Thanks to the luminous reflections of the crystal they are made of, rhinestones can be used to decorate objects, personalize clothing and accessories... and it's a real pleasure!

Very easy to use, there's no need to master any particular technique for gluing rhinestones, leaving the imagination free to run wild! And the applications are endless: scrapbooking, patchwork, painting on wood or metal... and, of course, customizing your own clothes.

There are different types of rhinestones, so the gluing method depends not only on the rhinestone, but also on the material you wish to decorate. Real rhinestones are made of Swarovski crystals, which are the most perfect and luminous.

Iron-on rhinestones (or hotfix rhinestones)

These pearls have a pre-glued back, and the special glue melts under high heat to fix them in place. The obvious heat source is of course the iron (to be used in the cotton position, without steam and on the reverse side of the textile). Fortunately, however, it's much easier to use an electric rhinestone appliance with adaptable tips.

Ourexperience Up to a diameter of 5mm, rhinestones can be fixed by placing them on the right side of the textile to be decorated, protected with a cloth (a cotton tea towel, for example) and ironing for a few dozen seconds.
beyond this size, the thickness of the crystal prevents the heat from spreading to the back of the rhinestone, so you need to apply the iron to the back of the fabric: this way, the glue melts and adheres firmly to the textile. Even if the fabric is thick denim.

There's no such restriction when using the electric applicator, which fixes rhinestones up to 7mm (SS34), making it easier to place rhinestones precisely. With the applicator, simply grasp the rhinestone with the tip of the hot applicator, and as soon as you see the glue boil (a few seconds), the rhinestone is ready to be placed, applied to the desired spot and then... on to the next!

Kandi rhinestone applicator

Swarovski Hotfix rhinestones glued in this way withstand washing machine and tumble dryer wash after wash - we've tested it!

Please note! Swarovski ® offers pre-glued metallic-backed rhinestones in a wide range of colors, as well as pre-glued transparent rhinestones (to be chosen according to the desired effect and rhinestone placement)...Buy Swarovski rhinestones online.

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Swarovski ® recommendations for using these rhinestones with an iron are to use an iron at 170°c with light pressure, and to iron on the reverse side of the fabric. The duration varies from 10 to 15 seconds for fine fabrics in cotton, linen, polyester or elastic (lycra, nylon....) and 20 to 25 for thick cotton, linen or polyester fabrics. For application on leather, a preliminary test is necessary. Tips Too much heat or too long a duration can cause glue to run. For thicker materials, apply more pressure to the iron.

Gift

box

with applicator for Kandi electric rhinestones, wooden box to decorate and Hotfix Swarovski rhinestones in various sizes and colors. Includes instructions for a flower design and a full explanation of how to use the applicator.

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Stick-on rhinestones

The advantage of glue-on rhinestones is that they can be used to decorate all kinds of objects and surfaces unsuitable for an iron: cards and invitation cards, glasses, cell phones, bags, plastic flip-flops, metal or wooden boxes - the list goes on and on of all the accessories and everyday objects that you'd like to personalize with rhinestones... Beware, the use of super-glue is not recommended, as it can chemically alter the rhinestones.
That's why there are glues dedicated to rhinestones, some of which are suitable for textiles and even washable. It's best to hand-wash rather than machine-wash (never machine-dry), and do a test to determine whether the quantity of glue and the nature of the textile are suitable for washing, bearing in mind that Hotfix rhinestones are suitable for use on textiles and are washable. Another precaution: wait 24 to 7 days after gluing, depending on the glue instructions...

Sew-on rhinestones

While they don't have the washing disadvantages of the previous rhinestones, they can only be applied to textiles. Even so, hand-washing is recommended, as the crimp is fragile and the rhinestone could be torn off by mechanical washing. The metal crimp on the back is in the form of a cross-shaped tube through which the thread is threaded.

Combined with embroidery, or simply sewn on, they also create a beautiful effect. Sew-on rhinestones are also widely used in jewelry-making, as on this ring.