Hot Fix Rhinestones - Decorate with Tremendous Ease

By: Gen Wright Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Rhinestones are well known for being versatile and affordable decorative items. But there is always the problem of attaching the stones to a surface. This problem has been solved by innovative Rhinestone manufacturers. The solution is a straight forward and simple one.

Special glue is already at adhered on the flat side of the stone. The glue needs to be heated to be activated. This means that if you purchase any hot fix stone pieces, all you need is a heat wand and you can start attaching the stones to the fabric. This type of rhinestones is especially well suited for clothing that needs to be washed. The glue will hold the stones in place and prevent them from falling off during washing.

Before using the heat wand, start by arranging the stones on a flat surface. Make any changes you want at this early stage to avoid having to make changes later on. The glue will dry within seconds once its activated, leaving little chance for making changes.

Most likely, your design will consist of stones with different sizes and colors. Rhinestone sizes are measured using a special unit of measurement, known as "ss". SS is short for stone size. In general, you want to work on the larger stones first. These are like the anchor pieces of your design. They will help guide the rest of the process.

When you start working on the stones, adopt a systematic approach so that you don't mix up the stones that have been attached with those that are still loose. For instance, work from left to right, or from top to bottom. Use a private workspace whenever possible to avoid distractions. You need to be able to concentrate fully to avoid making mistakes.

The duration for the entire process depends on the complexity of your design. If you have several hundred stones to attach, the process could take a couple of hours. This is assuming that you use hot fix stones. If you use ordinary stones, the process could be longer. But if you have a simple design, the process could just take five minutes to complete.

Your electric heat wand tool should come with different tip sizes. Choose the appropriate size and attach the right tip. Then press it gently on the stone that you want to work on. Leave the tip on the stone for about 10 to 12 seconds and the glue will be activated. Don't force the tip down on the rhinestone though. Just leave it touching gently. Remove the tool and tap the stone lightly. After a few seconds, the glue will dry and the stone will adhere. Repeat the same process until the entire design is completed.

Hot fix rhinestones are the easiest to work with. They come with glue out of the box, and all you have to do is to apply heat. You can use the same type of stones to decorate anything you want. Use them to enhance the look of jewelry boxes, photo frames, key chains, and other items.