If you're wondering what to bedazzle and how to add a bit of sparkle to your world, you're in the right place. Embellishing with rhinestones is a brilliant way to personalise everyday items, bring new life into old favourites, or simply enjoy a fun and creative hobby. Whether you're jazzing up a pair of trainers, decorating a phone case, or making a sparkly gift for a friend, rhinestone embellishment is an easy and satisfying craft that anyone can enjoy.
Useful guides for embellishing tips and tricks:
- What glue is best for rhinestones on fabric?
- Common mistakes in rhinestone embellishment and how to avoid them.
- Choosing rhinestones for different projects.
- Hotfix vs. Non Hotfix rhinestones - What is the difference?
From solo projects to rainy-day fun with the kids, there are so many fun things to bedazzle. It's also a fantastic way to switch off and unwind—many people find the process of placing crystals to be quite therapeutic. And for those looking to earn a bit of extra income, making DIY bedazzled things to sell at markets or online is a popular small business venture.
At Crystal Parade, we supply four trusted brands of high-quality rhinestones, perfect for creating your own rhinestone bedazzled items:
Swarovski – Known worldwide for their precision cut and unbeatable sparkle, Swarovski crystals are the top choice for professionals and luxury projects. They are the most costly of the brands, but with that comes the famous name and quality assurance.
Preciosa – A brilliant and slightly more affordable option, Preciosa offers a wide range of colours, cuts and finishes, with excellent durability and shine.
Zodiac – Our exclusive brand of crystals, Zodiac offers a fantastic balance of quality and value. With a dazzling sparkle and strong foil backing, they're ideal for both beginners and seasoned crafters. And a brilliant alternative to Swarovski.
Luna – A great budget-friendly option for larger projects, Luna crystals are perfect for costumes, dancewear, school crafts, practice designs, or any time you want sparkle on a shoestring.
Everything you need to start bedazzling
To complete a rhinestone project you will need either Gem Tac or E6000+ glue (depending on the surface material), syringe applicators, a pick up tool and most importantly, rhinestones in your chosen brand. Browse our selection of bedazzling tools, glue, and rhinestones.
Ready to get inspired? Let's explore 20 fun things to bedazzle that'll have you reaching for your rhinestones in no time.
1. Jazz up your sliders/crocs
To bedazzle these rubber sliders, we've used E6000+ glue to attach flatback rhinestones and pearls in a rockery effect.
2. Add some subtle sparkle to your greeting cards
Pick out areas of the design that are plain and apply small rhinestones using Gem Tac glue. You can have fun with different colours, shapes and sizes.
3. Bring the celebrity vibes to your accessories
Our very own CP team member Zoe, embellished a pair of Harry Styles sunglasses to wear at his concert – you won't believe how many people commented on them!
4. Treat your pet to a bedazzled collar
Bring some fun to your pet accessories – you could try gluing rhinestones to the lead, food bowl, and coat.
5. Bedazzle your favourite bottle
Cover your favourite drinks bottle in rhinestones and display it as a fun/novelty item. Or why not bling up your partner, friend or family members favourite tipple to make the perfect unique gift? You could even turn it into a lamp base for a truly striking piece of interior design.
6. Personalise a champagne glass as a gift
What better gift is there than a thoughtful, bespoke, personalised champagne flute. Check out our guide to embellishing glassware for a detailed method.
7. Stand out from the crowd with a crystal phone case
This is a great way of adding a luxurious, expensive feel to your phone case. Choose different shaped and coloured crystals to make a truly unique design. For ultimate glitz, go for Swarovski or Preciosa.
8. Bring the luxury to your drinks bottle
Make exercising more fun with your very own blinged up water bottle. Having a blank canvas means you can really experiment with colours and patterns. Ombre is still very on trend, or stick to the classic with clear diamante rhinestones.
9. Add gems to your kids' jelly shoes
Pick up some 3D crystals and larger gems from our vintage range, and set them into the gaps of the jelly shoes using E6000+ glue. This is the best adhesive for rubber footwear as it is flexible and waterproof.
10. Decorate your favourite make up item
Make every morning that little bit more fun by wrapping your lipstick, mascara, brushes or any other cylindrical products in a rhinestone sheet. They are so easy to apply – just cut and stick!
11. Make everyday accessories fun with rhinestone transfers
The quickest and cheapest way to apply a large number of rhinestones is by applying a transfer. You can either send us your design and we will make it for you, or you can purchase a pre-made transfer. Either way, transfers allow you to bedazzle in seconds!
12. Replace boring buttons with crystal ones!
We have an extensive range of crystal buttons that can easily be sewn onto your garment. They are very popular for bridal gowns, but can also be used to jazz up coats or jackets that need a bit of love.
13. Add some sparkle to your manicure
Rhinestone nail art is hugely popular, if you've never tried it before, start with simple designs and check out our guide to applying rhinestones to nails for handy tips and tricks.
14. Enhance a plain top with your favourite logo
Draw the design onto the clothing/fabric first, using dressmakers chalk. Then apply the glue in small dots following the design, placing the rhinestones on top of the glue.
15. Turn boring wellies into bling wellies
You'll be talk of the festival in these fabulous bedazzled wellies! Draw out your design using a template, then apply the rhinestones with E6000+ glue – this is waterproof and flexible, so idea for outdoor footwear.
16. Wow your friends with a crystallised handbag
Using the Honeycomb application method, fully cover the handbag with flatback crystals. A bold, simple block colour pattern is so effective and striking.
17. Bring your favourite novelty item to life
Simply find the rhinestone colours to match your item, then completely cover it for the full bling effect.
18. Turn ordinary office items into the extraordinary!
We've used Gem Tac glue and Zodiac Light Pink AB crystals to make our boring stapler more attractive.
19. Add even more luxury to your favourite perfume
Try gluing pearls and cabochons from our vintage crystals collection to your perfume bottle – it'll make you smile every day. Or, doesn't it make the perfect bespoke gift?!
20. Go full kitsch with bedazzled novelty items
These Luna rhinestones really do sparkle on this novelty phone, simply apply using Gem Tac glue. If you are on a tight budget, you could try the Scatter Effect rather than full coverage.
Don't forget, if you need help with choosing the right rhinestones for your project, or have any other questions, we're always happy to help.