Looking to add a little sparkle to your phone case? This guide shows you how to make a crystal fruit phone case with Estella flatback crystals, a fun, glamorous way to turn an everyday accessory into a one-of-a-kind design. Mix, match and play with your own fruity ideas.
It is a fun project, intermediate in technique, that simply rewards a little patience on the design. Here is everything you need, then the full method.
Project at a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate (simple gluing, detailed design)
- Time: A couple of hours, plus overnight to cure
- Crystals used: Estella flatbacks in Light Siam, Citrine, Amethyst, Peridot, Topaz and Light Colorado Topaz, sizes SS6 to SS34
- Best crystal type: Non-hotfix flatbacks, glue-set to the case
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 depend on your design, so treat these as a guide and scale to suit. Add the crystals, glue and tools to your cart from the cards below. The picker and trays in our tools and accessories range are reusable across every project.
- Phone case of your choice (your own)Your base, see note below1
- Estella Flatbacks SS8, Light SiamCherries and reds100
- Estella Flatbacks SS10, Light SiamReds100
- Estella Flatbacks SS34, Light SiamCherry centres6
- Estella Flatbacks SS6, CitrineYellow fruit100
- Estella Flatbacks SS16, CitrineYellow fruit10
- Estella Flatbacks SS34, CitrineCentres3
- Estella Flatbacks SS8, AmethystPurple fruit20
- Estella Flatbacks SS10, AmethystPurple fruit20
- Estella Flatbacks SS12, AmethystPurple fruit20
- Estella Flatbacks SS6, PeridotStems and greens100
- Estella Flatbacks SS8, PeridotGreens50
- Estella Flatbacks SS6, TopazOrange fruit50
- Estella Flatbacks SS8, TopazOrange fruit50
- Estella Flatbacks SS6, Light Colorado TopazAccents50
- E6000 Plus Glue KitAdhesive with syringe and tips1
- Wax Crystal Picker PenPlacing crystals1
- Magic Sorting TrayOrganising colours4
Shop this project
Everything you need for this build. Quantities are a guide, so adjust to your design.
£1.95 Excl. VAT
£5.12 Excl. VAT
£9.53 Excl. VAT
£7.80 Excl. VAT
Not sure how many crystals you need? Use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by surface area.
How to make a crystal fruit phone case
Step 1: Gather your supplies and prepare the case
Wipe any dust off the phone case with a damp cloth and let it dry. Pour your crystals into the sorting trays, one colour at a time, so they are easy to reach.
Step 2: Prepare the glue
Fill the glue syringe with enough E6000 for your project. The neatest way is to put the end of the syringe inside the nozzle of the glue tube and pull the plunger while gently squeezing the tube, which transfers the glue with minimal mess and air.
Step 3: Guard against air bubbles
If a small air bubble forms in the syringe, hold it upright so the bubble floats to the top, then gently push the plunger until only glue remains. Fit the needle tip to finish, we used the size 20 (yellow) tip from the kit.
Step 4: Mark out your design
Draw your design onto the case with a non-permanent marker, scattering different fruits and playing with shapes and sizes so the layout feels balanced.
Step 5: Apply the glue
Pipe thin lines of glue around the outline of one fruit and let it sit for about two minutes to get tacky. Do one fruit at a time to avoid smudging or runs, working from the top of the case downwards, and take care not to use too much.
Step 6: Place the crystals
Use the wax picker to place the crystals, outlining each shape first for a crisp edge, then filling in with a scatter of sizes so they sit tightly. Put the largest SS34 crystals in the centre of each shape and graduate down to smaller sizes for a 3D effect. For cherries, use a single Light Siam SS34 as each cherry with Peridot SS6 for the stems.
Step 7: Leave to dry
Tidy the edges with a little isopropyl alcohol if needed, then leave the case to dry overnight before you use it.
Frequently asked questions
How do you bedazzle a phone case?
Clean the case, sketch your design, then pipe thin lines of glue around each shape and place flatback crystals on with a wax picker. Outline each shape first for a crisp edge, then fill it in, working one section at a time so the glue stays workable. Leave it to cure fully before use.
How do you create a 3D crystal effect?
Place your largest crystals, such as SS34, in the centre of each shape, then graduate outwards through SS16 and smaller sizes. Raising the biggest stones in the middle gives fruit and other motifs a rounded, three-dimensional look rather than a flat one.
How do you transfer E6000 glue without mess or air bubbles?
Put the end of the syringe inside the nozzle of the glue tube, then pull the syringe plunger while gently squeezing the tube, which transfers glue with little mess or air. If a bubble forms, hold the syringe upright so it floats to the top and push it out before fitting the needle tip.
How do you design a fruit phone case?
Draw your fruits onto the case with a non-permanent marker first, scattering different fruits and playing with shapes and sizes. Outline each one in crystals, then fill. For cherries, use a single large red crystal for each fruit and tiny green stones for the stems.
What glue and tools do I need?
A strong adhesive like E6000 applied from a fine syringe tip, a wax picker to place the crystals, and sorting trays to keep colours separate. Tidy any stray glue with a little isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab before it cures.
How many crystals do I need and can I change the colours?
It depends on your design and how densely you fill it. Mixing sizes lets the crystals sit tightly together. Use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by area. We used budget-friendly Estella in fruity shades; you can also use premium Swarovski, Czech-made Preciosa or our own Austrian-made Serinity.
Make it your own
Swap the fruits for hearts, stars or your initials, and change the palette to suit your style. For more phone case sparkle, see our crystal phone case and pearl phone case projects, or explore the full Craft Studio.
