How to Create Rhinestone Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry often features shiny and colorful rhinestones.

For most women, their first piece of jewelry was costume jewelry, or fake jewelry, which is typically made with non-precious materials. These baubles were created to give women an inexpensive yet beautiful alternative to genuine jewelry that is more pricey. You can add color and shimmer to your daily wardrobe by creating your own rhinestone costume jewelry. All materials needed to create costume bracelets, necklaces, rings or earrings can be found in craft stores.

Things You'll Need

• Hot glue gun
• Cloth
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• Plastic bracelet
• Plastic ring
• Plain Earrings
• Rhinestones
• Tweezers
• Headband

Instructions

Creating Rhinestone Bracelets, Rings and Earrings

1. Dab a cloth in isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Use the cloth to wipe the plastic ring, bracelet or earrings to remove any residue or debris. Allow the jewelry piece to dry.

2. Apply a dab of hot glue to the back, flat surface of the rhinestones. Pick up each rhinestone using tweezers. Attach the rhinestone to the surface of the bracelet, ring or earring.

3. Add several rhinestones to each piece, or one larger rhinestone that will cover the entire plastic surface. Add rhinestones one at a time. Wait at least 1/2 hour to allow hot glue to dry before wearing your rhinestone costume jewelry.

Creating Rhinestone Necklaces

1. The headband for your necklace should not contain any teeth or sharp edges on its interior. The ideal headband should be 1 inch in width. Soft, flexible plastic headbands make the best surface for attaching rhinestones. Place the headband around your neck to find the ideal size. It should be snug but not uncomfortable. The opening in the headband should be at the back of your neck.

2. Apply hot glue to the flat surface of each rhinestone and use tweezers to set rhinestones onto the exterior of the headband one at a time. You can set rhinestones side by side or leave space between them.

3. Allow hot glue to dry. If using a soft plastic headband, do not flex the headband much more than what is required to place the headband around your neck, or you may weaken the glue bonds.

Tips & Warnings

• Soak a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and rub around the spaces between rhinestones to remove excess hot glue.

• Do not substitute hot glue for super glue when attaching rhinestones to costume jewelry. Super glue will affect the appearance of rhinestones.

References

• Land of Odds: Crafter's Dilemma: What Glue Do I Use?
• Rhinestones Unlimited: Make Your Own Earrings

Resources

• Beadage: Home