How to Glue a Rhinestone to a Dog's Nylon Collar

Dogs need bling too.

Run-of-the-mill rhinestone dog collars all look alike and may not provide the personalized dazzle you feel your pet is worth. A handful of rhinestones, an inexpensive collar and a little creativity can lead to a one-of-a-kind and yet functional collar that will have your dog stepping high and perking its ears. These also make terrific gifts for pet-loving friends and family members, and are so easy to make you may want to make your dog more than one.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon dog collar
• Hot glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Rhinestones
• Pencil
• Tweezers

Instructions

1. Wash collar. Let dry thoroughly.

2. Plan out design. Use pencil to mark a dot for the placement of each rhinestone. Designs may be as simple as a straight row of colored gems are as elaborate as an Egyptian design.

3. Dab hot glue on each marked spot. Use tweezers to pick up and place rhinestones to prevent burned or sticky fingers. Press each stone in place to ensure a solid set in the glue. Only place a few dabs of glue at a time or the glue may harden before you place the stone. Practice dabbing glue onto a rag to get the feel for how much glue you need to hold the stones in place without making a gloppy mess. If you find the hot glue dries too fast, use an acrylic craft glue that is waterproof instead.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose rhinestones that are size appropriate for the collar. Use bigger stones on a bigger collar.

• Visit a bead and jewelry design shop or a hobby shop for the best selection of rhinestones.

• Avoid stringing beads or dangling designs that the dog may get in its mouth and chew on.

• Add extra detail to the collar by hot gluing ribbon to the collar before placing the stones.

• If you want the flexibility of changing up the designs without buying multiple collars, Make a cloth sleeve to slip over the collar. Rhinestone the sleeve instead of the collar, then when you want a new look, just slip off the sleeve and replace it with a new one.

• Make sure the collar is a good fit before you start. If your pet can remove his collar, it may chew off the rhinestones. Premeasuring also gives you a good idea how far around the collar you can place the stones without interfering with the ability to remove and replace the collar on your pet.

• Never use hot glue around your pet. Not only can the blue burn your dog, it can cause a furry mess.

Resources

• Artbeads.com: Rhinestone Dog Collar and Tag