How to Bling your Sunglasses

Bling on Sunglasses

I recently attended a Women's Expo and every vendor was selling items with Swarovski crystal on them. They had sunglasses, ipod cases, cell phone cases, t-shirts, jackets, you name it, it had bling. Most of the stuff was very expensive, so I decided to try my hand at making my own pair of sunglasses with Swarovski crystals on them. Here are the steps so you can do it, too!

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• sunglasses
• crystals
• tweezers
• toothpicks
• cd's (optional)
• E-6000 glue

1. Plain Sunglasses

   You can either use a pair of sunglasses you already have or buy a new pair. They don't have to be a name brand, just find a pair that fit your face well and have a place where you can put the crystals.

2. Glue and toothpicks

   Lay out your crystals, toothpicks, paper napkins, and glue in front of you. Old CD's are great for putting your crystals on and your glue. I would suggest using E-6000 glue and various sizes of Swarovski crystals from 3mm to 6mm.

3. Crystals

   Decide where you will be putting the crystals. I decided to put them over the top of the glasses and also along either side, and 3 on the nose bridge. You can do as much or as little as you want. Try prompting the glasses with several kitchen dish towels and set crystals on your sunglasses to see if you like how it looks. Make sure you are using real Swarovski jewels and not plastic or vinyl. I picked up this box at the craft store and they just said crystal, but you can tell the difference just by looking at them.

4. Bling Sunglasses

   Put some E-6000 glue onto a piece of cardboard or on the used CD. Dab a little bit of glue onto the toothpick. Holding the crystal with the tweezers, rub a little glue on the crystal and then place it on your glasses. Make sure that each crystal is touching the other and you have a straight line. You can also do it with two toothpicks by turning the crystal over and putting the glue on it and then when it sticks to the toothpick, place it where you want it and then use another toothpick to secure it into place. Remember to wipe off your toothpick after every use.

5. Bling Sunglasses side

   On my sunglasses, I decide to put crystals on the side. I also decided to use different sizes of crystals on the side. The beauty of this project is you can design your own sunglasses. And if you like, you can find designs on the internet that you like to give you ideas.

6. Bling Sunglasses Completed

   I finished up by added 3 crystals on the nose bridge of the glasses. Set your glasses to the side and let them dry for 24-hours. Clean your glasses the next day and go out and show off your new bling.

Tips & Warnings

• If you get glue on the front of the crystal, don't use it and get another one, or it will always look cloudy.

• Save crystals for repairs.

• Glue will dry quickly. Use only a little bit at a time and replenish it often. It will also set up if you leave it uncapped. If the glue becomes jelly like then squeeze out a new dab.

• Work slowly. Take your time, if you start making mistakes take a break. You are working with very small pieces and it can be stressful.