How to Make Rhinestone Sunglasses

When buying sunglasses, there's no need to spend a lot for a little bit of flair. Forget paying extra for decorated shades---it's fun to customize your own. You can make an ordinary plain pair of sunglasses sparkle in just a few steps with easy-to-apply, inexpensive rhinestone embellishments.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sunglasses
• Cotton ball
• Rubbing alcohol
• Ultrafine-point permanent marker
• Rhinestones
• Embellishing adhesive
• Applicator sticks

1. Look at your sunglasses. Decide where you want to apply the rhinestones. If you are going to place rhinestones on the lenses of the glasses, make sure they won't obstruct your vision. If you are putting stones on the bows, make sure you don't place them on the parts that fit behind your ears.

2. Wipe down the surface you plan to decorate, with a cotton ball moistened with some rubbing alcohol or an alcohol swab.

3. Mark out a series of dots that show the design you want your rhinestones in, using a permanent marker with an ultrafine point. Leave adequate space between the dots to accommodate the size of your rhinestones.

4. Prepare an applicator by warming the wax tip and rolling it into a point. Package directions included with the applicators will tell you the best way to warm the wax tip so that it's malleable but not melting.

5. Carefully apply a dot of adhesive such as Gem-Tac or Aleene's Jewel-It to each of the marker dots tracing your design. If your design is large, you can work within a small area at time, rather than applying glue to the whole design.
   Read the application instructions for the glue you have purchased. When used on a smooth, nonporous surface, some embellishing adhesives require a setting period of a few minutes before the stones can be applied.

6. To apply the rhinestones, pick up a rhinestone by lightly touching the applicator tip to the top surface of the stone, and carefully set it down on a glue spot. Gently roll the applicator back and forth between your thumb and forefinger as you pull it upward, leaving the rhinestone behind on the glue. Repeat until your design is filled in. Let dry completely, according to manufacturer's specifications for the glue you have purchased.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the style of sunglasses you choose to decorate, you can apply rhinestones to the frame, the lenses, or both. Embellishing glue (such as Gem-Tac or Jewel-It), which can be purchased at most craft-supply stores, is a clear-drying permanent adhesive that will let you bond rhinestones to a variety of surfaces, including glass, plastic and metal. Even though embellishing glues set relatively quickly, some create a bond that continues to gain strength over time, so it may take a week before the full strength of the bond is achieved.

Resources

• Embellishing glue