Saturday, January 24, 2009

A Guide For Using Rhinestones In Artistic Projects

By Chris Channing

Rhinestones are the perfect addition to any craft, art project, or everyday object. They are also incredibly easy to apply to almost any material, and they range greatly in price according to one's budget. Because of their flexibility in each area, the possibilities in using them is almost endless.

One of the more recent trends in rhinestones is to apply them to mobile phones. Mobile phones usually have quite a bit of "simple" space to cover, so the artsy types are now applying rhinestones in different shapes and patterns to make a statement. Making things such as a heart, one's own name, or a simple smiling face with rhinestones can do wonder for the appeal of a phone.

Apparel is another subject that has received a lot of attention from rhinestones. Specifically, jeans have become the preferred clothing to receive rhinestone attention. Putting rhinestones on the bottom leggings, thighs, or upper parts of jeans is a great attention grabber. Keep in mind that glue-based rhinestones may not be the best option here, as they could be washed off in the laundry. Try hinging rhinestones instead to keep them hooked on regardless.

Rhinestones have made their appearance on musical instruments. They have even been seen on stage with the likes of Elvis Presley, so it certainly is a plausible idea to take advantage of. Microphones and drum kits can also be decorated with rhinestones to make a shiny attraction on stage. The fun doesn't stop there, as speakers, equipment, and stage space can also be decorated.

Footwear and rhinestones are also a great a match. Footwear such as sandals or shoes can have rhinestones attached quite easily. Sandals are the more popular of the two, with most fads now proving that rhinestones and sandals are making quite an impact in trends. Walking the beach with a shiny pair of sandals attracts a sparkling set of attention, and shoes sporting rhinestones can achieve the same thing elsewhere. Glue may or may not be a good idea in this case.

The real fun in obtaining rhinestones is to think of all the ways they may be used. Electronics, room decorations, and hundreds of other possibilities present themselves in this scenario. Personalization with rhinestones has become so popular, in fact, that there are now special consumer-available machines that apply them to specific things such as jeans or shoes via glue or special hinging.

Final Thoughts

Rhinestones can be a lot of fun with the right state of mind. For more ideas on what to do with rhinestones, or for leads on where to buy them, try going online to search for businesses. Local hobby shops will also likely stock them. - 16083

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