Welcome to the wonderful world of crystal bedazzlement! You have an item, maybe an accessory, ornament or garment and you want to transform it into a glistening masterpiece, and you have decided to crystallise it yourself. Maybe you are completely new to the craft, or are an experienced embellisher who wishes to compare notes on the finer details of technique; either way this guide will take you through the process of rhinestone embellishment from preparation through to finished result and aftercare. We will show you the different ways you could choose to place the rhinestones on your surface in order to achieve the best glistening results and hopefully inspire you to pick up that picker pen and get blinging yourself!
Preparation
Like with all craft skills, you are going to require a workspace that is optimised for careful, tidy work in order to achieve the best possible results. Ensure you have a steady flat surface that is both even and at a comfortable working height. You will then need enough clear space to fit the object you are embellishing, plus all your tools and room to manoeuvre. One of the truest joys of embellishing is the therapeutic zen-like state you can find yourself in when zoned into the details. Allow yourself enough time to avoid rushing and have as few distractions as possible โ background music however is encouraged!
When you are enthusiastic to get started it is easy to jump ahead to the sparkly stages, however it is vitally important that the surface itself is completely clear of grease, dust and residue. Once that glue is on and set completely clear, anything that was on that surface at the start is now permanent. In addition to a clean surface, if your item is going to be handled a lot or washed frequently like a drinks bottle or tumbler, it is advised that you lightly sand the surface down first so that there is a rough texture for the resin glue to grip to. This will maximise the chances of the rhinestones staying securely fixed in place for the longest possible time.
Rhinestones and Flat Back Crystals
The next big decision is the rhinestones you choose to use and there are many types out there. Classic Crystal (Foiled) means the glass is completely colourless and you can see straight through to the silver foiling on the back. When a coloured crystal has no effect in or on it, it is the standard version of that colour. Crystal AB has an iridescent coating that covers the top of the crystal, which shimmers like the rainbow and this effect can be found as alternate versions of most colours. There are several crystals that have a chrome metallic finish over them, which is great for when you want everything to look gilded like actual gold instead of gold coloured glass crystal. Lacquered crystals are unique because they have a layer of coloured lacquer on the back instead of silver foiling, which gives a bold, solid colour. For more detail regarding crystal effects, plus handy comparisons between the brands, take a look at our crystal effects guide.
Glue
One of our most frequently asked questions is "what glue do I need?" and we understand that when there are so many confusingly specialised glue options out there, it is easy to end up worrying that you have picked the wrong one. So here is a brief overview of the most frequently used glues for the application of non hotfix flat back rhinestones.
Gem-Tac is a strong tacky glue that every crafter should keep in their kit and is perfect for rhinestone embellishment and jewellery repair. Please note that tacky glue is usually water based so it is best for items that you do not plan to wash or put outside. Supertite Fusion Tack Adhesive is an industrial grade fabric glue that works well on fabric along with glass, plastic, leather and wood. CG500 is a resin glue which is perfect for hard wearing, frequently used items and comes in two tubes โ one containing epoxy resin and the other hardener โ which you mix to get a water resistant glue. For more information on different types of glue and what projects they are best suited to, we recommend reading our related guide best glue for rhinestones.
Tools
For an efficient and enjoyable rhinestone embellishment experience you are going to require a few key tools designed for the task. The Double Ended Picker Pen has a wax tip, making it the perfect way to effectively pick up and place your crystals without having to fight with tweezers. The other end of the pen has a precision metal tip for nudging the crystals around once they are placed on the glue. You also need a safe place to keep your loose crystals while you are embellishing and the Magic Sorting Tray not only holds your crystals but also has an inbuilt texture that flips the crystals the right way up when you shake it.
If you are embellishing onto fabric we recommend specifically hotfix flat back crystals, because they have a layer of glue on the back that reacts to heat and is designed for fabric. When bedazzling with hotfix crystals you need heat to activate the glue. For this we recommend the Bluestreak Crystals hotfix applicator tool, a handheld heat tool with a comfortable handle that provides a specific point of heat perfect for detailed hotfix designs. It comes with a selection of tip sizes and a stand that keeps the hot tip safely away from the table surface. For a more in depth look at the hotfix process please enjoy our blog a finishing touch with Preciosa hotfix crystals.
Ready To Get Started
You have now selected your perfect rhinestones and your craft tools are laid out ready in your appropriate workspace. Now it is time to start placing your crystals! The one question left is which rhinestone embellishment technique to use, and maybe you find yourself staring at the blank surface in front of you, unsure about the best way to approach those odd angles and asymmetrical shapes. At Bluestreak Crystals we like to call this "Blingers Block" and we have done many experiments to establish the best techniques โ here is what we have learned.
Straight Line / Grid Style
The simplest approach to filling a space is with straight parallel lines and the most frequently used crystal shape is round, therefore imagine rows and rows of circles, all lined up so that the widest edge of each diameter touches. The desired result of this method is one of smoothly flowing lines that complement the shape of the item.
In a square or rectangle, this method builds up to look like a perfect grid and you would start at the top or edge furthest away from you and work your way across.
If you are filling a circular space, it might be preferable to modify this approach into concentric circles, starting with the outer edge and working your way in or vice versa โ this will resemble the rings in a tree. We used this method to cover a teapot and the timelapse video on our social media channels shows how the rings of crystals gradually cover the space.
For best results on an irregular shape, you begin with the outlines first and then neatly work your way in, following the flow of the shape and maintaining even spacing as much as possible. Eventually your rows of crystals will meet in the middle in various places and you will naturally end up with a few remaining gaps. You can fill these in with whatever size crystal most neatly fills the space with minimal disruption to the flow.
There is a handy trick you can use when you have a small gap left at the end of your row of rhinestones which is less than half the size of the crystals you are using. Instead of filling that gap with a smaller crystal that will stand out as different to every other crystal in that row, you can nudge the last five crystals along ever so slightly so that there is a tiny gap between each of them. This spreads the last few crystals out just enough to reach the end of the line in a way that is not noticeable unless you are looking very closely. If the gap is larger than half a crystal, we recommend you leave the gap as it is and fill it with a slightly smaller crystal that will be less obviously different.
Honeycomb Style
This style also uses straight lines however it is more tightly packed and is best for when you want a completely solid surface of satisfying sparkle with no visible gaps between the rhinestones. This method begins with a straight row just like the previous technique, but this time the second row will nestle into the spaces between the crystals of the previous line. This creates the iconic honeycomb effect and is great for straight shapes with 90-degree angles like squares and rectangles. One thing to bear in mind when using honeycomb is that the edges on either side of your block of crystals are going to look like a zig-zag because vertically they are deliberately out of alignment. If you want to achieve straight side edges you will need to fill these gaps with a smaller size of crystal, typically half the size of the stones you have been using for the majority of the design.
If you choose to use honeycomb on a shape that is in any way irregular, you will find that at various points the honeycomb will no longer line up as it should and you may have to improvise with the occasional smaller rhinestone to maintain the flow. In some cases you can successfully hide these scattered irregularities in the overall spectacle of the finished sparkling object, as long as they are spread out in such a way that the eye does not register them at first glance. If your shape is irregular however, we recommend using either concentric lines that are allowed to shift in and out of alignment or use the scatter method below which is completely different.
Scatter Style
This is by far the most versatile method because it will fit into any shape regardless of how challenging the angles are. Scatter style does this by using a variety of rhinestone sizes and by being deliberately random in nature โ you simply select whichever size crystal fits into the space that needs filling and place your crystals as tightly together as you can. This makes scatter a very forgiving technique and is also great for tightly curved surfaces because you can drop down in size when you need to fit the crystals into a tight corner and expand back up into the larger crystal sizes when you once again have space to do so. Given there are no strict rules when it comes to a good scatter it is better to apply principles and continue to keep an eye on how well balanced your embellishment appears as you go along. For example it is best to avoid having all of your larger crystals clustered on one side and not the other โ a way to guard against this is to aim for having no two crystals of the same size sat directly next to each other. The sizes most frequently used for this method are usually between SS3 and SS20 and a selection of at least five sizes gives good flexibility. You can also incorporate rhinestone shapes into the scatter style easily and they are a great way to add interest to the final look.
Scatter is also our preferred method when achieving an ombre or sunburst effect with crystals. Ombre is defined by being all one solid colour at one end and then transitioning gradually into a completely different colour at the other end. When using crystals this could mean blending two colours or it could mean having full crystal coverage in one area that fades out to a flat surface with no crystals in another. The intrinsic randomness of the scatter style makes it easy to allow the crystals to become increasingly spaced out and smaller in size, giving the impression of fading to nothing. If you are blending colours you could also achieve ombre with straight lines or honeycomb. The geometric nature of those methods will result in an almost pixelated effect, reminiscent of the 16-bit graphics that fans of retro games will remember fondly.
Final Touches
Once your rhinestones are all in place and the glue is fully dry, the final thing to do is give the crystallised surface a wipe down with a dry cloth to remove any traces of wax that might have stuck to the crystals as a result of picking them up with the wax tip of the picker pen. If your crystals are on fabric, we strongly recommend gentle cool washes only and turning the garment inside out if it is being put into the washing machine, as this lowers the risk of crystals being rubbed by friction with other surfaces.
As with all things, wear and tear over time will have an effect on both the item and the crystals that are now attached to it. Even the strongest of glues and most perfectly applied techniques can eventually be conquered by time and the process of living an active and fabulous life. So it is a good idea to keep a little stash of sparkle tucked away in your craft kit for those potentially rainy days. Browse our complete range of flatback crystals across all brands to refresh your supply or embark on even bigger and better embellishment projects.
FAQs
What is the best technique for rhinestone embellishment?
The best technique depends on the shape of the surface. Use Straight Line/Grid style for square, rectangular and circular surfaces where you want clean parallel rows. Use Honeycomb style for tightly packed solid sparkle with no gaps on straight-edged surfaces. Use Scatter style for irregular shapes, curved surfaces, or for ombre and sunburst effects where mixed sizes (SS3-SS20) create natural visual flow.
How do I prepare a surface for rhinestone embellishment?
Clean the surface thoroughly to remove all grease, dust and residue (anything underneath the glue becomes permanent). For items that will be washed frequently or handled a lot (like tumblers or drinks bottles), lightly sand the surface first to create a rough texture for stronger glue grip. Always work on a steady flat surface at a comfortable height with good lighting and no distractions.
What tools do I need for rhinestone embellishment?
The four essential tools are: a double-ended wax picker pen (wax tip for picking up crystals, metal tip for nudging into place), a magic sorting tray (holds crystals and flips them right-way up when shaken), tweezers as a backup tool, and the right adhesive for your surface. For fabric work, add a hotfix applicator tool with interchangeable tips. Avoid using fingers, which deposit oils that weaken the bond.
What is the difference between grid, honeycomb and scatter embellishment?
Grid style places rhinestones in straight parallel rows for clean geometric coverage. Honeycomb nestles each row into the gaps of the previous row for tightly packed sparkle with no visible gaps, but creates zig-zag side edges. Scatter uses mixed sizes (SS3-SS20) in deliberately random placement, making it the most versatile for irregular shapes, curves and ombre effects.
How do you handle gaps when applying rhinestones in straight lines?
For small gaps less than half the size of your main crystal, nudge the last 5 crystals along slightly to create tiny invisible gaps between each one, spreading them to reach the end of the row. For larger gaps over half a crystal, leave the gap and fill with a slightly smaller crystal: this looks more intentional than visibly different stones squeezed in.
How do you achieve an ombre effect with rhinestones?
Use scatter style with mixed sizes (SS3-SS20) and either gradually space crystals further apart while reducing size (for fading to nothing) or transition between two colours across the design (for colour ombre). Scatter is the preferred method because its inherent randomness allows natural-looking colour and density transitions. Grid or honeycomb create more pixelated, geometric ombre effects.
How do I care for rhinestone-embellished items?
After completing the embellishment, wipe with a dry cloth to remove any wax residue from the picker pen. For fabric items, wash only on gentle cold cycles, ideally turning the garment inside out and using a laundry bag. Avoid tumble drying, fabric softener and direct iron contact with crystals. Keep spare rhinestones in your craft kit to replace any that come off over time.
