I ruined my first pair of bedazzled sneakers in about six weeks. The rhinestones I used were too big for the flex points, the glue was wrong for fabric, and half of them popped off in the wash. Since then I’ve bedazzled probably 40 items, from phone cases to a bike helmet, and I’ve figured out which surfaces actually keep their sparkle and which ones you’re wasting your time on.
Quick answer: the best things to bedazzle are hard, low-flex surfaces like phone cases, water bottles, jewelry boxes, mirror frames, and shoe heels. Fabric items (jackets, hats, bags) work too, but only with fabric-specific glue and smaller stone sizes at stress points.
- Phone cases, water bottles, and makeup mirrors are the easiest beginner projects
- Shoes and jackets need flexible glue (E6000 or a fabric-rated adhesive) or they’ll crack
- SS16-SS20 rhinestones work for most flat surfaces; go smaller (SS6-SS10) near seams or hinges
- Avoid bedazzling anything that gets machine-washed regularly unless you’re using iron-on hotfix stones
- A cheap $12 rhinestone applicator wand saves your fingers and your sanity
Household and Everyday Objects Worth Bedazzling
Phone cases are the gateway project, and for good reason. They’re flat, rigid, and cheap to replace if you mess up. I use a silicone case (not hard plastic, it grips the glue better) and lay stones out with tweezers before committing to glue.
Water bottles are underrated. A stainless steel tumbler holds rhinestones better than plastic because the surface doesn’t flex or condensate as much. Skip the bottom third near the base, that’s where most of the wear happens from setting it down on counters.
Other solid household picks:
- Makeup mirrors — the frame, not the glass, unless you want glare
- Jewelry boxes — lids especially, since they don’t get handled as much as the base
- Remote controls — sounds silly, but a bedazzled TV remote is genuinely hard to lose in couch cushions
- Light switch plates — a weirdly popular teen bedroom project
- Picture frames — works especially well on wood or resin frames
Wearables (Where Most People Mess Up)
Here’s the thing nobody tells you: fabric bedazzling fails almost always come down to glue choice, not stone placement. Craft glue dries stiff and cracks the first time the fabric bends. You need something rated for flexibility.
The 3-Zone Bedazzle Rule is what I use to figure out where stones will actually survive on wearables:
- Static zones (chest of a jacket, top of a hat, phone case back) — any stone size works, any placement density works
- Flex zones (elbows, knees, shoe toe boxes, bag flaps) — use stones under SS12 and space them so fabric can still bend between them
- Friction zones (cuffs, waistbands, shoe heels that rub against pant legs) — either skip these entirely or use hotfix stones applied with a heat wand, which bond deeper into the fibers
Applying this: a denim jacket’s yoke and collar are static zones, so go wild. The elbows are flex zones, so use smaller stones spaced out. Never bedazzle the underarm seam; I learned that one the hard way and had stones digging into my skin within a day.
Good wearable candidates:
- Denim jackets (collar, cuffs sparingly, back yoke)
- Baseball caps (front panel only, avoid the brim seam)
- Canvas sneakers (toe cap and heel, not the flex crease)
- Tote bags and clutches
- Hair clips and headbands
- Belt buckles (these are basically static zones, go heavy)
- Sunglasses frames (temples, not near the hinge)
Accessories and Small Items
Small items are forgiving because you can redo them in fifteen minutes if it looks off. A hair clip or a pair of AirPods case is a good place to practice pattern layouts before you commit to something bigger.
- AirPods and earbud cases
- Wine glass stems (test the glue on the specific glass type first, some coatings resist adhesion)
- Keychains
- Sunglasses cases
- Compact mirrors
- Notebook or planner covers
For Bigger, Bolder Projects
If you’ve got a few small wins under your belt, these are the next-level projects people ask me about most:
- Guitar or ukulele body (avoid the sound hole edge and the neck, both flex too much)
- Bike helmets (only the hard shell, never near the vents or straps)
- Car dashboard accents or gear shift knobs
- Skateboard decks (grip tape side only, obviously)
- Denim vests (same rules as jackets, but you have more static real estate to work with)
One thing I’d genuinely skip: shoes you plan to wear daily outdoors. Sidewalk grit and repeated flexing at the toe box knock stones loose faster than almost anything else on this list. Save your best bedazzling for shoes that get occasional wear.
What You Actually Need to Start
You don’t need a huge kit. For most of the projects above, I use:
- Rhinestones in SS10, SS16, and SS20 (mixed sizes give a more natural sparkle than uniform ones)
- E6000 glue for fabric and flexible surfaces
- A precision-tip glue applicator or toothpick for placement
- A rhinestone pickup wand (wax-tipped) for handling tiny stones
- Tweezers for layout testing before gluing
Lay your pattern out dry first. Every project I’ve ruined started with me gluing too fast and realizing the spacing was off once it was permanent.
FAQs
What household items are best for bedazzling beginners?
Phone cases, water bottles, and jewelry boxes are the best starting points because they’re rigid, don’t flex, and are cheap to redo if the pattern doesn’t work out.
Do bedazzled clothes survive the washing machine?
Only if you use hotfix rhinestones applied with heat, and even then, hand washing or a gentle cycle in a garment bag will last much longer than a regular wash.
What glue is best for bedazzling fabric?
E6000 or another flexible, fabric-rated adhesive works best because it bends with the material instead of cracking like standard craft glue does.
Can you bedazzle shoes without them falling apart?
Yes, but stick to the toe cap and heel counter, use smaller stones (under SS12) near any flex crease, and avoid the areas that bend when you walk.
What size rhinestones should I use?
SS16-SS20 for flat, visible surfaces and SS6-SS10 near seams, hinges, or anywhere fabric or material needs to flex.
Quick Recap
- Rigid, low-flex surfaces (phone cases, mirrors, jewelry boxes) are the easiest and most durable things to bedazzle
- Use the 3-Zone Rule: go big on static zones, smaller on flex zones, and skip friction zones entirely
- E6000 or hotfix stones for anything fabric-based
- Lay stones out dry before gluing, every time
- Save your best work for items that don’t get daily wear and tear