Jewelry for the Holidays

Rhinestones are artificial diamonds used to embellish clothing and decorative items, making each embellished item shimmer and sparkle. These stones are extremely versatile, as they come in a variety of sizes and colors, making it easy to incorporate rhinestones into your wardrobe and home-decorating projects. If you want a little more bling in your life, try one of these projects next time you have some free time.

1. Glam Up Your Cell Phone

If you're always texting and talking on your cell phone, try using rhinestones to embellish a plain protective case. To get started, purchase a protective case in your favorite color. Using hot glue or another type of adhesive, affix rhinestones to the back of the case. Get creative by gluing colorful rhinestones in a recognizable pattern: your initials, your favorite animal, or even a heart to express your love for all things sparkly. Give the adhesive time to dry thoroughly before you start using your phone again.

2. Create a Stunning Wrap

Planning for a formal occasion or a high-class cocktail party? Use hotfix rhinestones to create a stunning wrap that is sure to capture the attention of everyone in the crowd. Hotfix rhinestones already have glue on them, so you do not need to use a glue gun or purchase adhesive. Instead, you need to use a rhinestone setter to attach the rhinestones to a piece of fabric. If you already have a black chiffon scarf, make it pop by adding clear rhinestones along the edge. For added flair, use matching rhinestones to decorate the shoes and handbag you plan to wear to the event.

3. Spruce Up an Old Lamp

Tired of looking at white or beige lampshades all over your home? Add some glitz to your favorite lamp by using rhinestones and ribbons to create a decorative trim around the bottom of the shade. To get started, purchase a roll of satin ribbon in your favorite color. The ribbon should be about 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide. Cut the roll of ribbon into pieces measuring one to three inches in length depending on the size of the lampshade. If it is a tiny shade, one-inch pieces will suffice. Three-inch pieces of ribbon are ideal for larger shades. Affix the pieces of ribbon to the bottom of the lampshade, taking care to space the pieces evenly. Make the lampshade sparkle by gluing a large rhinestone to the bottom of each piece of ribbon. 

These are just a few of the ways you can start using rhinestones to add sparkle to your life. If you decide to tackle several projects at once, buy hotfix rhinestones and other supplies in bulk to save money. Companies like ModeBeads sell all the hotfix rhinestones you could want.