One of our favorite parts about June is that we get to celebrate the long-awaited arrival of summer, as well as celebrate dads with Father’s Day. It may seem strange to combine luminescent rhinestones with masculine items, but at the Rhinestone Shop, we’ve put together a few ideas for how to add some subtle sparkle to Dad’s life without going overboard. Check out 8 of our favorite things to make with rhinestones for Father’s Day.
Get Organized
One of the most important parts to any project is getting organized. The last thing you want while working on a project is to need something that’s out of reach or have to fiddle with rhinestones because they aren’t arranged neatly. To get prepared for any project:
Set up your station — Gather all of the supplies you might need, including rhinestones, glue, needle and thread (if you have sew-on rhinestones), pattern transfers, and a hotfix applicator. From where you plan on sitting, put your supplies within arm’s reach to keep your workstation efficient and tidy.
Arrange your rhinestones — Divide your rhinestones by shape, size and color. We recommend leaving flat-backed rhinestones flat side up, which will make the application process a little easier.
Bigger is not always better
When you’re making creations that are a little more masculine, big, bold rhinestones may overwhelm the piece. Try using smaller sized rhinestones that provide an accent to your project without becoming the focal point. Check out our size chart to compare sizes.
Eye-catching neckties
What’s a more classic gift for dad than a necktie? For the dad who loves some attention, a rhinestone-studded tie is a great way to earn compliments. First things first, you’ll want to find a tie with a solid color background or a pattern that’s not too busy. You can take the subtle approach and add small rhinestones to the corners of the tie, or you can make your own bold pattern featuring geometric shapes. Choose either classic clear rhinestones or complementary colors to coordinate with the tie color. We particularly like the idea of turning a plain, black tie into an updated fashion piece. Any way you choose to do it, the results make the light dance across the tie and turn a boring necktie into a special occasion.
The Wild West
Western wear and rhinestones go together like peas and carrots. If you know a father who loves the western look, there are a lot of options for creating a sparkling addition to Dad’s wardrobe.
Bling Bolos
Neckties are great, but a bolo shows off a particular style that really stands out from the crowd for “formal wear”. To start, you obviously need a bolo to work with. If you can, try to find one that has flat or smooth surfaces, which will make it easier to apply rhinestones. You’ll need small hotfix rhinestones of any shape that you prefer, but we like rounds and diamonds. In addition, you’ll need a hotfix applicator and E-6000 glue
Cowboy boots
We love, love, love cowboy boots. The tooled leather is fashionable but has the worn-in look that makes it great for casual wear as well. Kick it up a notch and try turning classic cowboy boots into a studded masterpiece that the father in your life would be proud to wear. The great thing about working with cowboy boots is that there are a lot of different patterns that you can work with and accent. Like with other more masculine items, you’ll probably want to go with smaller sized rhinestones, but this is a great opportunity to use complementary shapes that pair well with whatever tooled pattern is already on the boots.
Belts and buckles
No cowboy’s gear is complete without a belt and a buckle. Belt buckles are meant to dazzle, and adding rhinestones just makes sense. Like with some of our other projects, you may want to aim for subtle placements for a more masculine look, but if you have a man in your life who loves to be big and bold, use your sparkling rhinestones to create a piece to match his personality. Look for buckles with flat surfaces, as they will be the easiest to work with.
Coffee Mugs
We like to start our mornings with a fresh, steaming mug of coffee. Everyone has a favorite mug, so we thought, “Why not make a new favorite?” Use rhinestones to make a design on a new mug, or turn an old mug into a new treasure that Dad will love. Use rhinestones to make geometric patterns or spell out a name or phrase. Since coffee mugs are rounded, we recommend tracing the outline of our pattern with washable marker before you start placing.
Watches
Watches are a classic gift. What’s better than presenting Dad with either a brand new watch with some added sparkle or an older watch made new again with a dazzling upgrade? What you’ll need is a watch, preferably with a relatively flat surface around the face, and very small hotfix rhinestones and glue. The goal is to create an accent piece instead of an over-the-top creation. With this subtle technique, you can create the illusion of a diamond-encrusted watch, which is sure to become one of Dad’s favorite accessories.
Wallets
For the father in your life who appreciates a little pizazz, try making a simple wallet a little more special with European crystal rhinestones. Adding small embellishments to the corners will brighten up any simple wallet—all you need are hotfix rhinestones, an applicator, glue, and your own creativity! Even if your wallet is light on cash, you’ll still feel like a million bucks.
“World’s Best Dad” T-shirt
It seems like t-shirts and rhinestones were simply made for each other. The possibilities for designs are endless. All you need is a transfer design, tailor’s chalk, and your rhinestones and glue. Make a sparkling t-shirt that says “World’s Best Dad” that leaves no doubt that your dad is the greatest. If you don’t have an iron-on transfer, use tailor’s chalk to imprint an outline of your design on the shirt. Apply small hotfix rhinestones to the outline in coordinating colors. The result will make a dazzling statement to everyone you meet.
So there you have it—some surprisingly masculine choices for your rhinestone creations for Father’s Day. Be sure to check in with us next month for more great ideas!
