Fancy a display piece with serious wow factor? This guide shows you how to bedazzle a Coke and a Pepsi can with Swarovski non-hotfix flatback crystals, covering every part of each can in hand placed rhinestones and matching both logos stone by stone. It is the ultimate fizzy drink battle fought in crystal, so pick your side and decide which can comes out on top.
It is an advanced build that takes patience and a good eye, especially for the tiny lettering, but every section uses the same simple glue and place method. As an Authorised Swarovski Distribution Partner, Bluestreak Crystals supplies the complete genuine range in sizes down to SS3, sourced directly from Austria, so you can pick out even the smallest detail. Here is everything you need, then the full method.
Project at a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Time: 4 to 5 hours for two cans, plus 12 hours to dry
- Crystals used: Swarovski flatbacks in Light Siam, Electric White Ignite, Majestic Blue and Jet, SS3 to SS20
- Best crystal type: Non-hotfix flatbacks, glue-set to the cans
Watch the tutorial
See this project come together. Watch the full make below, then scroll down for the kit list and step-by-step instructions.
What you'll need
Quantities cover two cans in the designs shown, so scale them to your cans and how much detail you pick out. A retail pack holds 50 crystals and a wholesale pack 1,440, and the counts below are the approximate number of stones each shade needs, around 6,500 in total. Add the crystals, glue and tools to your cart from the cards below. The picker and trays are reusable across every project, so browse the full range of tools and accessories to build your kit.
- Two cans (your own), clean, empty and dryYour bases, we used a Coca-Cola can and a Pepsi can2
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS3, Light SiamCoke can, fine red detail150 (3 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS5, Light SiamCoke can, red detail150 (3 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS7, Light SiamCoke can, red areas100 (2 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS9, Light SiamCoke can, red areas1,440 (1 wholesale pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS12, Light SiamCoke can, red areas150 (3 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS16, Light SiamCoke can, main red coverage2,880 (2 wholesale packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS20, Light SiamCoke can, broad red areas50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS5, Electric White IgniteWhite lettering, fine detail250 (5 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS7, Electric White IgniteWhite lettering100 (2 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS9, Electric White IgniteWhite areas150 (3 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS12, Electric White IgniteWhite areas100 (2 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS16, Electric White IgniteWhite coverage350 (7 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS20, Electric White IgniteBroad white areas50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS5, Majestic BluePepsi can, blue detail50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS7, Majestic BluePepsi can, blue areas50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS12, Majestic BluePepsi can, blue areas50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS16, Majestic BluePepsi can, main blue coverage50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS3, JetBlack outlines and fine detail200 (4 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS12, JetBlack detail50 (1 retail pack)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS16, JetBlack areas100 (2 retail packs)
- Swarovski Flatbacks SS20, JetBroad black areas50 (1 retail pack)
- E6000 Plus Glue KitAdhesive with syringe and tips1
- Wax Crystal Picker PenPlacing crystals1
- Magic Sorting TrayOrganising colours and sizes7
Shop this project
Everything you need for this build. Quantities are a guide, so adjust to your design.
From £2.23 ex VAT
From £2.23 ex VAT
From £2.23 ex VAT
From £2.23 ex VAT
£9.53 ex VAT
£1.95 ex VAT
£5.12 ex VAT
Not sure how many crystals you need? Use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by surface area.
How to bedazzle the Coke and Pepsi cans
Step 1: Sort your crystals and prepare the glue
To begin, load your E6000 glue into a syringe and pour your Light Siam SS16 flatbacks into a magic sorting tray, ready to start.
Step 2: Lay the first row on the first can
Start with the Coca-Cola can. Run a layer of glue around the base and let it get tacky, then place your first row of flatbacks around the can. Let this row dry enough that it will not move, as it holds the rows above it in place.
Step 3: Cover the can, leaving the logo
Once the first row is mostly dry, add more rows and work up the can. Cover the dietary information and the smaller print with your Light Siam flatbacks. The area to work around and leave clear for now is the main Coca-Cola logo.
Step 4: Prepare the white flatbacks
Once the whole can is covered except the logo, prepare your Electric White flatbacks. Put each size into its own tray so you have every size to hand while filling in the fine lettering.
Step 5: Fill the small lettering
The 'Original Taste' line is tiny, so use only SS3 flatbacks here, as anything larger will swallow the letters and make them unreadable. Then, using a mix of your Light Siam sizes, fill in the red around the text you have just completed.
Step 6: Complete the Coca-Cola logo
Now work the main Coca-Cola logo, which takes a good eye for which flatback fits where, so take your time. Once the logo is done, fill in the remaining red to finish the first can.
Step 7: Start the Pepsi can
Move on to the Pepsi can. Begin as before, filling everything except the main logo, this time with SS16 Majestic Blue flatbacks.
Step 8: Build the Pepsi logo
For the logo you will need Light Siam, Jet, Electric White Ignite and Majestic Blue, and again a good eye for sizing. Our advice is to start with the 'Pepsi' text, then the white around it, then the red section, then the blue, and finally the circular border around the whole logo.
Step 9: Leave to dry
Once both cans are done, leave them for around twelve hours to dry fully. Congratulations, your Coca-Cola and Pepsi cans are ready to display. Which is better?
Frequently asked questions
How do you bedazzle a can?
Run a layer of glue around the base, let it turn tacky, and place a first row of flatback crystals, letting it dry so it holds the rows above. Build upwards, covering the plain areas first and leaving the logo until last, then fill the logo with smaller stones and leave to dry.
How many crystals do you need to cover a can?
A single fully covered can uses several thousand flatbacks across sizes, and our two-can design used around 6,500 in total. It depends on the can and how much detail you pick out, so use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by area before you buy.
What size crystals do you need for tiny lettering?
The smallest, SS3, for fine text like a slogan. Anything larger swallows the letters and makes them unreadable. Keep a range of sizes to hand, from SS3 for detail up to SS16 or SS20 for broad areas, and size down as each section gets finer.
What glue works best on a drinks can?
A strong, flexible adhesive such as E6000. It grips the smooth aluminium and flexes a little as the can is handled. Empty and clean the can first, work in thin layers around the base, and let each turn tacky before placing so the stones do not slide.
How do you recreate a logo in crystals?
Work it as small blocks of colour rather than one picture. Outline the shapes, fill each colour area with the largest stones that fit, then drop to smaller sizes for edges and detail. Leaving the logo until the surrounding area is done gives you a clean space to work into.
Can I change the design or colours?
Yes. Any can, brand or plain colourway works with the same method. We used premium Swarovski here for its consistent sizing and shine, which helps with fine detail; you can also use our own Austrian made Serinity, Czech made Preciosa or budget Estella.
Make it your own
Bedazzle a favourite brand, your team's colours, or a plain metallic can for a modern look. For more drinkware makes, see our bedazzled Stanley cup and water bottle projects, or explore the full Craft Studio.
