Rhinestones are translucent pieces of glass, crystal or acrylic used in jewelry to create the sparkling effect of diamonds at a much cheaper price.
Rhinestone cuts for jewelry-making
The best rhinestone cut for making jewelry is called "flatback"---this cut allows you to put adhesive on the back. Examples of flatback rhinestones include Swarovski Austrian, which are made of crystal; Preciosa machine cut, which are made of glass; Czech extra brilliant, which are also made of glass; and acrylic, which are plastic. Flatback rhinestones come in many colors.
Adhesives for making rhinestone jewelry
You'll need adhesive to affix the rhinestones to the surface you choose. The following brands work well for jewelry: Jewel It, Devon 2-part epoxy, Fabri-Tac (except for acrylic rhinestones), Gem-Tac and E6000. After applying the adhesive, let it dry for at least a day. Be sure to clean the surface to which you're applying the rhinestones.
Earrings
You can make clip earrings or pierced earrings with rhinestones. Purchase any sort of metal for the back of the earrings. Pierced posts usually come in 10mm, while the clipbacks come in 7mm or 15mm. Be sure to pick a rhinestone size that's bigger than the back of the earring. Glue the rhinestone to the pierced post or clipback using one of the recommended adhesives, and let it dry for a day.
Syringe
You can apply tiny rhinestones to just about any accessory---sunglasses, purses, or cellphones---by using a syringe. The E6000 adhesive works best for the syringe method. You can use any type of syringe, including the disposable plastic ones. Choose the smallest-tip needle for the syringe because it provides a small dot for more precision projects. Your glue dot should be smaller than your rhinestone. Press the rhinestone in place using your fingers or tweezers. Remember to use the glue in your syringe within two days.
Hair Combs
Buy some regular hair combs from a five-and-dime store. Get the size-30ss rhinestones and use 38 per comb. Use various colors if you like. Begin gluing the rhinestones to the bottom edge of the comb with either Devon 2-part epoxy or E6000. You can create three rows of rhinestones on one comb. Let the comb dry for at least a day before wearing.
