Using Swarovski hot fix
rhinestones is the best way to guarantee that the rhinestones will adhere to a
gently washed fabric, as these have a heat-activated glue coating already
applied to the back. You will need to use a hot fix tool to help with placing
the stones, which is a simple electric heating wand that uses various tip sizes
for easier application. Based on the size of each of the Swarovski hot fix
rhinestones, choose the corresponding tip and then heat the wand for a couple of
minutes. Take extra care not to touch the tip of the wand or other metal parts,
as these are extremely hot and can burn you. Most hot fix tools have an attached
stand for hands-free support. If yours does not, you can simply use a plate or
board to rest your tool between applications.
In the meantime, place each
of your selected Swarovski hot fix rhinestones in an upward facing position with
a wax positioner stick. Next, position the wand vertically over one of the
rhinestones and then pick it up. The rhinestone should fit into the cup of the
tip easily, so do not force it. Push the tip of the hot fix tool over the
rhinestone and hold it for 12 seconds or so to allow the glue to bubble. When
the stone is heated and ready to be placed, the glue will have turned a shiny,
lighter shade. Once the rhinestone is properly heated, position it where you
want it on the fabric, and lightly tap it down. You don't need to apply much
pressure, and you should remove the hot fix tool quickly. It only takes a few
seconds for the glue to cool by which time the Swarovski hot fix rhinestones
will have adhered to the fabric. Again, remember to have a safe resting place
for your hot fix tool in between applications.
Arrange Your
Designs Before Attaching Swarovski Hot Fix Crystals
You should always have your designs
laid out ahead of time. Using a wax positioner stick, place the Swarovski Hot
Fix Crystals in an upright position along the design so that they are ready to
go into the tool. This will allow you to finish the design quickly because once
a crystal is heated, you can place it and move on to the next.
Rhinestone
Sizes:
By using
the abbreviation ss (stone size), sizes among stones are universal. They range
from 5ss, which is a tiny 1.7 to 1.9 millimeters, up to 48ss, which is 10.9 to
11.3 millimeters. The most popular sizes are the 16ss and 20ss. It is
recommended that you use the size 16ss on flip flops with 2 or 3 rows being used
on the front straps. Depending on the space you'll be covering on cellphones and
ipods, it's best to use size 12ss or 16ss crystals.
Swarovski Hot Fix
Crystals Colors:The
most common color of rhinestone is clear, and it resembles diamonite. There are
many gemlike colors available, most are transparent. Such are colors like
peridot (lime green), amethyst (purple), sapphire (royal blue), emerald (green),
and ruby (red). "Light" colors are just paler variations of the original color
of Swarovski hot fix crystals.
An Array of Colors is Created on Swarovski
Crystals with Aurora Borealis (AB) Coating
Some clear stones, called AB
Swarovski Crystals, have a prismatic effect which is caused by the addition of
an Aurora Borealis coating. This coating has an effect on how the stone refracts
light making it appear as if the stone reflects the colors of the rainbow; the
base color of the stone is shown through all the colors most dominantly, though.
The crystals seem to reflect an Aurora Borealis once this coating has been
applied, hence the name.
Colored crystals with the AB coating are
referred to as AB Color Swarovski crystals. These crystals tend to reflect
colors in much richer hues where green, blue, red, and gold is concerned. The
Czech stones, and other AB rhinestones, reflect more of a golden or yellowish
hue rather than true color like our AB Swarovski Crystals.
Some crystals
reflect two or more colors depending on how the light hits them, and this is
caused by polarization of the glass. These colors are called effect colors, and
only Swarovski crystals have been able to perfect this method. Thus, Swarovski
crystals have a much broader color choice available.
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