humility, and generosity in the most genuine people.

Blue

The sky and sea's blue color radiates tranquility, truth, and inspiration. Blue is also symbolic of communication and loyalty that are substantial to any relationship. The color inspires earnest and reliable characteristics in the most admirable people.

How to Start a Jewelry Business

They say that you should never do something you’re good at for free. In that case, why not start a jewelry business, especially if you’re already into making them? Before you embark on this enterprise though, know that the road isn’t all glitters, gems, and shiny crystals – you’ll have to put in some work if you want to succeed. Here are a few helpful tips:

Startup Costs

As in almost any other business, the first step should be to think about whether you can afford the startup or capital costs in the first place. The wide array of materials and tools that you’ll need could undoubtedly set you back a lot before you can reap in a profit, so make sure that you have enough to spend for the continuity of your business, at least until the coffers start filling up.

Physical Store vs. Online Shop

Next you should ask yourself if you want to make a brick-and-mortar store for your business, or if you want to just do everything online. Consider the cost of setting up the shop against setting up a website; you might be surprised to know that going online isn’t always the most affordable way to go.

Choose a Supplier

You should also take your supplier into consideration. Choose one that can efficiently ship your materials for you at a low cost. You should also look into choosing a supplier with a wide variety of beads, strings, and other jewelry-making items you’ll be needing.

How to Make a Beaded Bracelet with a Clasp

Crafting the perfect-looking bracelet could make for an exquisite gift with that nice, personal touch. However, you should know that creating such a work of art involves a lot more than just piling on a bunch of crystal beads and rhinestones on a string. To start with, here are a few basic tips on how to make a beaded bracelet with a clasp.

Materials

Make sure that you choose sturdy beads, in your own choice of colors, size, and design. For a bracelet though, look into beads ranging from 4mm-8mm. The beading string should also be strong enough to last, like a nice, medium weight nylon string. The clasp can be any design, really, as long as it’s one meant for single strand jewelry.

Clasp and Beads

The first thing to do is to cut your string to the desired length and tie one end to the clasp, preferably using a surgeon’s knot. Now it’s time to insert the beads. As you go on adding beads, make sure to periodically wrap it around your wrist to find out if it’s tight enough.

Finishing

Use the loose end of the beading string to thread the other half of the clasp, cutting the string only if it already fits your wrist right. Leave a little flexing room by keeping a little bit of space in between the last bead and the end of the clasp.

Embellishing Clothes with Rhinestones

Diamond simulants like rhinestones and crystal beads are commonly used to decorate and enhance a number of items, including clothes and fashion accessories. These materials are easily accessible and can be used more than once. While popular products among mass manufacturers, rhinestones can also be purchased for personal projects, one of which is to embellish clothes.

The most common way to attach rhinestones to clothes is by using a special glue that allows the crystals to bond with fabric. The right amount of glue has to be applied to the rhinestone before it can be set on cloth. Handling tiny rhinestones is best done with the use of tweezers. Many rhinestone products come with heat-sensitive adhesive at the back, which makes attaching the beads to clothes much easier. This kind of attachment has to be done with care, however, as too much heat can damage the rhinestones. The lowest temperature setting in an iron should be used.

Some beads also come with holes through which the beads can be sewn onto a fabric or similar material. While this method can take more time and effort than others, it can also ensure a more secure attachment.

Adding rhinestones to clothes is a surefire way of making a garment more attractive and eye-catching, especially for those with a flair for crafts and design. To achieve the best possible results and preserve the quality of the rhinestones, the attachment has to be done with care. 

Applique—Getting Those Beads Sewn On

The famous adage “simplicity is beauty” isn’t always applicable, at least not in the world of fashion and accessories. There is something more that can be done to a plain surface to make it more interesting and unique in people’s eyes. Perhaps this kind of expectation is what gave birth to the crafting technique called applique.

Applique involves mounting a material on another base material to produce intricate and distinctive designs. This can be done by sewing or embroidering, pasting, or pinning. Regardless of the method used, applique is indeed a very useful form of art that makes clothing design more dynamic and interesting.

Beads are among the most popular materials used for applique. By designing the beads with flat bases and holes on edges to allow for sewing, these small pieces can turn a dull fabric into an elegant one. The glittery cuts of the stones produce a sparkle not found in plain fabric. Furthermore, they can be made into patterns that perfectly match outfits of various styles.

Traditionally, applique is done manually to achieve complex details. Today, different kinds of machines are used to facilitate the job, especially for mass production. However, many producers still prefer handcrafting, particularly for special designs that need exceptional workmanship. In fact, some of the most beautiful applique work ever made in history, such as those displayed in museums, were all done by hand.

Tips for Making Rhinestone-Studded Shirts

Just how popular are rhinestones these days? Step outside and walk around your block, and you will probably come across an individual with rhinestone-studded accessories like bracelets and purses. You will likely encounter someone with a rhinestone-encrusted pair of jeans. Heck, you could even spot a dog wearing a rhinestone-studded collar.

Initially, to a number of people, rhinestones are desperate attempts to look fashionable and hip, but mind you, these shiny elements can actually do more than make one look trendy. In fact, if you have faded shirts that you've been too sentimental to throw away, you can actually make them useful again and, in the process, effectively avoid the “hoarder” tag.

To make your cherished possessions useful again, the first thing to do is to obtain a good supply of rhinestones. Some online stores sell rhinestones in a variety of shapes and colors at affordable prices. The ideal rhinestones to use for clothes are either hot fix or sew-on rhinestones.

Rhinestone designs for shirts can range from slogans to cartoon characters; you can even make your own or download them from the Net. However, be wary of choosing a design with too many details like the ones for Persian rugs as you may not end up with results that you intend to get. Use a cloth chalk to dot the pattern or design.

A Crystal Clear Look at Swarovski Crystals

Why are Swarovski crystals so popular? In 2011, Beyonce made headlines in celebrity news sites when she received a Swarovski crystal-encrusted baby bath tub as a baby shower gift from her good friend Kelly Rowland. In 2008, Nicole Kidman wowed movie fans all over the world when she showed up on the Oscar red carpet donning a necklace with a combination of Swarovski crystals and diamonds.

While today's celebrities like Beyonce and Nicole Kidman make Swarovski crystals a fashion must-have, the history of these luxurious crystals actually go as far back as the late 1800s courtesy of Daniel Swarovski, who established a crystal-cutting factory in Wattens, Austria. Swarovski is credited for creating the patent for crystal-glass abrasion methods, which eventually led to the birth of decorative crystal stones.

Back then, these stones were commonly used as parts for lavish chandeliers. In fact, places like the Metropolitan Opera and European monarch-owned castles proudly display chandeliers that utilized the breathtaking crystals. By the middle of the 20^th century, Swarovski decided to further delve into jewelry production; thus, he utilized special treatments in his crystal stones to produce unique colorful effects.

Today, these Swarovski crystals are produced through a specialized but undisclosed manufacturing process at the company's plant based in Wattens, Austria. Here, the crystals are subjected to strict quality control measures to ensure utmost quality. Modern and genuine Swarovski crystal products come with the easily identifiable swan logo.